Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the hundreds of chemical compounds found in cannabis plants, such as industrial hemp. It has grown in popularity in recent times due to anecdotal claims of its possible benefits
Nevertheless, CBD oil usage has been generating significant interest, and the market is filled with CBD products in every format, promising to solve a lot of problems. One of the latest trends is to use CBD to improve people’s fitness routines.
CBD offers a natural way to enhance fitness without any side effects. CBD can be taken in many ways before hitting the gym or going to a workout class.
You can use CBD through CBD oil, CBD capsules, CBD protein, cream, lotion, vape juice, and many other ways.
Adding a few drops of CBD oil extract into your morning protein shake is one of the most effective ways to do it.
Reducing catabolic hormones
Hormones are responsible for managing several different physiological reactions in the body. They can either be anabolic or catabolic. Anabolic hormones are accountable for promoting tissue growth, while catabolic hormones play a role in breaking down tissue.
Cortisol is one of these catabolic hormones. This hormone is known as the stress hormone since it’s the body’s way of reacting to stressful situations.
While the average person doesn’t go through life-or-death situations daily, you still face multiple demands each day. Day-to-day stresses like bills, deadlines and personal relationship problems are all considered threats by your body. Additionally, moderate and high-intensity workouts also elevate your cortisol levels.
Cortisol will respond by increasing the glucose in the bloodstream and reducing protein synthesis. As a result, your blood pressure will spike and eat up your muscle tissue. This would negate the purpose of working out and building muscle.
It’s the culprit for breaking down muscle tissue as it reduces protein synthesis actively prevents tissue growth. The high amount of catabolic hormone can spike up the blood pressure and eat up muscle tissue, negating the purpose of working out and building muscles.
However, cortisol itself is not completely bad. At natural levels, it can help control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, assist with memory formulation. In women, cortisol aids in fetal development during pregnancy.
The key is to keep your cortisol levels in balance before and during a workout. CBD is a natural solution in helping to maintain a healthy cortisol balance. As it interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD can affect the level of hormones in the body.
CBD increases your endurance
Improving your muscle endurance can enhance the capability to support your performance in sports and exercise. Endurance activity helps the muscles, cardiovascular system, joints, and lungs all learn to adapt to the new task of sustaining a steady pace for hours to improve their overall fitness.
The combination of CBD and exercise is an ideal combination that can improve your performance. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system that can help with maintaining homeostasis and affect your energy levels. A stabilized energy level can provide a longer and more efficient workout, no matter the fitness level.
CBD accelerates muscle recovery after training
If you are a regular visitor to the gym, you surely know how stressful recovery after a hard workout can be. You feel fatigued, tired, and different muscles hurt.
Who hasn’t felt a terrible pain in their legs every time they get up after a leg day?
It’s because your muscle fibers undergo trauma after a rigorous exercise, which is why recovery periods are essential for any workout routine. The recovery period is the time when the body’s immune system repairs the damage and builds stronger muscle tissue.
Still, it is also good to reduce your recovery time, especially when you are new to the fitness lifestyle. This will give you the motivation to reach your goals.
CBD oil can help you recover faster and better, so you can make more use of your gym time.
CBD for better sleep
The body needs more than working out for the exercises to work. Everything from the food and drink that you consume to your sleep patterns can affect your fitness as much as the exercises you do inside the gym.
A night of good night’s sleep is especially important after a tough workout. It is the time when the body repairs itself from the strenuous activities that you’ve experienced throughout the day.
When you work out with little to no sleep, your body wouldn’t fully recover from your previous workout. You wist tire out quickly the next day. Better sleep will lead to a better recovery as the body synthesizes proteins and human growth hormones during this period. It also focuses much of its energy on healing.
CBD can help improve your sleeping patterns. You’ll be able to sleep faster and have a more restful sleep, which is optimal for muscle recovery.
If you decide to make CBD a part of your workout routine, it’s also essential to learn the right dose for your body. Try to start with small doses of CBD before a workout, then increase it as you need it.
It does not matter which way you choose to consume CBD. What is certain is that it will improve your gym experience, while at the same time providing you with many other health benefits.