The words “cannabis” and “exercise” may plaster a strange look on your face. But, given all of the therapeutic benefits that the plant is known to offer, you might be shocked to find that it can do more help than harm to your workout routine. Touted for having a myriad of health benefits, the cannabis plant can potentially give our bodies the extra boost it needs to effectively perform as well as recover, providing a new opportunity to take your workout to the next level. Why do you ask? Three words: the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Although research is in its early stages, can incorporate a little CBD in your routine when it comes “‘eg-day’? Currently, what’s available on the role of the cannabinoid for enhancing fitness looks promising indeed. This is because cannabinoids found in cannabis bind with cannabinoid (CB) receptors found spread all throughout the ECS in order to regulate homeostasis. And when coupled with physical activity CBD can make our ECS do some pretty amazing things, including improving athletic performance, reducing swelling and inflammation, and even help with muscle recovery -- and you don’t need to be a health junkie to reap these amazing benefits either.
If you’re curious to know more. in this article, we will discuss how chemical compounds in cannabis can power you to push your workout to boundaries you’ve never known.
Connecting the Dots: How Our Endocannabinoid System Is Influenced By CBD
CBD can provide relief for whatever ails before, during, or after your workout, especially inflammation -- the hallmark of injuries related to exercise -- through its interaction with our endocannabinoid system (ECS).
In short, the ECS is a natural biological system (located inside all living vertebrates) filled with naturally-occurring endocannabinoids and cannabinoid (CB) receptors: CB1 receptors, located in our nervous system and CB2 receptors mainly found in our immune system. These (CB) receptors help regulate important bodily functions. including mood, appetite, pain, and others. By activating these (CB) receptors, cannabinoids from the cannabis plant - including CBD (cannabidiol) - are able to mimic the effect of these endocannabinoids, which can be especially helpful when our ECS is unable to keep symptoms of inflammation, anxiety, or pain at bay on its own.
During this process, neurotransmitters fired off and are used to transmit messages to our body’s functioning systems to maintain homeostasis for improved performance and longer, more effective workout as well as fast recovery. To make sure your routine is as solid as possible, below are a few fit tips you to note.
Find the Right CBD Product
CBD is CBD...right? Wrong. CBD comes in a vast amount of different products including tinctures, topicals, vapes, patches, even mints, and bubble bath. There are also many gels and creams available that can help with inflammatory symptoms, as well as ingestible products. Though, transdermal delivery or using a vaporizer is perhaps the most efficient way to help alleviate pain and inflammation after an intense workout. Effects using these methods are immediate, allowing cannabinoids to target overactive neurotransmitters to restore homeostasis in the places that will benefit your body most.
Every product is different, and some formulas can be less effective for boosting your workout. Whether you’re an experienced consumer or just learning, understanding the kind of CBD product you purchase and the reason you’re purchasing it are major keys. Of course, the choice is all yours, but it’s important to think of the areas of your workout that need improvement. No matter how you enjoy your CBD, what’s also important is that you consume it responsibly and with intention. It’s also equally important to do your own research and listen to your body to find what works and what’s reliable.
Consider Microdosing (microdosing article link here)
CBD is self-titrating, meaning you can adjust the dosage yourself as needed without any danger of side effects. Whether you’re pumping steel or doing squats, it might be helpful to start consuming your CBD with smaller doses at a time -- a.k.a. microdosing -- to see how your body reacts. If you find that a short period after your first dosage that your pain hasn’t lessened as much as desired, you can take a second dose or larger dose without worrying about putting your health at risk.
Microdosing helps to constantly stimulate your body’s natural endocannabinoid system, which may enhance the natural effects of CBD. This allows you to find the perfect dose that works for you and ensures that you maintain personal levels of comfortability on your journey to pure body goals.
Push Your Limits
No matter how difficult or unpredictable the task, with CBD, you can still maximize the benefits. To use the cannabinoid as a tool for your workout, you should pick a physical activity that has your genuine interest and set goals that are both challenging (and also attainable) to help induce the ideal mindset -- this could look like choosing the appropriate bike or realistic jog time.
Nonetheless, the prospect of being mentally and physically relaxed with the intervention of plant power in a different scenario just might excite you enough to push through your workout. As mentioned, when we exercise, endorphins are released and CBD may augment that “feel good” feeling these natural chemicals produce, as the cannabinoid has been studied for its natural analgesic activity. This not only increases your threshold for pain, but such allows you to push further and last longer to drive beyond your perceived limits (safely and make actual mental and physical gains.
We’re Hopeful
Well, that does it! From what we’ve learned, it’s pretty clear that the cannabis plant provides a myriad of benefits, but our knowledge of how it works in the human body is indeed limited. While all of this sounds amazing, much is still to be learned about the power of cannabinoids. Further cannabis regulation is needed in order to fund research and access more information about the potential therapeutic benefits of its constituents -- but, one can only imagine the benefits cannabis research has yet to discover.