Rob Gronkowski. Megan Rapinoe. Lamar Odom. These are all former and current professional athletes from different sports who have endorsed using CBD for athletes. So as an athlete, can you use cannabidiol, also known as CBD? Did you know that CBD is only one among a hundred different cannabinoids found naturally in cannabis plants?
Although limited research has been done on CBD products, there’s no denying that these products display promise in terms of treating different conditions related to athletic competitions, such as muscle soreness, joint pain, and inflammation.
Moreover, CBD shares several of the benefits you will find in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), but without any psychoactive effects. Just based on the information we have at the moment, here’s why athletes are moving towards CBD – and what you should know about the same.
But First, Is CBD For Athletes Legal?
Before you can look up CBD oil for athletes, it’s always best to consult with your doctor and coach. But even before you do that, aren’t you wondering about the murky legalities associated with using CBD in the world of sports?
Here’s what you need to know!
The World Anti-Doping Agency took CBD off its prohibited substances’ list in 2018. While most major athletic organizations and sports leagues continue to prohibit THC usage, Major League Baseball has made an exception recently in terms of using CBD for athletes.
If an athlete is taking CBD, it should not cause them to get positive test results for THC, especially if the athlete opts for CBD isolate in place of other full-spectrum products. At the same time, according to Healthline, it was discovered that some people have actually tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol after using CBD.
It does depend a little on the kind of test you are appearing for – you are at risk of testing positive when you are taking CBD from unreliable sources. Such CBD can easily be mislabeled and contaminated.
In case you are going to get drug tested, it’s best to avoid using CBD. But if you do opt for taking CBD, then go through the product labels carefully and do sufficient research – you must invest in only high-quality CBD products.
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CBD For Athletes: Research, Benefits, Side Effects & Uses
Welcome to CBD for Athletes – without wasting any time, let’s check out whether CBD can be used as a non psychoactive pain-relieving treatment in athletes, the side effects, and the things you should know before considering using CBD.
Scroll down to read about all that you need to know related to using CBD for athletes!
CBD For Athletes: As A Non-psychoactive Treatment For Pain
According to Healthline, research says how CBD displays promise in terms of reducing inflammation and relieving pain. This could prove to be pretty useful for any athlete participating in different intense activities. While THC is perfect for treating pain, it might cause side effects that are unwanted and, at the same time, could also impact athletic performance.
A study conducted on some lab rats in 2014 suggests how THC can damage short-term memory, but CBD does not react in the same way. Moreover, a 2018 report from WHO (World Health Organization) indicates that CBD does not possess the sheet potential for dependence or even misuse, unlike other substances known for relieving pain, such as opioids and THC.
Naturally, this revelation proves to be quite beneficial in terms of researching CBD benefits for athletes. In fact, Healthline also mentioned research on CBD that suggests it could even be used for treating addictions to substances like opioids that has a risk of dependency.
In different medical circles, several controversies have been reported over the ‘nonpsychoactive’ label that comes with CBD products. This is because CBD technically does act on the same type of cannabinoid receptors (CB1) as THC in the brain. Since CBD works pretty differently on the same receptors, it does not really get you high.
CBD For Athletes: Side Effects!
There’s no point talking about using cannabidiol for athletes without talking about the side effects first. While some people have talked about experiencing different side effects after using CBD, others have had relatively limited experiences. Healthline spoke about research conducted in 2017 about the most popular side effects of using CBD are as follows,
- Diarrhea,
- Fatigue,
- Changes In Appetite, and
- Changes In Weight
Read more: Reggie Weed: What It Is and Why You Should Stay Away
CBD For Athletes: Things To Know Before You Can Try Out CBD Products!
No matter how convincing we sound right now, please google ‘athletes CBD’ as much as you can. In spite of CBD’s natural roots and comparatively mild side effects, you must always consult with medical professionals before using it, especially if you are already taking some other medications already or suffer from some other medical condition.
While using CBD for athletes seems like a great idea, you must understand that CBD interacts with certain medications, transforming how your body breaks down those medications. And this is particularly true for drugs processed by your liver. If you have recently started using CBD, then it’s best to begin with, a low dosage, preferably not before working out or any athletic event.
Once you start getting comfortable with the dosage, then, you can increase the dosage a little. But make sure that you are not taking CBD before or during any physical activity. At the same time, it’s best to experiment with various ways of consuming or applying CBD.
Yes, there are capsules and tinctures that are common, but you will also find pre-workout drinks, muscle balms, and CBD coffees. It is believed that topical CBD has similar benefits, just like other methods of ingestion. In fact, a study was published in this Italian medical journal which indicated that these CBD balms could provide treatment for psoriasis and scars.
And It’s A Wrap!
And that’s a wrap on using CBD for athletes. We have repeatedly mentioned – you don’t use CBD or CBD products without consulting with medical professionals first, especially if you have any other medical condition or you are taking medication for some ongoing treatment.
Meanwhile, tell us what your thoughts are on using CBD, and in case, you do have experiences, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
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