Benefits of CBD for Athletes

What do Gabby Douglas, Terrell Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Bubba Watson, Nate Diaz, and Derrick Morgan have in common? They’re all world-class American athletes, and they all use CBD products to boost their performance. With the amount of research pointing to the benefits and effects of CBD for athletes, these products are worth looking into if you exercise. 

Watson says CBD keeps him focused and injury-free, and Davis credits CBD with helping him get in the best shape since his days with the Denver Broncos.

Of course, professional athletes aren’t the only ones using CBD to train, perform, and recover. People of all ages and athletic abilities are turning to cannabidiol for better recovery and safer pain relief.

Keep reading to discover how cannabidiol may protect you against common sports injuries, help establish healthier sleep cycles, and support various bodily systems.

1. CBD has been shown to be a non-psychoactive treatment for pain.

Mental clarity is synonymous with athletic performance. Whether you play golf, basketball, or participate in competitive fishing, you’ve got to be focused and cognizant to perform your best. But you won’t be able to focus if you’re in pain from your last workout. You also won’t be able to focus if you’re high.

In recent years, many athletes have become THC users in the hopes of relieving their pain. A number of NFL players, including Marteullus Bennett and Bo Scaife, famously smoke marijuana regularly, claiming the habit is a safer alternative to taking opioids.

Marijuana may be less addictive than opioids, but its main compound, THC, does have plenty of potentially harmful psychoactive effects. These could induce paranoia, sedation, and stress, all of which are disastrous for athletes in their training and performance.

As a non-psychoactive substance, CBD could help alleviate inflammatory pain caused by tissue and muscle damage. A 2020 article published in Sports Medicine highlights the inflammation-reducing and analgesic effects of CBD carried out in several preclinical studies.

CBD could particularly help endurance athletes like long-distance runners, as repetitive exercise commonly leads to inflammation. When applied to the skin as a topical balm or lotion, CBD can help lower pain and inflammation.

Many people use cannabidiol for its natural, non-psychoactive, non-habit-forming properties that may help pain and inflammation. Visit Medsana today and browse our full collection of THC-free, 99% pure CBD products.

In a survey conducted by Canna Research Group, 61% of surveyed athletes said they use CBD for pain, with 68% of those reporting that the substance improved their pain.

2. CBD is far less likely to cause a chronic health risk than other substances.

Imagine you’ve been in pain all day, every day after doing an intense workout last week. You visit a doctor, and they suggest taking one of two substances for pain relief. One substance has been used by millions for decades; it’s a household name, but it comes with potential side effects. 

The doctor’s first recommendation is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), and you probably have some in your home right now. Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, and naproxen. Although athletes have taken them for decades to help with exercise-related inflammation, they can be dangerous when used improperly or frequently.

In 2007, The New York Times reported the death of a 17-year-old track star who died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an NSAID used to relieve sore and aching muscles. Because NSAIDs like ibuprofen reduce blood flow to the kidneys, runners who use these medications are at an increased risk for acute kidney injury.

In a study published by Emergency Medical Journal, researchers found that ultramarathoners who took ibuprofen had an 18% higher rate of kidney injury compared to those who took a placebo. 

But athletes competing in cardio-heavy sports aren’t the only ones at risk for NSAID-related injuries. Football fans may recognize Chris Kemoeatu, the Steelers’ offensive guard. However, they may not know that he needed a kidney transplant after receiving daily injections of Toradol, a powerful NSAID.

Americans have trusted and used these medications for years, but the risks aren’t justifiable when an effective and affordable alternative is readily available. 

That’s why many athletes are turning to CBD for pain relief instead of NSAIDs. The most common side effects of CBD are dry mouth, diarrhea, nausea, and drowsiness. Compared to NSAIDs’ risk of kidney failure, internal bleeding, and even death, many athletes find it a no-brainer to choose CBD for relief from pain and inflammation.

4. CBD promotes healthier sleep cycles.

CBD is just one of the many elements within the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS keeps our bodies within the “Goldilocks zone” - the perfect balance for the body’s many functions.

As a system, the ECS is made up of endocannabinoids, receptors (namely CB1 and CB2), and enzymes. Although THC and CBD are both phytocannabinoids, meaning they are found naturally in plants, our bodies allow these compounds to bind to receptors which then produce an effect. THC and CBD bind to receptors but produce different effects, one of the most important being the sleep-wake cycle.

Everyone knows that THC promotes sleep, but recent research finds that CBD may induce sleep and promote wakefulness. This ability to produce opposite outcomes is known as a biphasic effect, and scientists believe its presence depends on the amount of CBD taken.

Lower doses of CBD may make a user feel awake, while higher doses may make the user sleepy. Of course, more research is needed, but the biphasic effect of CBD could be hugely beneficial for athletes, who perhaps know better than anyone the power of a good night’s sleep.

CBD for athletes may promote healthy sleep cycles by helping them fall and stay asleep easily without feeling groggy the next morning. That’s great news for people who have early morning sporting events or people who tend to get nervous the night before they compete.

CBD may work the other way, too. Endurance athletes participating in a 100-mile race could benefit greatly from a performance-enhancing, natural CBD product that gives them energy and helps them feel awake

CBD and Athletic Performance

More and more definitive studies become available as clinical research continues to confirm the connection between CBD and athletic performance. Many pieces of evidence - including famous athletes’ endorsements of CBD for peak performance and recovery - speaks to the effectiveness of this cannabinoid to help athletes train, perform, and recover safely.

At Medsana, we follow the latest veritable and science-backed CBD research. We sought to create the purest, most genuine CBD products for everyday use, and many of our customers are athletes seeking natural remedies for the pain and discomfort that comes with exercise.

Whether you’re a professional football player or a once-a-month gym-goer, Medsana’s CBD for athletes can give you the most focused, energy-driven workout of your life and help you rest afterward. Browse our athlete-friendly products today.