If running is your passion and participating in an ultra marathon is in your bucket list then you better start training today! We may not be experts in running, but we are an expert in CBD oil and we want to help you understand how CBD can benefit your running. We want you to consider adding CBD as part of your training.
Cannabidiol or CBD is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD is among the 100s cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Apart from CBD other cannabinoids are THC, CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDa or THCa. Each cannabinoid comes with its own health benefits, but when used together it can produce an “entourage effect" which is when all the cannabinoids work together to produce the maximum health beneficial effects from the cannabis plant.
CBD is known for its ability to relieve pain and inflammation, reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, strengthen the immunity system and boost energy and mood. CBD is non-psychoactive so it won't cause you to feel “high" or intoxicate you like THC would.
What you need to know before using CBD to help you train for your next marathon:
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has accepted and recognized the benefits CBD has on athletes and in 2017, WADA removed CBD from its controlled substances list. Making CBD legal to use for athletes in almost every sport. CBD may be legal, but on the other hand THC remains prohibited.
Athletes, runners and most importantly, travelers should also keep in mind that every country has their own laws and allowances concerning CBD or cannabis. Check locals before you bring CBD into another country.
Now that CBD use is allowed among athletes there is another thing you should know: CBD products are widely available in three different types. CBD Isolate is extracted to include only CBD and no other components from the cannabis plant. Broad Spectrum includes not just CBD, but also other components from the cannabis plant like CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDa, THCa, terpenes and flavonoids, but does not include THC. Full Spectrum is similar to broad spectrum, but full spectrum does include THC and is considered to be the most complete form of CBD.
CBD products are allowed to contain up to 0.3% THC. For professional athletes you may want to consider using a product that contains only CBD to avoid difficulties with the rules and regulations of the game.
Why is CBD good for runners?
Inflammation:
Athletes are required to train a lot and when you train you are forced to physically strain your muscles and body in order to go faster and stronger. When you do that, inflammation in your muscles and joints kick in. It's part of a normal and necessary process as the fibers in your muscles are broken down and growth hormones in your body repairs your muscle to keep it strong. When there is excessive inflammation it impacts recovery and performance and this is where CBD kicks in!
CBD is known as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System which plays a role in regulating the level of inflammation. This will help athletes to recover from injuries faster.
CBD reduces oxidative stress which helps limit and minimize damage from training and exercise. By doing this it also speeds up recovery time and prevents the risk from tissue damage.
Pain:
No matter how strong an athlete is and no matter how much they have trained for, pain is a big problem. For athletes everywhere.
Usually pain happens as a result of overtraining, excessive physical stress, strain, injuries and going under-recovery which can become stressful for both the body and mind.
CBD is an effective pain reliever. CBD helps athletes to feel more comfortable and less stressed. Just as we discussed earlier, CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System to help regulate pain sensation.
CBD interacts with receptors that control pain sensation and helps to block pain signals from reaching the brain–in doing so CBD helps to minimize pain and inflammation.
Sleep:
Sleep is essential for recovery. When you sleep, your body releases hormones to repair muscles along with testosterone and growth hormones to repair and rejuvenate your body. Lack of sleep means you will not allow your body to go through this process, plus lack of sleep has a negative impact on your mental health too.
CBD can improve your sleep quality. CBD calms down your brain and helps your body to get ready for sleep. CBD helps you to stay asleep, waking up less during the night and when you wake up you will feel energized and ready for the next day.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycles for athletes. It is also believed that CBD can regulate the REM cycle to stop you from feeling fatigue and help you to gain alertness.
Anxiety, Stress and Depression:
Stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on the performance of an athlete. CBD reduces anxiety and stress which can benefit athletes both physically and mentally.
From what we know CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System which helps to reduce anxiety level. CBD also increases serotonin levels by improving mood and managing stress. CBD also controls and reduces levels of cortisol which is a hormone that deals with stress. All of this can help athletes to feel relaxed, stay focused, manage their stress and anxiety level while increasing their performance.
Before you start using CBD you should know that there are some side effects which may affect you like dry mouth, drowsiness, diarrhea, nausea, low blood pressure or changes in appetite. CBD may interact and affect performance of other medications. It is advised to consult with your doctor before using CBD.
This blog is brought to you by Thailand's most trusted CBD brand, Mellow Organic.
Mellow CBD Oil is our CBD Isolate option that comes in 900 mg CBD available in Natural and Orange flavors. One bottle is 30ml. Mellow CBD Oil is perfect for beginners or people that just want CBD without other cannabinoids.
Mellow Full Spectrum CBD Oil comes with 1,800 mg of CBD with THC and other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids for the greatest entourage effect. Available in a 30ml bottle.
Mellow CBD Soothing Balm is our vanilla scented CBD-infused topical for people looking to relieve pain, muscle soreness and reduce stress and anxiety. Also, great for joint pain. Our balm comes in 50 grams tin.
For more information about Mellow Organic find us at www.melloworganic.com
Written by Vivek Roachthavilit
Reference:
National Library of Medicine
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