Image: During an elaborate workout, about 650 muscles of the human body are moved.
Many athletes have turned to taking CBD (cannabidiol) as a dietary supplement. Unlike THC, the psychogenic ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not only legal, but also has no effect on reactivity and concentration. The properties of the cannabinoid vary in nature, and science has been studying the effects of long-term use for some time. It seems to show that in the field of sports especially regeneration and pain therapy could be done by CBD.
What is CBD and how does it work exactly?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid that occurs naturally in the hemp plant. THC is also one of the 120 other cannabinoids of the hemp plant, but with the decisive disadvantage of a psychogenic effect. By eliminating the mind-altering high, the benefits of CBD can be enjoyed without generating a high. The serious production of CBD in Switzerland has an impact not only on private individuals, but also on athletes. The main effects attributed to the substance, which is mostly processed as oil, include:
- Pain relief for chronic and acute pain stimuli
- Acute and chronic inflammatory conditions
- Emotional calming for stressful conditions
- Improved sleep quality for sleep disorders
- Relaxation of tense muscles
All of these benefits can also benefit athletes who often face an extreme training workload and for whom injuries, strains and discomfort are standard.
Is CBD a doping agent for athletes?
For a long time there were discussions regarding the Doping classification of CBD. The so-called weed trap struck especially when dubious substances were taken that were not produced according to European standards. CBD, which is legal in Switzerland, contains a maximum THC dose of 0.2 % and is extracted from hemp plants grown in Europe.
WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has increased the limit for THC in the blood of athletes to 150ng/ml, minimizing the risk of the weed trap. Catching cheaters is still important for WADA, but taking CBD explicitly does not count as cheating.
What effect do athletes get from taking CBD?
Whether vegan protein supplements, vitamin supplements or just CBD, it is important for athletes to promote their muscular health when taking supplements and dietary supplements. The hard training phases can cause discomfort here, so it is essential to find an optimal balance between competition, training and recovery.
Through targeted training sessions, the musculature develops and appears strengthened. On the other hand, overloading can cause inflammation, which in turn leads to muscle pain. If an overload becomes chronic, permanent restrictions are conceivable.
The effect of a weakened immune system on the body is similar. In order to perform at peak levels, the defense system must be able to work at peak performance. CBD is known as an active ingredient to stimulate the body's own defenses to self-regenerate. Chronic inflammation can be more easily eliminated by a strengthened immune system, supporting a healthy balance between training and recovery.
Accelerate muscle recovery by taking CBD?
Experiences from athletes report that the analgesic properties of CBD can minimize muscle pain of a chronic and acute nature and thus reduce the consumption of regular painkillers. In the alternation between training and competition, athletes use about 650 of the body's own muscles, which are sometimes more and sometimes less stressed. The regeneration phase is usually too short, especially when it comes to major tournaments with weeks of peak performance. Injuries, strains, stretches are the result of overuse, and muscle fiber stretching can cause considerable pain.
The biggest danger:
While all damage is healed after a few weeks during an endurance regeneration phase, there is a risk of chronicity in the case of overloading despite injury. The muscles then no longer regenerate completely, and the complaints remain.
CBD oil is able to activate the body's self-healing powers, helping to accelerate the regeneration process. Here, the cannabidiol stimulates the body's endocannabinoid system, which in turn erases the pain memory and strengthens the immune defenses in the affected areas. Increased blood flow and a ready defense system then ensure that inflammatory foci (chronic and acute) are reduced and regenerated more quickly. CBD can also have an effect in the form of a sports gel when applied directly to the affected and painful area.
Important to know: CBD is not a substitute for an adequate recovery period. It can help to give the body the strength for the necessary recovery, but it does not replace rest periods.
Strengthening your own performance through healthy sleep
Healthy sleep is one of the most important elements of mental and physical regeneration. After the competition, sleeping is unthinkable for many athletes, the adrenaline pushes the body to peak performance. In large and long-lasting tournaments, insomnia is a common consequence.
Here, the intake of CBD can provide indirect relief, because the cannabidiol is considered sleep-inducing, without leading to a hangover the next day. Through the intake, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline are slowed down in their release, the body's state of emergency subsides and normalizes.
A restful deep sleep phase helps the body to regenerate and be fully ready for action again the next day. Small doses are often enough to stop the flow of adrenaline and initiate the recovery phase.
Conclusion: Athletes can benefit from CBD
CBD is not a miracle cure and cannot eliminate serious sports injuries. Torn muscle fibers and similar ailments always belong in the hands of an expert physician. However, the supplement is able to promote the body's ability to regenerate and break through pain conditions. Thanks to individual feel-good doses, the oil can be dosed in such a way that the optimal effectiveness is achieved.
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2 thoughts on “CBD-Öl als Nahrungsergänzung für Sportler – bessere Regeneration möglich?”
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I take CBD oil. My wife wants to start using it now, too. However, I did not know that cannabinoid is found in the hemp plant.