Want to Add CBD to Your Diet?

Want to Add CBD to Your Diet? CBD oil has become one of the more popular products on the market today, and with good reason: Some evidence has shown that CBD has the potential to address a variety of physical and emotional issues, and indeed, many of those benefits have led as many as 1 in 7 Americans to purchase CBD from retailers such as EZLief.

Since CBD oil is so new (it was only legalized in America in 2018) there is still a great deal of confusion on what it is and what its many benefits are. So, here’s a quick look at 5 benefits CBD may have for working out.

Pain Reduction

Perhaps one of CBD’s most touted benefits is its ability to reduce pain which comes from working out. As noted in studies on both rats and humans, CBD seems to have analgesic effects. While much of the studies in humans relies of self-reported measures, specific studies conducted have shown that CBD can reduce pain from chronic conditions, such as arthritis. Anecdotal evidence also indicates that CBD balms (meaning CBD products which are applied directly to sore spots) can help to soothe achy muscles.

Different types of CBD consumption can lead to more localized results. Consuming CBD via an edible or tincture can lead to more generalized results, but applying CBD as a topical (such as a balm or lotion) can allow you to target the pain relief to exactly the muscles which hurt.

Better yet, CBD can accomplish these goals without the negative side effects which are common in more potent pain killers. CBD is non-intoxicating; unlike it’s distant cousin, marijuana, CBD will NOT get you high. According to a report from the World Health Organization, CBD is safe to use, non-addictive and well-tolerated by most people. As a result, you can use CBD to reduce pain without many of the concerns which plague opioid-based pain killers.

Speed Recovery

As anyone who uses a gym knows, it can sometimes take a couple of days to recover from an an intense workout. CBD may be able to speed this recovery time by reducing pain and the inflammation which comes from working out. Much of the need for recovery time comes from repeated muscle use. This causes your muscles to swell and rub against each other, leading to pain and fatigue. Use of CBD can reduce the swelling, thus allowing you to get back to the gym faster than you would have without CBD.

It’s also worth noting that CBD may help to improve sleep duration and quality. When you sleep, your body produces Melatonin, a hormone which helps your muscles recover from an intense workout or injury.

Reduction of Inflammation

It’s worth examining why working out causes the need for recovery time. Normal pain and soreness from working out is caused by microscopic tears in your muscles. This leads to inflammation, and that’s where CBD comes in.

Numerous studies have found that CBD can reduce inflammation in both rats and humans who suffered from injuries or chronic conditions. CBD’s anti-inflammatory benefits don’t stop at the muscles, as some studies have found CBD to reduce swelling which comes from brain disorders (like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s), as well as inflammation which occurs in the skin and can lead to numerous skin diseases.

These anti-inflammatory benefits can also impact other positives noted here. Specifically, reducing inflammation can speed recovery between workouts and reduce pain in the process.

Decreased Injury Recovery Time

Working out can cause more than “average” pain – it can also result in minor or major injuries. However, anecdotal reports and some studies indicate that CBD use can help with recovery from injuries. Much of this is tied to CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation, a critical part of recovering from any injury.

Sleep Better

It is next to impossible to get a good workout when you’ve had a bad night of sleep. That’s where CBD comes in. CBD appears to be able to help people get a better night sleep, reduce grogginess and be more awake during the day. Additionally, CBD helps individuals get a better night sleep by reducing some of the worst causes of sleeplessness and insomnia, such as pain, stress and anxiety. All of this can lead to a better night’s sleep – and thus, a better workout.

As you can probably tell from reading this article, many of these benefits are tied together. Decreased pain leads to better sleep, decreased inflammation leads to less pain and quicker recovery time, etc. Indeed, this may be one of CBD’s main benefits: Rather than addressing just one symptom, it appears that CBD addresses a slew of symptoms in a holistic matter, thus promoting health and allowing you to get back to the gym quicker.

When it comes to CBD, there’s no question that more research is needed. However, the preliminary reports are positive. You should absolutely check with a medical professional before trying CBD, but once you have gotten the clearance, it may be worth giving CBD a try.