To understand this article well, you must know if CBD can help in a workout and how it helps. One should also know how much CBD is good for a workout and if it should be used before or after a workout.
CBD is found in the market in many forms as well as brands. It is available in gummies, capsules, pills, and juices. It is also found in some edibles. A topical CBD is any salve lotion cream or balm infused with CBD and can directly be applied to the skin. One works out to enhance muscle growth. Although after workouts, one can incur pain, resulting in mobility issues due to inflammation. The human body has satellite cells that act like stem cells for one’s muscles. Satellite cells are precursors to skeletal muscle cells. They are responsible for the ability of muscle tissue to regenerate. This means embryonic cells remain in adults and replace damaged muscle fibers to some degree.
WHAT IS CBD?
According to VanDolah, Bauer & Mauck (2019), cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in cannabis derived from the hemp plant. It has many benefits, and its market has flourished continually in the medical fraternity. CBD has proven its potential role in easing the symptoms of many common health conditions, including neurological disorders, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain. CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) interact with cannabinoid receptors to help treat or limit the effects of various conditions. The difference between the two is that THC produces a high effect. CBD does not, which tends to make it more popular in the medical fraternity.
When these cells are activated, they help add more nuclei to muscle cells and thus the growth of myofibrils. This is basically why other people have bigger muscles than others. There are several ways the topical CBD helps in a workout.
TOPICAL CBD FOR WORKOUT
Below is how the topical CBD help after a workout.
FASTER MUSCLE RECOVERY
CBD supports faster recovery between workouts and following injuries after workouts. Urso (2013) stated that chronic inflammation can always hinder muscle recovery. When we use our muscles intensely or for longer periods, it is thought to cause microscopic damage to proteins that make up muscle fibers. This damage triggers inflammation in the muscle, causing aches and stiffness, thus the pain we feel. Due to CBD’s inflammatory effects, many gymgoers benefit from them.
MUSCLE DAMAGE
The human body has three types of muscles; cardiac, smooth, and skeletal. We engage the skeletal muscles during workouts, as described by Kjøbsted et al. (2018). They are attached to the bones and allow movement. Smooth muscles are located in various internal structures like blood vessels and the digestive tract. The cardiac muscle is specific to the heart. Muscle damage causes the release of inflammatory molecules and immune system cells, which cause the activation of satellite cells into action. These are small flattened cells found in the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. The topical CBD also helps alleviate the soreness and muscle aches caused by exercise.
METABOLIC STRESS
When one is working out, they become catabolic. This means they are breaking down or rather losing overall mass. This includes fat and muscle used as energy. During this process, CBD helps one retain and control anabolic processes. According to El Osta et al. (2016), anabolic supplements boost the production of anabolic hormones. This process helps protein synthesis and leads to fast muscle growth. CBD products don’t replace anabolic hormones but offer alternatives to anti-catabolic ones. They connect CB receptors to the endocannabinoid system. This group of vast networks of chemical signals and cellular receptors is packed throughout our brains and bodies. They function by maintaining the homeostasis of the human body. It is believed that CBD work by preventing endocannabinoids from being broken down. This allows them to have more of an effect on our bodies. On the other hand, THC binds to CB1 or CB2 receptors, leading to psychoactive properties such as a change in mood and consciousness.
BOOSTS ENERGY LEVELS
It is practically impossible to work out when tired. CBD helps regulate blood sugar levels and thus maintains lower insulin levels. This will enable the body to burn more glucose into energy instead of converting it into fat. Remember that one goes to work out to reduce the amount of fat in the body. Applying CBD after a workout helps rejuvenate the muscles and thus remain active by reducing soreness. Using CBD, results are noticed almost immediately.
LOWER STRESS AND ANXIETY
Cortisol is the main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of the brain to regulate your stress levels. A nodule (mass) in your adrenal gland in the brain’s pituitary gland can trigger your body to produce too much cortisol. This can lead to rapid weight gain, skin bruises easily, muscle weakness, diabetes, and other health problems. This condition is called Cushing syndrome. Also, if your body does not produce enough of this hormone, one can have a condition known as Addison’s. Some symptoms include tiredness, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, and loss of appetite. CBD acts as a sedative, thus affecting the release of cortisol. It can significantly lower cortisol levels. As a result, it improves mood, sleep, blood pressure, and weight loss. CBD topicals for workouts may help stress management and relax your mind and body.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
People who engage in bodybuilding exercises tend to want to keep their body fats down. This can be further enhanced by using CBD topicals to relax the muscles. This will keep them rejuvenated and active and get sleep as soreness won’t affect their training or daily activities.
DECREASED DELAY IN ONSET OF MUSCLE SORENESS (DOMS)
This refers to prolonged pain after an intense workout. CBD can help alleviate chronic pain because it dissipates DOMS. Applying CBD can help keep one’s pain at ease and, therefore, ready for workouts anytime.
CONCLUSION
Repeated workouts tend to wear and tear different muscles in the body. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. This is useful as one can reduce muscle pains and aches after workouts. However, one should have a workout regimen for the compounds to be effective. One should consult a qualified health practitioner to know whether taking CBD before or after a workout is beneficial.
REFERENCES
El Osta, R., Almont, T., Diligent, C., Hubert, N., Eschwège, P., & Hubert, J. (2016). Anabolic steroids abuse and male infertility. Basic and clinical andrology, 26(1), 1-8.
Kjøbsted, R., Hingst, J. R., Fentz, J., Foretz, M., Sanz, M. N., Pehmøller, C., … & Lantier, L. (2018). AMPK in skeletal muscle function and metabolism. The FASEB journal, 32(4), 1741-1777.
Urso, M. L. (2013). Anti-inflammatory interventions and skeletal muscle injury: benefit or detriment?. Journal of applied physiology, 115(6), 920-928.
VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.
Sleep specialist
Using the acquired academic and professional experience, I advise patients with various complaints about mental health - depressed mood, nervousness, lack of energy and interest, sleep disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and anxieties, difficulty concentrating, and stress. In my free time, I love to paint and go on long walks on the beach. One of my latest obsessions is sudoku – a wonderful activity to calm an unease mind.
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