Athletes and CBD

Is CBD Safe for Athletes?

Pushing yourself to be a better athlete has probably come with pain and at one time or another an injury. Whether from a tough training session, overuse or an accident, these injuries are common among athletes. Learning of its numerous therapeutic properties, CBD has gained the attention of a lot of athletes at varying levels. This article will include an explanation of what CBD is and just how exactly it can help you as an athlete. 

What exactly is CBD? 

CBD is short for Cannabidiol and is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids found within the Cannabis Sativa plant. Hearing the word cannabis, you may assume its marijuana but instead CBD is naturally derived from a strain of Cannabis Sativa called Hemp. As stated in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 ( Also known as the 2018 Farm Bill) hemp derived CBD is federally legal when containing less than .3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol - the psychoactive component of marijuana). At such a low concentration of THC there is no mind altering “high” associated with CBD.   

What are the Benefits of CBD for Athletes? 

With so many benefits ranging from aiding in recovery, managing pain, and limiting stress and anxiety, it’s not surprising that CBD has grown in popularity among the athletic community.  If you’re an athlete debating on using CBD, here are a few reasons why incorporating it into your training is a great idea. 

1. CBD Can Reduce Joint/Muscle Inflammation and Pain

You finished your training session and are preparing for tomorrow's workout. How can you help limit the inflammation and swelling you’ve encountered now? Like most athletes you probably reached for an over-the-counter pain killer, but long-term use of these products has shown the possibility of causing numerous health conditions. Seeking a safe and natural alternative, CBD has proven itself as an anti-inflammatory which can reduce the pain and swelling associated with inflammation. 

2. CBD Can Help You Fall and Stay Asleep

Your body requires sleep and depending on your age you may need less or even more than you think you need.(Check out our previous blog  Do Not Snooze on the Importance of Sleep) Getting to bed and staying asleep is required for your body to recover and function optimally every day. When not getting the correct amount of sleep you could hinder your mental and physical state, ultimately causing them both to decline. If this continues over time, you could increase the chance of developing a serious health condition. Fortunately, there are numerous studies that have shown CBD can help with various sleeping disorders and manage our circadian rhythm, or also known as our sleep-wake cycle. Ensuring this cycle is maintained can also help to reduce symptoms that effect our sleep patterns such as pain, stress, and anxiety. 

3. CBD Can Help Reduce Recovery Time

Pushing yourself harder each training session results in “microtears” of your muscles. This damage can result in soreness and pain. Allowing your body a period of rest will give it the time needed to repair these damaged areas. Rest will also increase muscle strength and once recovered, return stronger than before. This cycle is repeated constantly and ultimately how our bodies build bigger and stronger muscles. Though thinking its ok to push through this pain all the time you need to listen to your body and decide whether an active recovery day is a better option than hitting another hard training day. As noted in reason #1; CBD is an anti-inflammatory, but it also very high in antioxidants. Having the benefits as both an anti-inflammatory and containing antioxidants, CBD has been found to reduce the amount of oxidative damage. This in turn can speed up the recovery process. 

Are Athletes Allowed to Use CBD Legally?

A big move for the sports world was when WADA (World Anti-Doping Association) removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances in 2018. Though WADA governs the anti-doping standards for the Olympics and made this decision nearly 4 years ago, you should refer to your organization’s website or information on legal and/or illegal substances which may or may not include CBD. Despite hemp derived CBD being federally legal in all 50 states, not all sports organizations nor countries have allowed the use of CBD. 

In Closing

As an athlete who may be tested for certain substances, it is imperative you are sure of the products you consume. Incorporating CBD into your training could certainly help but considering the varieties of CBD products it would be wise to only use CBD isolate products as these do not contain any THC. Though full spectrum CBD products only contain .3% THC and it may be a very small chance, there is no assurance you may not fail a test with even such a small amount. At the end of the day the responsibility lies on you as the athlete to find a trusted and proven source of CBD products. 

At High Tide Herbal we are Collegiate Coaches and current nationally competing athletes. Keeping sport clean and providing athletes at varying levels of athletics with a trusted product is our goal. If you are an athlete and interested in High Tide Herbal CBD but still unsure of which product would be best for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.