These last few years there have been a huge surge in CBD related products, promising health benefits in everything from getting rid of anxiety, better sleep, anti-aging, pain relief, and so much more. There is a growing stream of interest in CBD, claiming that it can help increase the performance of sport’s athletes, and we’re interested in exploring the benefits CBD can provide extreme sport’s athletes, side effects and everything else.
What is Cannabidiol, and what is it used for?
CBD, which stands for Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. It has had a surge in popularity over the past couple of years, from CBD supplements and gummies, to slightly odd to weird products like infused face masks, oils, creams, potato chips (that’s right), smoothies, and even infused workout clothes and so much more.
To fully understand CBD, you need to understand the plant it comes from. CBD is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. Since it does not have any of the psychoactive properties found in THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces that “high” feeling) CBD will not make you high. CBD is recommended for pain, stress and antianxiety benefits.
Scientists who have been studying the topic have found that it is good at reducing chronic pains—like neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain, and can also aid insomnia patients with falling and staying asleep. Researchers are still finding out different uses and benefits, and unlocking CBD’s full potential uses.
How can Cannabidiol Benefit Extreme Sports
As an athlete, it’s obvious that you are putting a lot of stress on your body. Wear and tear from training can lead to injuries and pain, not to mentioned accidents while completing. With a surge of painkillers causing fatal overdoses across the nation, there have been more and more people looking for new, safer ways to manage pain and help quicken the recovery process.
Many people are interested in finding out if cannabidiol or CBD could be the answer athletes are looking for, and so far, the research says that CBD shows promise in helping relieve pain while reducing inflammation. That would be a major change within the athletic world, as quicker recovery times means athletes will be able to get back to training and completing quicker.
Other substances, like THC and opioids, have similar pain-relieving abilities, but are dangerously addictive. The clear distinction between them and CBD, however, is the lack of an addictive nature, memory loss, and other negative qualities shared with THC and opioids. CBD would not hinder athletes (or anyone else) from misuse or dependence, and even has been suggested as a way to aid the recovery process of other addictions, as well.
One of the main controversies among medical professionals is over CBD’s “nonpsychoactive” label. Although is it not addictive, it does technically act on the same cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain as THC, does, making some wary of the long-term effects. However, it has been proven that CBD does not work the same way on those brain receptors, and with different effects, it will not get you high.
Can I Use CBD in Extreme Sports?
A big breakthrough for CBD came when, in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances. However, many of them major sports leagues and athletic organizations, still prohibit the use of THC. And while taking CBD shouldn’t cause you to test positive for THC, there have been a few known instances where athletes tested positive for THC after taking CBD, most likely due to the CBD product being mislabeled or coming from an unreliable source.
While some say that if you are an athlete that needs to be drug tested before partaking in extreme sports, you may want to avoid taking CBD. However, if you read product labels and do your research to be sure you’re getting a high-quality product from a high quality source, there is little chance of CBD affecting your drug tests.
There are various CBD products on the market geared towards athletes and people who live the athletic lifestyle. CBD drinks and shots are a great way to get the health benefits you need. Tribe CBD’s Energy Shot is one of the most recommended, as it combines CBD with caffeine and ginseng, giving you all you require in one drink. Depending on your preference and needs, there are many drinks, shots, supplements, and oils that you can try to see what works best for you. These different CBD products act quickly, with you beginning to feel their effect within minutes.
If there is one thing we all know, extreme sports are thrilling and full of adventure! However, they always carry the risk of death or injury, as they often involve extreme heights or high speeds, which carry their own set of risks. Extreme sports athletes often suffer from torn ligaments, broken bones, muscle soreness, strained muscles, and more. If CBD can offer a solution to help with both injury recovery, and help ease anxiety before completing, it definitely seems like something every athlete should consider.
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