Thanks to improved access to research material and techniques, scientists see more benefits for CBD-based products. If you are a fitness fanatic and bodybuilding, you must be looking for new and efficient ways to make the most out of your workouts. To get the most of your training a pre-work-out stretching is encouraged before a bodybuilding session, his article looks at how cannabinoids(CBD) can improve your gains.
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The relationship between CBD and Bodybuilding
CBD oil is synthesized from the hemp plant, and it will not get you high, contrary to popular belief. After the extraction, the CBD oil is infused in various products, including CBD oil tinctures, vape oils, gummies, chocolates, topical ointments, capsules, and more.
CBD products will not get you high since they contain a very low % THC, which gives a euphoric effect after consumption. With almost no THC, over 80% of Americans support its use for medicinal purposes.
The catabolic hormones in the human body prevent it from growing muscle naturally. It is for this reason that bodybuilders have to take anti-catabolic supplements to prevent muscle degeneration.
Unlike other anti-catabolic elements, CBD oil is a natural and organic way of reversing the effects of the catabolic hormones, thus increasing muscle growth. However, to get the most from CBD oil for muscle growth, avoid taking caffeine since it will increase cortisol levels, stimulating the conversion of protein into glycogen and fat retention.
There is growing research to support that CBD oil indirectly influences muscle growth by improving sleep quality. This leads to increased secretion of HGH resulting in more muscle growth.
CBD for Muscle Recovery
Muscle recovery is crucial for building muscle, but it can affect your muscle gain progress if the recovery process takes too long. When you work out, you exert pressure on the muscle fibers, leading to microscopic tears, resulting in inflammation and forcing the brain to trigger an immune system response to fight the inflammation and repair the damage. The muscles will heal naturally, but this takes too long. Therefore, it is recommended that you take CBD to aid in your post-workout recovery.
Other than experiencing the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of CBD, you will also get these benefits of CBD for muscle recovery:
- Muscle pain relief
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved sleep quality
- Reduced muscle spasms and tension
Besides using CBD for muscle recovery, you should stay hydrated, eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, and avoid over-exercising. This way, you will not have to take long rests in between your workouts.
CBD for Energy
It might seem contradictory to say that CBD could boost your energy since it is known as a relaxation agent. However, as more research is done, it is understood that CBD could have a biphasic effect. This effect means that people will experience different results depending on the dosage they take.
A 2017 review showed that taking lower doses of CBD may have a stimulating effect, and a high dosage will give a sedative effect. For this reason, you will need to know the proper dosage to help you stay alert and energized long after the workout session is over.
Stimulate Your Appetite with CBD
Gaining muscle is not all about lifting weights, but you need to supplement the workout with the proper diet. A proper diet will call for you to have a stricter meal plan that will require you to eat more than breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
However, you must understand the difference between appetite and hunger. Appetite is the desire to eat, while hunger is eating when you must. For muscle growth, you need to eat several times a day, and you must ensure that you have an appetite for bodybuilding foods.
A full-spectrum CBD oil will work with the CB-2 receptors that focus on the gastronomical and immune systems of the body. This way, you will not only improve your appetite, but you will boost your immune system to prevent inflammation and infections.
Ways to Integrate CBD into Your Workout
NFL players have championed the use of CBD for better healing since they are three times more likely to succumb to neurodegenerative disorders. While they might have expensive physiotherapists to guide them, you too can take advantage of their methods without going through your savings.
Here are the various ways that you can integrate CBD into your workout:
- Rub a CBD topical cream on the injured/inflamed areas
- Inhale a CBD-infused vapor for faster pain relief
- Take pre-workout CBD supplements, which come in the form of soluble powders and capsules
- Snack on CBD edibles for steady-releasing effects
- Use a CBD tincture under the tongue after the workout for faster effects
- Spray some CBD oil on your tongue
- Dab the CBD oil on the affected areas for pain relief
- Make a CBD bath bomb
Another way to integrate CBD into your workout routine is by adding it to your protein shakes. This will keep you hydrated and replenish the lost electrolytes while giving your body the healing goodness of CBD.
Conclusion
CBD is one of the best ways of dealing with post-work-out stress. Not only will it help in the recovery process, but it will also boost your energy for increased intensity in your workout sessions. Fortunately, CBD will not show up in drug tests, making it a safe supplement for bodybuilders and workout fanatics to supplement their gains.
Featured Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash
