Maintaining peak levels of performance requires a lot of discipline and effort. As a result, life as an athlete often involves dealing with a lot of stress, pain, and discomfort. And while there are pharmaceuticals that can help you manage these problems, wouldn’t you rather use something natural instead?
CBD oil is a hemp extract that can make the lives of athletes easier in a variety of ways. Best of all, you can use it without putting your career or long-term health at risk.
What can CBD do for you?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hemp extract that possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties. There are other potential benefits associated with CBD that are still being studied, but these three characteristics are fairly well established.
CBD is not a narcotic and will not leave you stoned or intoxicated. The substance was cleared by the World Health Organization as providing no risk for addiction or substance abuse. And in 2017, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its list of banned substances, adding it as a specific exception to the agency’s anti-marijuana regulations.
The position of both organizations points towards CBD being safe, and a mountain of anecdotal evidence lends credibility to the efficacy of the substance. Here’s how CBD can help athletes.
1 – Pain management
CBD oil offers a relatively risk-free way for athletes to deal with pain. Its analgesic properties can help reduce the discomfort caused by injuries and intense workouts. Meanwhile, the substance’s anti-inflammatory properties help treat the cause of the pain, reducing the damage caused by the injury.
There are, however, possible side effects for CBD usage. Some people experience dryness of the mouth, constipation, diarrhea, and drowsiness. The side effects are more common when using high doses of the substance.
2 – Sleep quality
One of the main uses of CBD is as a sleep aid. CBD is not a narcotic, so it won’t give you the sort of sedated sleep that is associated with sleeping pills. However, CBD’s anxiolytic properties help you calm down your body before sleep time.
The substance relaxes your body by lowering the volume of stress hormones in your bloodstream and reducing your blood pressure. Both those effects help you fall asleep faster and can help you rest more every night.
If you are hoping to increase your sleep quality with CBD, remember to take it at least an hour before you go to bed. The substance needs some time to get in full effect.
3 – Stress and anxiety
Trying to stay in peak condition while balancing training and studying can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Especially if you have a big game coming up. That stress is seldom helpful. Not only does stress cloud your mind and make it harder for you to focus, but it also reduces physical and academic performance.
Luckily, CBD can help you with that. The substance’s anxiolytic properties can help reduce your stress levels and bring you down to baseline. That can help you think more clearly and deal with the challenges of daily life more effectively.
It’s important to buy quality CBD oil if you want to experience these effects yourself. As Cibdol explained, quality often means paying a premium for the product.