Things Runners Need to Know About CBD
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Author: Jason Beverly
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a relatively new drug on the market that has shown to have some serious health benefits. Unlike the Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short, CBD has no psychoactive properties and therefore, produces no high. What it does instead is only provide the user with numerous benefits.
CBD comes in many forms, that include pills, oils, creams and sprays. In most states, it’s widely available for purchase without any prescription. That said, let’s see what are some of the things runners need to know about CBD and how they can incorporate it in their everyday lives.
Why use CBD?
CBD in any form is excellent for relaxing both the body and the mind. It has shown to reduce stress drastically, which makes it great for anyone dealing with lots of stress on a regular basis. Of course, since using CBD will lower stress and relax you, it will also enable you to concentrate better. This is particularly important for runners, as the more concentrated you are, the lesser the chances for any injury or accident will be. So, mix in some CBD supplements in your smoothie, put your favorite Nike running shoes on and go for your regular run.
Learn how it works
Even though things like CBD oils and creams are used for topical application to soothe pain, it is not a medication. What this means is that if you have – for instance – sprained your ankle, CBD ointment will make it less painful but it won’t make it better. That’s why you should only use it for relieving muscle tension after a strenuous run. However, make sure you pay your doctor a visit if you’ve managed to injure yourself. Just because the pain went away, that doesn’t mean that the injury did so as well.
It reduces inflammation
On a similar note, CBD works great for reducing inflammation. This is particularly useful for serious runners. Plenty of pro-athletes have already shifted to CBD alternatives rather than pharmaceutical options. Since CBD is naturally derived from the hemp plant, it makes a far more natural alternative. Reduced inflammation and chronic pain will enable runners to achieve better results. It will also boost their performance, in general, as when there’s no pain, there’s nothing stopping you from pushing harder and reaching your maximum when running.
CBD is a safer alternative
Unlike some commonly used pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen, CBD doesn’t seem to have any negative effects on your body. On the other hand, Ibuprofen – although an excellent pain reliever – has shown to cause some serious consequences. Kidney and liver damage are just some of the conditions that are known to result from regular Ibuprofen use. However, the research done on CBD doesn’t seem to show any similar results. The reason is the fact that CBD works by interacting with serotonin and vanilloid receptors. These two are in charge of our pain perception and mood. By interacting with these, it helps our bodies naturally deal with pain regulation.
It won’t affect any drug test
Finally, it’s important to mention once more that CBD doesn’t contain any THC. What this means is that regular CBD consumption won’t affect – in any way – any drug tests. This is very important for runners and other athletes that go through rigorous testing prior to any important event. That said, even if you run just to stay fit and you’re not planning on competing, it’s good to know that there’s a completely healthy and safe pain-relieving drug on the market you can resort to prior to running or during a post-run recovery.
So, the next time you’re dealing with joint or muscle pain, know that there’s a better alternative for your regular pain-relieves on the market. Even if your pain is more mental and emotional in nature, you will still experience serious benefits if you decide to give CBD a try.
My brother recently wanted to continue jogging as his new form of physical exercise. I found it very interesting when you noted that CBD is a great anti-inflammation source because my brother has run into a couple of times where he had encountered severe irritation and other types of pain, hence he was initially hesitant to continue. I’ll be sure to remember your article and look for sources of CBD intake that I can recommend him and maybe even myself. Thank you!