Are you already taking CBD before your workout for a boost in performance and improved concentration? Great! Be sure to allow enough time before your workout for the CBD to stimulate your native cannabidiols. Your pre-workout dose will also lay the foundation for an additional dose of CBD post-workout, if you desire.

The benefits of taking CBD post-workout include muscle tension relief, pain alleviation, and muscle recovery.

One of the primary benefits of making use of CBD post-workout is in the process of muscle recovery is in reducing inflammation.

While many athletes and fitness fans apply ice to injuries or specific muscle areas post-workout, some studies show that ice does not necessarily support muscle recovery. While, it's true that ice does reduce inflammation, it's important to understand what inflammation has to do with muscle recovery.

Inflammation & Muscle Recovery

The process of inflammation is actually designed to support muscle recovery by delivering extra nutrients and oxygen to the affected area via additional blood flow. Damaged proteins, lactic acid, and cellular debris are swept out of the affected area by the increased blood flow. Furthermore, inflammation stimulates satellite cells leading to new muscle fiber growth.

Sounds good, right?

On the other hand, the inflammatory process is too general and affects large muscle groups rather than specific, targeted regions (such as the area you may have injured or overworked)!

This is why athletes reach for the ice–to limit the body's inflammatory response so it doesn't damage muscle regions that haven't been affected by your workout.

This is where CBD may be able to offer a better solution! CBD has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation in the body, however, it doesn't appear to affect the TGF-β and IL-10 molecules which are the inflammatory markers the aid in stimulating the cells to encourage muscle fiber growth.*

The best of both worlds! You get to retain the benefits of inflammation while inhibiting the detriments.

The Endocannabinoid System

Another benefit of CBD related to muscle recovery is its impact on the endocannabinoid system: a major, regulatory network in the body that is always at work. Replenishing compounds in your endocannabinoid system with CBD can help ensure your immune function (anti-inflammation), metabolism, energy balance, concentration, coordination, and other important functions are in balance and fully supported. Read more about the Endocannabinoid System.

Sleep & Muscle Recovery

Some of the most important aspects of muscle recovery happen while you’re sleeping.**

While you sleep, damaged proteins such as actin, troponin, and myosin are restored; the conversion of lactic acid to glucose in the liver occurs; damaged cellular debris is removed, and new muscle fibers are worked on; and the stimulation of the cells that work to create new muscle fibers occurs.

If you’re sleep deprived, not only are all of the above important processes negatively impacted, but cortisol levels rise, and a reduction in testosterone occurs.

Fortunately, CBD supports sleep!

Is CBD legal for athletes?

Yes. Starting at the beginning of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances – in or out of competition. Here is the current prohibited list.

You can take CBD internally to support your entire Endocannabinoid system and you can also address targeted muscles and joints by using a topical cream, salve, or nano product.

See all topical muscle & joint products

*Nagarkatti, P., Pandey, R., Rieder, S. A., Hegde, V. L., & Nagarkatti, M. (2009). Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future medicinal chemistry, 1(7), 1333-1349.

**Dattilo, M., Antunes, H. K. M., Medeiros, A., Neto, M. M., Souza, H. S. D., Tufik, S., & De Mello, M. T. (2011). Sleep and muscle recovery: endocrinological and molecular basis for a new and promising hypothesis. Medical hypotheses, 77(2), 220-222.