Athletics demand athletes to put a lot of stress on their bodies. While it increases endurance, physical stress can cause immense pain to the athletes. The current methods of pain management, like opioids, are effective. But, they can take a toll on the user’s health with prolonged usage. Reports say that over ten thousand Americans die due to opioid addiction every year.

The trend tends to continue with the increase in the usage of opioids like Ibuprofen. The associated risks of opioid consumption have led athletes to turn to CBD for pain management. The CBD game has changed since the 2018 WADA report removed CBD from the list of unsafe drugs.

Read on to learn facts about the role of CBD in athletics.

 

How Can CBD Help Athletes? 

Our body has a critical system known as the endocannabinoid system. It performs several functions in our bodies, including regulating diet intake, lipid synthesis, and mediation of homeostasis. Scientists have recently recognized the endocannabinoid system as an essential modulator of the brain and immune tissue functions. The endocannabinoid system has a prominent role to play in the secretion of reproductive hormones as well.

So, what is this endocannabinoid system, and what does it have to do with CBD? The endocannabinoid system constitutes a network of receptors. Our body produces cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. They are what we call the endocannabinoid receptors. In athletes, due to the increased rate of stress, natural cannabinoids might not be enough. 

 

Full Specturm CBD oil from brands like cbdfx.com can help athletes in several ways. Some of them include:

 

• CBD Can Replace Opioids

Despite not having concrete research proof, users claim that CBD can help pain without causing side effects like opioids. As per CDC reports, over 42000 deaths in 2016 were due to opioid consumption. Opioid drugs like morphine and codeine are effective for managing pain. But overdosing on them can even become fatal. Cannabinoids are not as effective as opioids but can help with chronic pain management. Athletes who suffer from chronic pain conditions can find relief by using CBD.

 

• CBD Can Replace Anti-inflammatory Drugs

For years, athletes have been using NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and inflammation. Recent researches say that they may not be safe for long-term usage. Athletes who undergo long training sessions are likely to suffer from renal damages if they use NSAIDs. Even for short training or workout sessions, NSAIDs can cause heart diseases.

Recently, trainers and athletes have found that CBD can help them in many ways. One of them is helping them reduce NSAIDs usage.

 

• CBD Can Help In Reducing Sleep Cycle Problems

The level of gains in athletics is dependent on several factors. One of them is the amount of rest that the athlete takes. Quality sleeping can trigger better performance in athletes. But, dehydration and pain can disrupt sleep.

Reports show that CBD can act as a sedative and help in improving sleep quality. CBD relaxes the mind and the body by inhibiting adenosine reuptake. Also, as we know, CBD possesses anxiolytic effects. It can reduce the anxiety that in turn can improve sleep quality.

 

The Basics About CBD Athletes Should Know 

Now that CBD is legal for athletes, there are a few basic things that one should know. THC, another compound of cannabis, can get the user high upon usage. It is not the case with CBD. CBD is non-psychoactive and has no severe side effects. As we know, the endocannabinoid system is responsible for an array of functions in our bodies. Cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors present in our bodies. While CB1 receptors are prominent in the brain area, CB2 receptors are present in our immune system.

Two endocannabinoids, EAE and 2-AG, that our body produces within the nervous system bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. This way, they inhibit certain neurotransmitters from getting into the system. This way, CBD works by altering specific signals. When the natural endocannabinoids can not do the job, we take cannabinoids to enhance their effects.

Athletes tend to put immense pressure on their muscles. The existing endocannabinoids may not be sufficient to provide pain relief. Consuming CBD can help an athlete by regulating neurotransmitters and maintaining balance.

 

CBD And The Doping Standards 

World athletics has a set of regulations for athletes. One of them is the doping standards. No athlete should consume a set of substances on or before the day of the tournament. 

These substances in an athlete’s sample are considered a doping offense.

Until 2018, CBD was on the list of prohibited substances. The 2018 WADA reports removed CBD from the list giving it a legacy in the drug industry. Athletes should remember that even though CBD is legal, it is an offense according to world athletics rules. Consuming any other cannabinoid can show up in the drug test.

According to WADA, an athlete’s urine sample should contain less than 150 nanograms of THC per milliliter. It is still not advisable to consume THC a day or week for the test.

CBD is legal only when it is in its purest form. There are numerous CBD products in the marketplace out there. Most of them have some amount of other cannabinoids or compounds. But, it is tough to extract pure CBD from cannabis.

Nowadays, many vendors wrong label their products making it a cause of serious concern. CBD products in the market can contain compounds other than CBD. The purity level of CBD products can even depend on the plant from which we derive CBD. If the dose of THC in the urine sample exceeds the threshold, it will test positive in the drug test.

 

Bottom Line 

Though it is legal, athletes will have to consume CBD products at their own risk. Consulting a professional is advisable to ensure a smooth experience. Athletes can go for third-party lab tests to ensure that they consume recommended amounts. For more information regarding how CBD helps athletes, you can visit cbd news. One can buy from a reputable vendor to avoid hassles.