5 Best Benefits of CBD for Athletes You Wish You Knew Earlier

If you're an athlete, the last thing you want to worry about is your body. With all the rigorous training and physical demands placed on athletes, it's important to stay in top shape for optimal performance.

The problem with that is many things can go wrong with your body that may inhibit or affect your performance; muscle soreness, insomnia, and overtraining syndrome (OTS) are just a few examples.

Not to worry, CBD has been found to be particularly helpful to athletes who are looking for natural alternatives to pain relief and other athlete problems.

What Really is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound in cannabis that does not produce psychoactive effects. CBD has been used for centuries to treat conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety.

Recently, CBD oil became more popular because it offers relief without the euphoric feeling associated with THC-rich products. Many athletes are starting to use CBD oil for recovery after workouts and before competitions to reduce inflammation, ease soreness and help with mental focus.

Here are the 5 best benefits of CBD for athletes:

5 Best Benefits of CBD for Athletes

Here you go:

1. Improves the Quality & Quantity of Your Sleep

Sleep is a crucial part of an athlete's performance. It provides rest, restoration, and energy needed to perform at the highest level. The better you sleep, the more efficiently your body will function during waking hours.

The importance of sleep for athletes cannot be overemphasized. But, as you probably already know, insomnia is something most athletes struggle with. According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, one in four athletes experiences significant sleep disorders. Some of these include, trouble falling asleep, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing.

Research has shown that CBD oil could be the answer for these athletes who are looking for better sleep without any side effects or addiction potential. Findings from an early study conducted to determine whether CBD helps improve sleep and/or anxiety showed that CBD may help improve sleep quantity and quality.

There are several real-life testimonies from athletes who have used CBD to improve their sleep. Klay Thompson and Johnny Collinson are just a few examples.

2. Helps Ease Anxiety

An athlete's job requires them to keep their cool under pressure and perform at their best. Unfortunately, anxiety can often take over when athletes are competing, especially when the stakes are high.

However, early studies have shown that CBD may be beneficial for reducing this anxiety. Findings from a 2020 study showed that CBD may have anti-anxiety effects.

3. Helps Reduce Inflammation

As an athlete, you put your body through a lot. The more athletic you are, the higher the risk of injury and inflammation from playing sports. Chronic inflammation can cause pain in joints and muscles that limit movement, slows recovery time, and decreases performance.

Whether it’s due to insufficient rest periods or just an increase in the intensity of your exercise sessions, muscle inflammation is something you’re bound to experience as an athlete.

Intense exercise causes the muscles to contract and expand, leading to an increase in blood flow. CBD helps reduce inflammation by reducing swelling and lowering levels of certain cytokines that are responsible for releasing proinflammatory agents into the bloodstream.

This means CBD can help with symptoms of inflammatory diseases like arthritis or asthma, as well as more temporary problems like muscle soreness from exercise.

4. Aids in Pain Management

Athletes are typically considered to be at the pinnacle of physical fitness. They work hard every day to maintain their muscles and stay healthy. However, injuries can still happen on the field or court, no matter how skilled an athlete is.

And if they do get injured, there's often not much that can be done for them without surgery because most athletes don't have access to powerful painkillers like opioids.

Early research has shown that CBD might just be what athletes need to alleviate their pain. Findings from a 2021 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research underscores this. According to the research, patients with pain levels ranging from moderate to severe reported decreased pain levels after three months of using "CBD-rich treatment at a network of clinics dedicated to medical cannabis in Quebec, Canada,".

5. Increases Energy Levels

It is no secret that athletes have a higher energy demand than most people. They are constantly pushing their bodies to the limit and need more calories, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to perform at their best.

However, it can be difficult for athletes or people who exercise regularly to maintain their energy due to rigorous physical activity. There are days when they struggle to get through the day with little or no motivation. And sometimes they may even be experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Fortunately, CBD is proving to be an effective supplement for increasing athlete's energy levels and performance during workouts because it provides users with increased focus and less anxiety. Studies have shown that taking low doses of CBD (less than 15 mg) may increase alertness and raise energy levels.

CBD is an athlete’s must-have. It helps with sleep disorders, eases anxiety, reduces inflammation, relieves pain, and increases energy levels. If you’d like to see for yourself how CBD works, here are some athlete-inspired CBD products.

6 Best CBD Products for Athletes

Just Live is an athlete-founded brand, which explains why we have a special collection of CBD products specifically for athletes. Products used by the likes of Klay Thompson, Alex Morgan, Travis Pastrana, and Paul Rodriguez.

Below are some of the best CBD products for athletes:

• Capsules – Choose from our collection of both pre- and post-workout capsules.
• Gummies – Available in several variants: Focus, Calm, Energy, and Sleep, etc.
• Tinctures – Available in several variants.
• Pain Relief Cream - Available in different sizes.
• Soft Gels - Available in Deep Sleep and Vegan variants.
• Freeze Therapy Roll-On - Available in various sizes.

Live Out Your Full Potential

Try CBD today to live out your full potential even on days when you don't feel like it. Check out our product page to see all we’ve got for you.