CBD for Athletes: 4 Professional Athletes Who Are Using CBD
You may have heard of CBD, but do you know what it is? CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a compound in the cannabis plant that has many health benefits. It is extracted from hemp plants with low THC content.
This means that users will not get high when they use it. For athletes who are looking to improve their performance - or anyone else who wants to be more active - this can be an excellent option.
Following the legalization of CBD and its subsequent removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances, athletes are increasingly opting for CBD as an alternative therapy for pain relief, better sleep, and muscle relaxation.
In this blog post, we'll take a look at four professional athletes who are using CBD to enhance their training regimens and stay healthy while doing so.
1. Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors Shooting Guard
The first CBD-using athlete on our list is Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors. Klay was introduced to CBD following a left ACL injury he sustained during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
When asked in an interview with Marc Spears of The Undefeated how CBD helped in his road to recovery, the 3time NBA Champion said:
"It has helped with sleep. I’m sleeping eight hours now, and I really need that. It has helped with performance. It has definitely helped me with body aches that I have had on a daily basis. As an athlete you want to give your best and push yourself, that comes with pain. It goes hand in hand with what it is doing for me. I’ve only used it for a few months, but it definitely helps."
Klay's Product Picks
2. Alex Morgan - USNWT and Orlando Pride Forward
Alex Morgan is a soccer player who plays as forward for the US Women's National Team and Orlando Pride of NWSL. Alex was the youngest player on the US World Cup Roster for the 2011 World Cup.
The Olympic Gold Medalist has been vocal about her support for CBD and even co-founded a CBD brand, Just Live.
"Whether it's on the field or at home, my team and family depend on me giving them 100%. To do this, I have to nurture my mental and physical wellness at all times." Alex shared in a post on her Instagram page. "My new company @justlive allows me to do this with our all-natural CBD products".
Alex’s Product Picks:
3. Travis Pastrana - Action Sports & Professional Motocross Star
Travis Pastrana is one of the most decorated action sports stars in history. He's won 7 career Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 125ESX Wins. Not only that, but he's also won 7 career Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship 125MX Wins.
The stunt performer has a rather personal story of how he got to become a CBD user, a proud advocate even. In an interview with Uproxx, Travis shared how CBD helped him get better sleep without the side effects that usually come with sleeping pills.
He's also been vocal about how CBD helped his Dad manage pain without the mental fogginess traditionally associated with painkillers.
Travis' Product Picks:
4 Paul Rodriguez - Professional Skateboarder
Paul Rodriguez is a professional skateboarder who has been on the sport's scene since he was 16. He specializes in street skating and has won eight medals at the X Games, four of them gold.
P-Rod was introduced to CBD during his two-year-long recovery from a series of injuries sustained during a skateboarding accident.
The pro-skateboarder was determined to get back on his board as soon as possible following surgery. He understood the drawbacks of prescription pills, so he avoided them after one round with his doctor and instead switched to a product that all of his friends in the industry recommended: CBD.
He took it regularly, was pleased with the outcomes, and has since added it to his daily wellness program.
Paul's Product Picks
- CBD Capsules
- Freeze Therapy Roll-On
Why Do Athletes Take CBD?
One of the reasons CBD is taking off among athletes across professional sports leagues and recreational activities is because of its astounding range of benefits. CBD has been used to help relieve stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, joint pains, workout recovery time and so much more.
CBD also helps with inflammation caused by strenuous physical activity, and contributes to faster muscle recovery. It also doesn't have any psychoactive properties, so it won’t affect your performance in the field or at home - making CBD wellness products a great alternative to prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs which are typically recommended for athletes.
There is still research being done about CBD's benefits for athletes, but anecdotal evidence shows that CBD may be helpful in:
- Improving sleep quality
- Promoting relaxation
- Relieving pain
- Dealing with inflammation
- Supporting muscle recovery
Ready to Try CBD? Here's How to Go About It
If you're a CBD newbie, the first question that'll probably come to mind is: how do I take CBD?
CBD comes in many forms and can be taken either orally or topically. Depending on what you want CBD for, there are different CBD products available including capsules, tinctures, gummies, and topical lotions.
It's important though to do a bit of research before you start taking CBD, this helps eliminate the risk of buying low-grade or diluted CBD products that may not produce results.
Before buying any CBD products, ensure that it has undergone third-party testing and has a certificate of analysis to that effect.
Something else to look for is the reputation of the brand, buying CBD from a random place could have dire consequences. Look out for brands that are not fishy and can be trusted.
Try Just Live CBD
Just Live is an athlete-founded brand that manufactures CBD of the highest quality available. We're proud to say that the athletes listed above are our founders and are also ardent users of our products.
We offer CBD for athletes and everybody else in several forms including capsules, gummies, tinctures, freeze roll-on, topicals, etc. Visit our shop today to see the different CBD products we have available for you.
