Cannabis and fitness: it’s not a likely combination, but it is one that many gymgoers and athletes are starting to get up to speed with. We are not talking about getting ‘stoned’ here – indeed, cannabis is renowned – and for some, notorious – for being conducive to unhealthy habits, but about capitalizing on the plant’s therapeutic compounds. One in particular, cannabidiol (CBD), is teeming with benefits, and doesn’t cause any psychotropic side effects.
CBD first came to mainstream attention as a novel treatment for refractory epilepsy, and CBD wholesale products have since flourished as a natural medicine and supplement. And many of the health benefits offered by CBD can be utilized for before, during and after exercise. Let’s consider how.
Get motivated with CBD
The biggest battle that you have when exercising is with yourself, and nurturing a positive frame of mind for your energetic activities is essential, however you choose to workout. There are no shortcuts with exercising and getting fit, it’s intense, tiring and painful, and at times the aches and pains your body goes through, along with the build-up of lactic acid will make you want to stop – but it’s at that moment where you have to push on.
Or perhaps your struggles are getting off the couch and into the gym, or on your bike or out on the roads for a run. Either way, if motivation is your problem, you may benefit from some CBD flower. This can help you out.
CBD can trigger a pleasant feel-good effect, and it’s this trait which explains its growing popularity as a plant-based antidepressant. The cannabinoid’s interactions in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are critical for its mood-enhancing properties. The most important of these interactions is with anandamide (AEA), a neurotransmitter that helps to make us happy – so it’s no wonder that people have named it the ‘bliss molecule’.
CBD helps to put us in a good mood; one where exercise doesn’t seem so much of an ordeal. It does this by encouraging more binding between AEA and CB1 receptors located in the central nervous system. The body makes its own AEA, but levels are quickly depleted due to hydrolysis from fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzymes. CBD can stop AEA reuptake, which essentially creates a larger pool of these chemicals, so that they can boost motivation by latching onto CB1 receptors.
Taking CBD before exercising is the best way to receive the substance’s motivation benefits. With CBD vape juice and tincture oils, it’s recommended to administer a dose about 10 minutes before you start. With any orally-consumed product, such as capsules, take a dose around 30 to 45 minutes prior to working out. Besides, you should know that our selection of cannabis infused edibles.
Reduce cortisol and boost muscle growth with CBD
Cortisol is a steroid hormone associated with stress, but it can also affect muscle growth. The hormone is the complete opposite to testosterone, which facilitates growth, and its catabolic effect means that it eats away at the muscle – this is a nightmare if you’re trying to bulk up. In the long run, stress can be eased by improving your sleep patterns, adopting a meditation routine and by making life as calm and easy going as possible. However, for immediate stress-busting results, CBD supplements are a class apart.
A hit on a CBD vape pen before weight training, will keep cortisol to a minimum, and ensure that it doesn’t offset the benefits being provided by testosterone. CBD reduces the levels of cortisol in the blood by affecting secretion of the hormone.
Banish anxiety
Simply going to the gym can be a real challenge for anxiety patients, especially those who have never been before and are conscious about their bodies. But for those who have busy schedules, an hour in the gym can be the most effective way to exercise – not to mention, a gym will have all the kit you need for you to achieve your goals. But CBD can help to eliminate all of the fears that are holding you back. Check out this cbd cartridge.
A series of studies have found that CBD has anxiolytic properties which are more valuable than placebos, and even the well-known class of anti-anxiety drugs, SSRIs. By reducing excitation in the brain, CBD can calm the thoughts down enough to shut down unhelpful, incisive and incessant mind chatter.
Final thought
CBD oil wholesale is probably the ideal product to use for exercise. The speed of delivery is as close as you can get to vaping or smoking flower, but tinctures do not cause any degree of harm to the body.