Are you a professional athlete or bodybuilding buff who’s constantly on the search for performance-enhancing supplements? Then you might want to look in the direction of cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol is a compound that occurs naturally in cannabis, believed to contain numerous health benefits.
Medical marijuana doctors mostly recommend cannabidiol for pain and anxiety. CBD might offer several other health benefits, including aiding sleep and treating erectile dysfunction (ED).
With its immense therapeutic properties, it’s not surprising that CBD products are gaining traction in the sports and fitness industry. But suppose you’re new to this novelty drug. In that case, it’s important to begin by familiarizing yourself with all its medicinal properties and how you can use it to optimize your athletic performance. And that’s precisely what this article is about.
Read on as we uncover the role of cannabidiol in sports, with a special focus on CBD-infused sports drinks.
What Is A CBD Sports Drink?
A CBD sports drink is exactly what the name implies – a cannabidiol-infused drink manufactured with athletes in mind.
It’s worth noting that CBD goods come in multiple formulations. Popular ones include inhalable CBD e-juice and dried hemp buds, topicals like CBD face masks and bath bombs, and edibles like CBD-infused chocolates and beverage drinks. CBD sports drinks fall in the category of cannabidiol-infused edible products.
Several factors determine the choice of one product over the others. Notable ones include the desired average onset time and duration of effects.
Ingredients in CBD Sports Drinks
Cannabidiol is the staple ingredient in CBD-infused sports drinks. However, these products could contain several compounds besides CBD, including other phytocannabinoids.
Phytocannabinoids are plant compounds that contain healing properties. These compounds are fairly abundant in cannabis, with the plant boasting over 120 officially-identified cannabinoids. One notable cannabinoid in marijuana that every potential CBD user should know is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Tetrahydrocannabinol is ranked alongside CBD as two of the most popular cannabis extracts. THC is noted for its mind-altering effects. It’s the principal chemical in weed associated with the “high.”
Most CBD sports drinks are formulated with negligible THC concentrations. But some of these products could contain considerable THC levels. Cannabis products containing significant strengths of THC are called full-spectrum. Full-spectrum CBD products are famous for their ability to provide compounded effects. That’s because THC also boasts several medicinal properties in addition to its psychoactive nature.
Besides establishing the kinds of phytocannabinoids in a CBD sports drink, it’s also best to check that the product contains other basic ingredients required in most sports and fitness supplements. Common sports drink ingredients include carbohydrates, electrolytes like sodium and magnesium, and nutrients like niacin and taurine.
What Are The Benefits Of CBD Sports Drinks?
Most of the benefits of CBD sports drinks are attributed to the cannabidiol in these products.
- CBD Sports Drink May Treat Pain
Pain is an inseparable part of an athlete’s lifestyle. But if untreated, pain can trigger frustrating workout downtimes.
Using CBD sports drinks might help alleviate workout-induced pain, keeping you in peak performance at all times.
CBD treats pain by stimulating the vanilloid receptor, an endocannabinoid receptor involved in the body’s natural pain-signaling processes. CBD may also increase anandamide signaling. Anandamide is a famous neurotransmitter that also aids pain mediation mechanisms.
- CBD Sports Drink May Relieve Inflammation
Engaging in energy-intensive workouts is an excellent way to enhance your muscle endurance. But these exercises can also cause muscle inflammation.
Just like pain, inflammation could set you back with your workouts and possibly put you off a crucial match.
Supplementing with CBD sports drinks is a perfect way to treat exercise-induced inflammation. Cannabidiol relieves inflammation by reducing the stimulation of cytokines, proteins that trigger inflammatory messenger activities.
- CBD Sports Drink May Improve Your Concentration
Cannabidiol is an effective anxiolytic. The compound is incredibly relaxing and can calm down an anxious mind.
CBD reduces anxiety by inhibiting the stress hormone cortisol and increasing the brain’s sensitivity to the ‘happiness’ neurotransmitter serotonin.
Reducing performance anxiety has a direct effect on boosting your mental focus. This can help minimize workout-related accidents while upping your odds in high-stakes matches.
- CBD Sports Drinks May Help You Sleep Better
After a busy day in the gym or on the pitch, an athlete deserves two things – a great meal and adequate sleep. Sleep helps repair the microscopic muscle damage incurred during strenuous workouts. Adequate sleep also translates to low anxiety levels and better daytime concentration.
CBD sports drinks may aid your sleep in various ways.
First, these products might reduce your sleep latency, allowing you to drift to sleep much faster. CBD sports drinks may also treat certain medical conditions known to affect sleep quality, such as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).
Are CBD Sports Drinks Legal?
The signing into law of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived CBD products in all states in the U.S. The only rider is that any CBD product should contain 0.3% THC concentration to be deemed federally legal.
Besides, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from its list of banned substances.
But as you might expect, CBD laws vary from one country to another. So, ensure the regulations in your local jurisdiction guide you.
The Bottom Line
There are several reasons to switch from regular sports supplements to CBD-infused sports drinks.
Just remember to exercise moderation. Although highly effective against numerous ailments, CBD can prove counterproductive if overdosed.
