Here are five reasons athletes are turning to CBD:
Inflammation is the precursor to pain, and pain not only hinders performance, it can also cause permanent damage. CBD is able to reduce inflammation which leads to decreased pain. CBD also treats inflammation and pain on a cellular level. As a
naturally anti-inflammatory compound, cannabidiol decreases inflammatory responses without impacting our endocannabinoid system.
Insufficient sleep can lead to a variety of problems such as impaired decision making, slow reaction time, and reduced ability to focus on the task at hand (i.e. playing your best). CBD has been shown to improve sleep quality.
One study on sleep and anxiety showed improvement in both areas as, “anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 79.2% patients and remained decreased during the study duration. Sleep scores improved within the first month in 66% of patients, but fluctuated over time.” These results show that CBD has the potential to help with a good night's rest.
Megan Rapinoe poses with sister Rachel Rapinoe, founder of Mendi
Credit: Forbes
Not only is CBD available as a pill, but the topical cream is an excellent choice for athletes because CBD can be mixed in topicals with a variety of other natural ingredients that can help with pain and inflammation - like arnica, yarrow, and plantain.
Many athletes have turned to CBD as a means to treat pain without the addictive qualities of some prescription drugs. Additionally, it has been suggested that
CBD may reduce cravings for other addictive substances such as cigarettes and alcohol due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Depression and anxiety plague many athletes due to the hormonal and physical stress constantly occurring in their bodies. CBD has been shown to help with these issues because of its
calming properties.
Additionally, depression is common after athletic injuries and CBD can aid in recovery from this emotional trauma as well.