CBD SPORTS

SPORTS

CBD in sports is dramatically increasing, with recent studies showing us its many beneficial effects, and in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances for professional athletes, including the International Athletics Federation. We are now able to extract CBD as a broad spectrum or an isolate, meaning it contains 0% THC, which is vitally important to athletes when taking anti-doping drug tests. A full spectrum CBD product, containing no more than the legal 0.2% THC limit, may still show up during a drugs test.

 

Originally, CBD was used as a nutritional supplement among many athletes, but it is now used for many reasons in the sports industry and taken in many ways. Whether it is administered in a droplet, spray, topical solution, capsule or even in a favourite snack, CBD is now being used by many athletes to increase performance, optimize muscle functions, and most importantly, speed up the body’s recovery process (especially CBG!).

 

CBDs therapeutic benefits are somewhat optimised for athletes, with CBD combating many of their ailments;

  • Speeds up recovery. The anti-inflammatory effect of CBD helps alleviate the pain during recovery, and at the same time increases the athletes pain threshold. CBD can also help support muscle growth through an enhanced recovery process, and prevention of inflammation.
  • Helps prevent injury. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can suppress the symptoms of inflammation, helping the body to avoid injury or muscle strain, perfect for gym enthusiasts.
  • Strengthens the immune system. Not only for sports, but vital for athletes to be in optimal condition, keeping the body and all the organs in top condition.
  • Stress and anxiety. Again, not only in sports, but stress and anxiety can frequently occur during intense training and exercise or prior to competitions. CBD helps the body to suppress anxiety and stress, by creating anti-stress and anti-anxiety hormones in the brain.
  • Helps sleep and relaxation. Getting the right amount of sleep is important for any athlete, which correlates directly with recovery and energy levels, vital for achieving optimal performances.
  • Controls weight gain. CBD has been known to regulate the appetite, as opposing to THC, which is known to be an appetite stimulator. CBD can also increase endurance and fitness levels by activating and balancing the endocannabinoid system in our body.

In conclusion, we can safely say that CBD offers an athletic advantage in sport. A 100% natural product, which can be useful to any athlete in any sports. Let’s take a look at a few of the sports that involve CBD;

 

  • Mixed martial arts, a sport that has gained a global popularity and fanbase over the last ten years. Arguably the most intense sport for any athlete, with a tremendous amount of physical strain put on the body. MMA fighters have been some of the most vocal supporters of CBD, with Nate Diaz being one of the first to publicly speak about his admiration for Cannabidiol. Nate and his brother Nick are often praising CBD for its pain-relieving properties, favouring it over prescription medication, due to its natural origin. (Pictured, Nate Diaz vaping CBD at a recent press conference). Gina Mazany, a female UFC athlete, has also commented on numerous occasions, how she uses CBD to help her body recover.

 

  • Rugby. Probably the number one sport in the UK associated with CBD, renowned rugby stars James Haskell and Ben Franks have even teamed up to create their own CBD company, Impact Sports CBD. Another couple of Rugby stars, George Kruis and Dominic Day, have also teamed up together to create FourFiveCBD. George and Dominic have a combined 24 years of experience as professional rugby players at the highest level. They have both retired now, with many battle scars, collectively undergoing the surgeon’s knife 12 times during their glittering careers. They both found CBD whilst managing the symptoms of their injuries and have never looked back, deciding to spend their time promoting CBD for other athletes alike. We all know that rugby is tough on the body, with physical and mental preparation imperative, and optimal recovery strategies being essential to get athletes back to performing at their best. CBD has been heralded as a life saver for many rugby players, particularly for its anti-inflammatory properties

 

  • NFL Another incredibly physical and combative sport that, like Rugby, that has a host of retired athletes dealing with old injuries and aches. Superstar names such as Terrell Davies, David Ahrens and Rob Gronkowski have benefited from the pain-relieving properties associated with CBD. All three athletes played in different positions on the field, yet all are suffering the same pains from years in such a physically gruelling sport. Unfortunately, despite CBD being completely legal for all athletes, the NFL has banned the use of CBD indefinitely. So, if you are a professional NFL player, you will have to wait for your retirement, like Terrell, David and Rob, before taking CBD for pain management.

 

  • On the other end of the scale, we have Golf. Probably one of the most calming and relaxing forms of professional sport, well in comparison to MMA and Rugby for example! Although Golf may not seem as physically challenging as other sports, it still has a great number of CBD supporters. Lucas Glover, an American golfer who won the US Open in 2009, attributed CBD to his success by saying “the biggest benefit is the calmness”. It’s brilliant to see that CBD is not only helping with the physical aspects of sport, but also the mental ailments too. There were a record six companies represented at the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show with CBD, or Hemp related products, with PGA Tour Champions player, Scott McCarron being sponsored by a leading Colorado based CBD company. Scott went on to comment in a press conference, “CBD oil helps my mind stay focused and my body recover, so I can always play my best. Most people don’t realise the incredible levels of mental stress and anxiety that comes with pro Golf. In order to continue playing, and performing at the highest level, I need to take care of the one body I have”. In conclusion, CBD is steadily becoming one of the worst kept secrets in Golf, with its benefits including, heightened focus, reduced inflammation and pain, and the ability to aid sleep and injury recovery.