Why You Need CBD Oil in Your Fitness Regime
Whether you go to the gym every day or simply run your exercise regime from home, having all the right support is important.
There are literally hundreds of different supplements on the market that are designed to ‘enhance’ performance in some way.
One of those growing in popularity over the last few years is CBD oil. Cannabidiol is thought to complement our own natural endocannabinoid system and may have a number of different benefits for those working through a fitness regime.
Taking CBD oil supplements may have an impact on areas like muscle soreness, fatigue and even appetite control according to the evidence. While more research certainly needs to be undertaken, some of these benefits could include:
1. Reducing Cortisol Levels
High cortisol levels in the blood can be detrimental – it’s a hormone that’s largely involved in our flight or fight response. Too much cortisol can cause your energy levels to dip which might mean you don’t get as much out of your exercise session as you hoped. One small study found that taking CBD may reduce the amount of cortisol in the blood.
2. Promoting Good Sleep
While it’s not part of your exercise regime, sleep is pretty important in recovering properly and repairing muscles. Disrupted sleep means that you also wake up perpetually tired and don’t give everything to your session the next day. A recent review of the research literature showed that there is some evidence to suggest that CBD helps promote better sleep.
Maintaining Weight Control
There are several factors that help you put on weight. One is if you have a low insulin sensitivity. There is some limited research that CBD can have a small impact on metabolic rates. There has been a study on laboratory rats that also suggests CBD may also act as an appetite suppressant and help with weight loss or control in that way. As usual, there does need to be a lot more work carried out in this area until we can be certain of any effects.
The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of CBD Oil
One of the more popularly talked about benefits of CBD oil is anti-inflammatory and its ability to soothe sore muscles as well as promote healing. If you’re waking up with aches and pains after a heavy session in the gym, taking CBD regularly could mean you are able to recover more quickly. The evidence is promising but by no means conclusive although there are a great deal of anecdotal accounts by athletes that it does indeed work.
Choosing a Quality CBD Oil
There is a lot of interest surround CBD oil at the moment and its potential to not only improve health but also maximise a fitness regime.
One of the dilemmas that many athletes face is choosing the best CBD oil and administering the right dose. The advice seems to be to start with a small dose of say 10mg and work up while monitoring any effect. Choosing a good supplier is also vitally important. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of regulation at the moment when it comes to the CBD oil market so look out for suppliers that offer a good deal of information about their products and have strong reviews.
