CBD Wellness: CBD For A Better Workout

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One of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health is to be active. According to the National Health Service, adults should try to be active every day and aim to achieve at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week or about 20 minutes a day. It can help prevent things like cancer, heart disease, depression and diabetes.

It can also just be fun. Whether you’re kicking around a football with friends or hitting the gym with your partner – it’s social and physical.

But it can sometimes be painful, and it can be hard to motivate ourselves to do it. That's where CBD may be able to help!

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

CBD is short for cannabidiol and is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found within the Cannabis Sativa plant. CBD has skyrocketed in popularity because of all of the benefits that are being discovered in recent research.

CBD works with your own natural endocannabinoid system (ECS) in your body. This system is responsible for maintaining balance in our body or homeostasis. ECS regulates things like stress, pain, mood and sleep. 

Why Do We Get Sore When We Work Out?

We all know that ache. You tried a new level of a yoga class. You went extra hard on the treadmill for 'leg day'. You feel that pain not just after the workout, but sometimes for days. It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced athlete or just starting to exercise. We all get that pain.  

This pain is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). According to the National Health Service, this is when microscopic damage is caused to the muscle fibres by a new workout resulting in muscle soreness or stiffness due to inflammation. A little inflammation is okay because it helps us build muscles, but too much can cause severe pain and damage to muscles and joints.

Cannabinoids are ‘potent anti-inflammatory agents’  so they have gained a lot of attention when it comes to working out.

CBD And Workout Recovery

Many athletes have turned to CBD as an alternative to using Aspirin or Ibuprofen to help with pain after a workout. Studies found that long-term use may increase the likeliness of heart attack or strokes.

CBD has been shown to help with inflammatory issues within the body by working with the ECS and also alleviate neuropathic pain associated with certain diseases. A study on people with Multiple Sclerosis also showed the way CBD could positively affect inflammatory issues. They found it may help with muscle spasticity and pain and improved mobility. A 2017 study found that CBD could help deal with joint pain.

Amphora’s Mend effect CBD distillate with added terpenes vape cartridge is targeted for after workout recovery and specially formulated to help restore wellbeing after your workout complete.  You can also use CBD balms or lotions that can directly target the area that is causing you grief.

Stress Before A Workout or Game

When we think about CBD for athletes or your own personal fitness, we usually think only about the physical benefits. CBD may also be able to provide some significant relief from the stress athletes can feel before a competition or even before the start of a workout.

In a 2019 study of 72 adults, CBD helped almost 80% of them with anxiety during the first month. In a 2010 study, researchers found that CBD oil reduced stress in people with a social anxiety disorder. They discovered this by looking at scans of their brain that showed people who had been given CBD reacted better to stress. It has also been found to help people who had fears of public speaking with CBD significantly reducing anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance.

Amphora has a couple of formulations that are great for getting prepped for a workout or game. Our Peace formula  will help you with that peaceful mindset and a sense of calm, while our Inspire formula will support energy and focus.

CBD And Sleep

Sleep is crucial to our wellbeing. We need rest to reset and recharge, especially when you're involved in physical activity.

A good night's sleep helps with several wellness issues. Sleeping helps to improve our learning and memory. It also works with our immune system to help fight disease and prevent the increased risk of cardiovascular problems. It also improves our mood. If we don't get enough sleep – we're not going to be very happy.

In 2017, a review of studies found that cannabinoids like THC may impair long-term sleep, but CBD may be able to help with REM sleep issues and excessive daytime fatigue. 

In the study we mentioned before that had 72 adult participants they found that not only did CBD improve anxiety but that nearly 70% of those participants also had a better sleep. And a 2018 trial of CBD found that those who didn’t have any sleep difficulties and took CBD still had a normal sleep while those who did have sleep issues had a better night's sleep.

Amphora has a specific formula for sleep called ZZZ that will help combat restlessness for a great night's sleep.

Is CBD Safe for Me?

CBD is safe, and there is research to back it up. Just recently, the World Health Organization released a report saying that CBD is well-tolerated and safe for human consumption and that it’s not found to be addictive to humans. That being said, if you do have any concerns, you should talk to your doctor about it before taking CBD.

Also, make sure that when you're purchasing CBD products check out the labels or information on the website. The first thing to look for is a certificate of authentication (COA). A COA shows that the company has had their products tested by a third party. At Amphora we have these listed on our website so we can be transparent about our products.

Taking care of your physical and mental health should always be a priority. When you add CBD to your wellness routine, you may be able to see additional benefits that help you in your athletic goals whether that means going for a hike, doing some long-distance running or going to a cross-fit class.