CBD Post-Workout: The Benefits Of CBD Workout Recovery

We've all been there: difficulty walking, racing heart, huffing for air. Exercise daunts us all—that's part of the human condition. Luckily, there are some easy ways to counter physical and mental fatigue. Notably: CBD post-workout supplements!

CBD (cannabidiol) is a popular therapeutic compound derived from hemp plants. Why are more people using CBD now than ever before? The benefits of CBD, of course! The natural compound has been known to:

• Lower blood pressure
• Alleviate muscle pain
• Reduce inflammation
• Ease anxiety
• Promote homeostasis
• Repair sleep cycles

CBD even dons endorsements from celebrities and professional athletes alike.

So...

What Can CBD Workout Recovery Do For You?

According to the journal Pharmacological Research, "Preclinical studies suggest that CBD could be useful to athletes due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, neuroprotective properties and its influence on the sleep-wake cycle."

Imagine the benefits of CBD listed above but after every workout. Achy muscles? Forget about it. Post-workout insomnia? A thing of the past.

The million-dollar question: Why do we need these benefits post-workout? Why can't I take CBD oil any time I please? As you may already know, exercise is very good for us! However, that isn't to say there aren't any side effects to working out.

During a strenuous workout, up to 80% of blood flow to abdominal organs (stomach, bladder, liver, kidneys, and more) can be restricted, the blood redirected primarily to muscles and skin. This may result in feelings of nausea, vomiting, and various other gastrointestinal issues. In addition, exercise requires A LOT of oxygen. In response, the body creates a natural compound called lactic acid. Some people respond poorly to lactic acid, experiencing:

• Nauseous
• Weakness in the muscles, joints
• Soreness
• Upset stomach
• Inflammation

Enter CBD oil tinctures, CBD topicals, and other CBD-infused post-workout supplements. Known to reduce inflammation, nausea, pain, and much more, adding CBD to your postliminary exercise routine may counter the side effects of restricted blood flow, lactic acid, even overexertion.

Let's examine some individual benefits of CBD to better understand how this natural compound can play a significant role in exercise regimens.

CBD & Blood Pressure: The Link

A 2020 research paper, published in the Journal of Hypertension, was "the first to demonstrate the vasodilatory effect of CBD on the pulmonary circulation," comparing CBD to other vasodilator medications.

In case you didn't know, vasodilators dilate blood vessels. As a result, the muscles found in the artery and vein walls remain relaxed, allowing blood to flow more efficiently. In turn, the heart can pump blood throughout the body with less energy, reducing blood pressure.

Exercise is commonly known to increase blood pressure as well, but CBD post-workout supplements offer an easy solution!

CBD Oil For Muscle Pain

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), "Cannabinoids produce analgesia [pain relief] through supraspinal, spinal, and peripheral modes of action, acting on both ascending and descending pain pathways." Years previously, we didn't know if scientists and medical professionals would back CBD for pain management, given the limited research. However, as you can tell, clinical trials show CBD to be effective in fighting even chronic pain, pain from syndromes like

The connection between reducing pain and post-workout routines is a no-brainer. Exercise can cause soreness (albeit rewarding soreness), muscle pain and tension, achy joints, and beyond. With a CBD workout recovery plan that includes CBD post-workout, you could out-flex pain before it even starts. CBD has even shown promise in fighting delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a common condition felt after exercise.

CBD To Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is much more commonly associated with exercise than you might think. According to a Frontiers in Physiology report, high-intensity exercise "can lead, in general, to higher levels of inflammatory mediators, and thus might increase the risk of injury and chronic inflammation."

Marketers have made no short notice of CBD's potential anti-inflammatory effects. However, these effects have merit. According to a study by BioMed Research International, cannabinoids "might act on a common pathway of inflammation," creating a firm link between CBD and anti-inflammatory properties.

It's crucial to reduce inflammation as much as possible after exercise (Why else would someone willingly take an ice bath!), just one reason the benefits of CBD work so well in CBD post-workout supplementation. Inflammation can also lead to a variety of serious aches, cramps, areas of tension, and is considered an early factor in tumor progression. Exercise your health!

How To Use CBD Post-Workout Supplements

Now that we understand what a CBD workout recovery regimen can do for you let's look at a variety of CBD post-workout options. For starters, CBD-infused topicals are a go-to preparation for fitness aficionados!

CBD topicals—lotions, balms, bath bombs, skincare, and more—are applied directly to the skin. Topicals differ from other CBD products, often taken orally or sublingually (held beneath the tongue).

With post-workout CBD topicals, users can target the areas of the body that feel the most strained after exercising. Then, simply adding CBD to these affected areas may reduce pain, inflammation, and offer the other benefits of CBD listed above.

But CBD workout recovery doesn't stop with CBD topicals. Some people take high-strength CBD capsules for a no-mess alternative to topicals. Other CBD fitness gurus add CBD oil directly to their post-workout shake. Hey, some people even opt for a CBD pre-workout to give them an anxiolytic boost prior to working out.

Aching For A New Post-Workout Routine? Try A CBD Bath!

Often grouped with CBD topicals, bath products like CBD bath bombs offer something a little more (how do we say) thorough. You see, when applying a CBD topical, the CBD molecules target endocannabinoid receptors found in the subdermal layers of our skin. The brain then activates CBD's benefits for those specific areas of receptor activation.

However, when taking a CBD bath, ALL of your external endocannabinoid receptors are targeted at once. With a post-workout CBD bath, you can access full-body muscle and joint relief while reducing inflammation where you didn't know you had it!

To get the most out of your CBD bath, choose from CBD Choice's selection of industry-leading CBD bath bombs. You can also DIY your own CBD-infused bath by adding unflavored CBD oil directly to your bath.

Do Professional Athletes Use CBD?

Yes! You are not alone. In fact, some of the biggest names in sports have come out in support of CBD. And it only makes sense. In 2018, with the passing of the Farm Bill (which effectively legalized hemp-derived CBD products), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from its list of Prohibited Substances.

Mike Tyson—the Mike Tyson—is an advocate of CBD use! The legendary boxer indicated that CBD helped him train throughout his career. Tyson stated he used CBD both before and after fights. The boxer even owns a legal cannabis farm and his own cannabis products company. Who knew he was taking more than one kind of hit all along!

Rob Gronkowski is Tom Brady's sidekick, a pass-catching force to be reckoned with inside the NFL. He also started his own CBD company after retiring from his first NFL team, something he said was the only way to handle his chronic muscle pain following years as a professional footballer. He rejoined the NFL after Brady's move to Tampa, in large thanks to CBD, we imagine.

Megan Rapinoe is a professional soccer player and feminist icon. She has vocally endorsed CBD use for athletes, calling it a healthy, natural method of well-being. CBD helps Rapinoe train and compete, she says.

The Ultimate Benefits Guide To CBD Post-Workout Supplements

Now that we're experts in CBD-infused post-workout supplements, let's review everything we've learned:

• The common benefits of CBD (reduce inflammation, manage muscle pain) make this cannabinoid an ideal option for post-workout supplementation.
• Scientists have compared CBD to other vasodilators, which are known to lower blood pressure. They also suggest the appropriate dosage to those with high blood pressure, an indication of success in their research.
• Cannabinoids have been shown to produce analgesia, the act of pain relief. CBD has long been touted as a miracle pain reliever, but now the science is finally catching up with the marketing!
• CBD to reduce inflammation—perhaps one of the most common uses—is now believed to work by acting on the same pathways as inflammation within the body. Strenuous exercise and inflammation are linked, so CBD may act as an effective counter to post-workout inflammatory ailments.
• There are many great CBD products for use in CBD workout recovery. Notably, CBD topicals allow you to target specific areas of pain, inflammation, and tension following a workout. You can also add CBD oil to your protein shake or even take CBD pre-workout!
• Many professional athletes train with CBD, including the likes of Mike Tyson, Gronk, Megan Rapinoe, and many more.

Do you have experience adding CBD to your exercise routine? Let us know in the comments! We'd love to hear your suggestions on maximizing CBD oil before, during, and after a rewarding workout.