CBD has become an increasingly popular supplement in the fitness world due to its potential to assist recovery, reduce inflammation, and promote overall wellness. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts often use CBD to help manage post-workout soreness, improve sleep quality, and ease minor aches and niggles—all of which are key to consistent training and performance.
Professor Mike Barnes
Consultant Neurologist
What is CBD?
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound found in the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa). Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another compound found in cannabis plants, CBD does not produce a psychoactive effect, which means it does not cause a “high”.
CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a complex cell-signaling system in your body that helps regulate essential functions like mood, pain, sleep, appetite, immune response, and keeps you body in a balanced state called homeostasis.
CBD statistics
- In the UK, approximately 1.3 million people in the UK use CBD products regularly.
- Over 6 million individuals have tried a CBD product within the past year
- Product quality with 40% of respondents, is pivotal in their decision-making process
- The UK is the 2nd biggest CBD market after North America.
- The CBD skincare market is growing at over 22% per year.
Sources: YouGov Consumer Preferences-
is cbd good for fitness
It is no surprise to hear that fitness puts a lot of stress on our bodies, to both positive and negative effect. Training stress leads to adaptation and increased performance (such as being able to run further or lift heavier weight) but physical trauma and prolonged wear and tear can also lead to injuries and pain. There are CBD products that make a perfect fit for fitness, like our 1000mg CBD Roll-on and our Award winning 1000mg Muscle & Joint Cream. Some athletes are turning to CBD in the search for alternative pain relief and effective fitness recovery, but how can it help?
Idendified in the early 1990’s, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system that helps regulate your body functions, including sleep, pain, stress and mood, among others.
What are the potential fitness benefits of cbd for athletes and fitness enthusiasts?
Why not read our interview with a CBD advocate and personal trainer; CBD for Fitness: Personal Trainer Emma-Louise
Pain Relief
Anyone who regularly exercises has probably needed some pain relief, whether due to injury or for training-based soreness. Both preclinical and clinical studies have indicated a potential benefit of CBD use in chronic pain. Existing over-the-counter pain relievers known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – NSAIDs (ibuprofen being one example) can sometimes be dangerous to athletes, (particularly ultra-distance athletes) as there is increased risk of gastric trauma, especially if taken as a prophylactic. This can range from relatively benign dyspepsia, to potentially life-threatening events such as upper GI bleeding. It is unsurprising that athletes are looking for alternative treatments.
Anti-Inflammatory
It is well researched that Cannabinoids are potent anti-inflammatory agents and therefore could provide benefits to athletes to help relieve inflammation, swelling and pain, especially those recovering from injury. With both pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, is it possible that CBD could therefore provide a safer alternative to NSAIDs for some athletes?
Sleep Aid
Athletes know how crucial it is to get enough rest in order to aid recovery, sleep is when bodies repair themselves. If you are pushing your body in training then it’s likely you will need more, better quality sleep. Health Harvard website writes: ‘studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep’ which could benefit athletes recovery.
Reduced Anxiety & Pre-Game/Workout Jitter
Some athletes use CBD to calm their nerves before competitions or intense training sessions. It helps promote a more focused, calm mindset.
Is CBD legal for athletes? What about drug testing?
CBD (cannabidiol) is legal for athletes and was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances in 2018. However, athletes must exercise caution, as the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) agency warns that CBD products may include THC or other banned cannabinoids. Athletes are advised to source CBD products from reputable suppliers that provide third-party testing to ensure they are free from prohibited substances.
Some quick facts about CBD
- CBD is legal in the UK
- Regulated by the FSA
- It comes from industrial hemp not cannabis plants
- Oldest recorded medicine
- CBD is non-addictive
- CBD is relative safe (WHO report)
Body Systems regulated by the ecs INCLUDE:
Pain
Anxiety and Stress
Memory
Sleep
Inflammation
Mood
Appetite
Reproduction
Motor Control
Research and Evidence on CBD
Research into cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on sports performance and recovery is ongoing, with some studies suggesting potential benefits for athletes. CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties, which may aid in reducing muscle soreness, managing pain, and alleviating stress and anxiety associated with competition and training. Additionally, CBD may improve sleep quality, which is crucial for athletic recovery.
Anxiety Disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysispublished in Science Direct encompassing 316 participants found that CBD significantly reduced anxiety symptoms across various disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The authors call for more high-quality trials to solidify these results.
Pain: Research has shown that CBD possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting it could be an effective and safe treatment for pain management. These effects are primarily mediated by the activation of TRPV-1, 5HT-1A, and CB1 receptors, indicating therapeutic relevance in conditions like osteoarthritis and chronic pain.
Sleep: A 2023 research study (Ranum RM. et al., 2023) published in The National Library of Medicine showed that CBD might help with insomnia. They reviewed 34 studies where daily CBD was given. Of these, 4 of 7 studies (studies with significant data) reported a general improvement in insomnia outcomes.
Summary
CBD has become an increasing popular supplement in the world of fitness and sport, especially for recovery in muscles and joints. There is a growing body of research that suggests CBD may aid sports recovery through its anti-infammatory properties and it is already widely used by both professional atheletes and sports unethusiasts.
Professor Mike Barnes
Important Considerations When Starting with CBD
- Start with a low dose and slowly work up until you find the right dose for you
- Use a quiality CBD product that been third party tested for consistancy and purity
- Consult with your GP if you are taking prescription medication
- Keep a journal so you can monitor how you body is working with CBD
- CBD works best as part of an holistic health management plan
Latest Research and clinical trials on cbd
Use of Cannabidiol in the Management of Insomnia: A Systematic Review.
Ranum RM, Whipple MO, Croghan I, Bauer B, Toussaint LL, Vincent -2022
Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kevin Han, Jia-Yu Wang, Peng-Yun Wang, Yue-Chu-Han Peng - 2024
Cannabidiol (CBD): A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Evidence in the Treatment of Pain
Cásedas G, Yarza-Sancho M, López V. -2024
Cannabidiol in sports: insights on how CBD could improve performance and recovery
Rojas-Valverde D, Fallas-Campos -2022
