CBD has taken the world by storm, with lots of people taking it for a wide variety of reasons… 

From elderly people with joint pain, to athletes who are wanting to speed up their recovery in between intense workouts, to people who suffer with insomnia!

In this article, we’re going to look at how CBD can help you achieve your fitness goals. We’ll be looking at the different ways to take CBD, its benefits, and also what to watch out for too.

Let’s dive in…

Different Forms Of CBD 

CBD (Cannabidiol) can be taken orally via tablets, or it can be used as an oil, balm, or lotion. You can also buy vape pens too. It’s whatever works best for you. 

Balms and lotions are great for soothing muscle aches and pains, as you rub the oil directly into the muscles. But then ingesting tablets are better for improving things internally, like your gut health. 

Before taking CBD, first try to identify what you want to mainly improve with your health/fitness. For example…

• Muscle soreness – balms, and lotions.
• Sleep – tablets, or oil (using a pipette to drop on the tongue)

Where to buy CBD? 

You only have to go online and search CBD, and hundreds of websites will try and grab your attention… ‘best CBD oil you can buy for your health’ – etc, etc. 

But be careful, because like most products, there are good one’s, bad one’s and everything in between. 

Do your research before buying. From personal experience, I would recommend – https://www.genius-labs.com this is something that was recommended to me by one of my personal training clients, and I’ve been impressed with the results after just a few weeks of using. 

Fitness & Health Benefits Of Using CBD…

#1 Improved Recovery

After an intense session, whether that’s weight training, or a cardio workout, or even an intense sports performance, i.e. a 90 minute game of football…your body is going to feel pretty beaten up. CBD has been shown to speed up recovery in between workouts because it helps muscles repair, and revitalize – it does this by helping them to relax. 

#2 Reduces Inflammation 

Any high impact activity such as running, or weight training, causes inflammation within the body, and the harder you train the more damage you create. Inflammation can happen in muscles, joints, the gut, and any place in the body where it’s been placed under stress. 

Temporary inflammation isn’t a bad thing, it’s inevitable, especially if you workout hard, and regularly. BUT, that said it will slow down your progress, and make training more uncomfortable. 

CBD will help to lower inflammation in the body, especially in your joints, and muscles, which will therefore allow you to train harder next time you workout. 

If you manage inflammation well throughout the year, i.e by taking CBD, stretching, mobilizing muscles/joints, and taking hot baths, cold showers, etc – then you are going to get so much more from your workouts, and your results are likely to be incredible. 

#3 Better Sleep 

I’ve talked about sleep extensively on my health and fitness blog. It’s probably the most important thing for improving your health. 

When you improve your sleep, it’s been scientifically proven that the following will improve…

• Memory 
• Mood 
• Energy 
• Sex Drive
• Performance 
• Recovery
• Less Illnesses/Disease 
• Less likely to develop cancer/dementia 
• Mental Health Benefits – emotional processing and healing

The benefits of a good nights sleep are vast, and I could talk about them all day. 

CBD oil has been said to improve sleep quality, which will therefore encourage the benefits I’ve just mentioned above. A good nights sleep will allow you to train harder in your next workout, which will therefore lead to greater, and faster results. 

Who doesn’t want this? 

#4 Improved Gut Health 

Most of the body’s neurotransmitters and immune system are stored in the gut. If you look after your gut health, you are more likely to live longer, have more energy, and perform at your very best. 

If, however, you don’t look after you gut i.e. you eat lots of rubbish, don’t drink enough water, and take too many toxic medications, then the opposite applies, and it will majorly affect your workouts, and health – and not in a good way. 

CBD tablets, and oil have been shown to lower inflammation, not only in muscles and joints, but also in the gut too. This can mean less bloating, and lethargy. 

Whilst CBD oil can help improve your gut, it’s important to realize that you still need to be careful what you put in your body. For example, if you’re having fast food every night, BUT take CBD oil… it’s not going to cancel out the bloating from all of the fast food. 

Ideally, you want to combine your CBD supplement with a healthy diet, one which is rich in lean/organic protein, and plenty of vegetables. The protein will keep you fuller for longer, and the vegetables are high in fibre, helping you to flush out toxins from your gut. 

Backed By Science…

CBD is backed by science to a certain degree. For example, there are studies which have been carried out, which prove that CBD does have anti inflammatory properties, and that it can benefit a person when it comes to improving their mental and physical well-being. 

More studies are coming out as time develops, and there’s definitely more research needed in the long run, but as things currently stand the studies look pretty convincing. 

What to watch out for…

CBD can affect other medications that you may take, if there’s any doubt, please reach out and speak to your local doctor/GP to make-sure that you are safe to use. 

Are you going to try CBD? 

So, what do you think? 

Are you convinced? 

Or…

Are you unsure? 

From my personal experience I have benefitted from taking CBD. My sleep has gotten better, I’m drifting off more easily (within 5 minutes, instead of 20-30). I’m also getting better quality sleep (less interruptions each night). 

I’ve also noticed that my muscles are recovering more quickly in between weights workouts, and I’m less sore in my joints. 

So, from my experience I recommend, BUT make-sure to do your research and do what’s best for you.

Let me know how you get on…

Nick