Should You Add CBD Oil to Your Post-Workout Recovery Routine?

Written by Cathy Rozyczko — Edited by Jason Brett on September 27, 2021

In an age where a dizzying number of health supplements are readily available for the fitness enthusiast, separating the facts from the hype can be a tricky task. If you’re considering adding CBD oil to your post-workout recovery routine, this information can help you decide whether CBD oil is the right addition to your fitness regimen.

As all health and fitness buffs know, there are a number of sensations you may experience after a workout, most notably pain and soreness. This is because the exertion of your workout puts your body under physical stress. This stress, particularly if you are doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), causes microdamage to your muscles, which triggers inflammation that results in muscle aches and fatigue.

So, how can CBD oil help you recover from your workout more quickly?

The answer can be found in CBD oil’s role in the endocannabinoid system and the way in which cannabidiol (CBD) impacts specific neurotransmitters and hormones in your body.

Benefits of Using CBD Oil as a Post-Workout Supplement

CBD oil is an extract from the cannabis plant. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids that have been found to work in tandem with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Because CBD oil is readily absorbed, well tolerated, and low risk, a growing number of people are using it not just as a part of their post-workout recovery routine, but to help potentially combat a range of diseases and chronic illnesses.

With additional benefits discovered all the time, the research into CBD oil is unearthing exciting potential for this natural compound. Here is a closer look into some of that research and a few of the reasons why you should add CBD oil to your post-workout recovery routine.

CBD Oil for Pain and Inflammation

A good workout puts your muscles and joints through a great deal of stress, resulting in inflammation and pain. For most people, this is an unavoidable part of a fit lifestyle; adding CBD oil to your post-workout routine can help reduce inflammation.

The human endocannabinoid system contains two types of cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. CBD oil is believed to predominantly impact the CB2 receptors, which are mainly located in the central nervous system. CBD oil’s indirect effect on CB2 receptors play a significant role in the immune system, regulating both pain and inflammation.

Several studies have shown how cannabis is helpful in reducing pain in a variety of long and short-term conditions, some of which may correlate with the pain experienced after a high-intensity workout. Additionally, a 2017 study pointed to cannabis as a viable option in the treatment of joint pain, which is an often overlooked but major aftereffect of strenuous exercise.

Finally, a 2014 study showed how CBD affects glycine receptors, which play a role in the perception of pain. CBD oil’s activation of these receptors decreased inflammatory pain in the mice and rat test subjects, further highlighting cannabidiol’s extensive role in regulation of inflammation in the body.

CBD Oil for Muscle Recovery

Strenuous workouts cause muscle damage, making your post-workout routine an incredibly important part of your fitness journey.

For most people, an effective post-workout routine entails taking rest days, getting enough sleep, and eating muscle-building proteins right after a session. While these are all important elements, adding CBD oil to the mix may help speed up and enhance the recovery process.

When the body goes through an intense workout, it produces the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone which means that it reduces protein synthesis and may even prevent the growth of new tissue. After a long or intense workout, a large release of cortisol would inhibit new muscle growth and even increase the amount of fat stored in your body.

CBD oil is an anti-catabolic which means it regulates how much cortisol is released into the system. By reducing the level of cortisol in your body post-workout, CBD oil allows protein synthesis and encourages muscle regeneration.

CBD Oil to Improve Post-Workout Sleep and Muscle Repair

One of the most important elements for post-workout recovery is sleep. When you’re asleep, your body does a lot to repair and grow your muscles.

If you find it difficult to fall asleep at night, CBD oil may be able to help. Whether you are working out late at night, or you experience stress and anxiety from the pressures of everyday life, it is likely cortisol is keeping you awake.

CBD oil can benefit your sleep in two ways: Not only can CBD oil regulate cortisol levels and help you to fall asleep faster, but a 2014 study also showed how CBD consumption reduced the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder in test subjects with Parkinson’s disease. Reaching the REM cycle of sleep is crucial to a successful post-workout routine, as it’s the sleep stage that provides optimal conditions for muscle building and repair. While more research is certainly needed on the topic of CBD oil and REM sleep, the initial findings outlined above are promising.

CBD Oil for Competitive and Professional Athletes

While CBD oil has been legalized in most states, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has a very different set of restrictions in place. Like CBD, THC is a cannabinoid which can be extracted from the cannabis plant. THC has some health benefits but it also has intoxicating properties, responsible for the mind-altering “high” experienced by marijuana smokers.

Athletes need to understand that the USADA’s anti-doping rules include THC in their list of prohibited substances. While there are many CBD oil products which market themselves as isolates and free of THC, the lack of federal regulation on these products means there’s a chance you could be misled.

It’s very important to first check your state’s laws regarding CBD oil, and if you are legally able to purchase a CBD oil product, it’s imperative that you do so from a reputable brand.

One way to know you are buying CBD oil with contents as advertised is to look for up-to-date Certificates of Analysis. These third-party lab results will reveal exactly what is in your CBD oil. If a brand does not make these lab results readily available online, ask if you can see them before you make a purchase.

How to Take CBD Oil for Your Post-Workout Recovery Routine

Due to its anti-catabolic and pain relieving properties, CBD oil may offer fitness enthusiasts a naturally derived, relatively inexpensive support tool for aiding in post-workout recovery. Cannabidiol oil offers a low-risk, gentle option for those who wish to optimize their workout, encourage muscle growth and reduce their recovery time.

However, before adding CBD oil to your fitness regimen, consult your doctor to make sure it won’t interact with any medications you may be taking. You might also want to speak with a specializing cannabis doctor, who can give you recommendations around dosage and products to use.

After getting the ‘OK’ from your doctor, you can start to experiment with different CBD products to find which is best for your needs. CBD oil can be consumed in a number of different ways, including via drops, vapes, capsules, gummies, and topical solutions. There are even CBD drink powders that you can easily add to your post-workout protein drink to further aid in your recovery.

When it comes to CBD dosage, you should follow the recommendation included on the CBD oil product you’re using. Though, if you’re looking for further guidance, we at CBD Oil Review have reviewed hundreds of CBD products and suggest the following:

The CBD Oil Review Serving Standard is 25 mg of CBD taken twice daily.

If you’re not seeing the results you’d like, increase your dosage by 25 mg every 3-4 weeks until you find an ideal outcome.

If you found this article interesting, you may also like to read:

• CBD Oil for Pain
• CBD Oil for Inflammation
• CBD in Sports: Recovery, Performance, and Controversy

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