Medical cannabis is becoming quite popular as more and more studies prove its effectiveness. Furthermore, many athletes are starting to use cannabis for their recovery and to improve their overall active lifestyle.
Cannabis has a wide range of physical benefits, recently the world’s first cannabis gym was opened in San Francisco, and according to an unofficial estimate, about 60 percent of athletes in the NFL and NBA use weed.
We have also noticed a significant increase in the use of CBD based, non-psychoactive products as UFC fighters like Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal have become brand ambassadors for cannabis selling companies.
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Cannabis helps in muscle recovery:
Whether you have just started working out, or you are a professional athlete who trains every day, muscle stiffness and exhaustion is something every active person experiences. Every time you increase your workout intensity, you are bound to feel some levels of soreness and stiffness in your muscles.
Muscle stiffness is mainly caused because of the build-up of lactic acid in our muscles, which can dissipate over time, but using cannabis can accelerate this process, allowing you to continue your active lifestyle without any hindrance.
Furthermore, when you work out, especially if you are muscle training, you can develop micro-tears in your muscles. This is normal, and an essential part of muscle growth, but sometimes it can also lead to inflammation and cause stiffness in your muscles.
Fortunately, cannabis also has anti-inflammatory properties, which also help in accelerating post-workout muscle recovery.
Marijuana can lower anxiety and motivate you to work out:
Stress and anxiety are common problems in today’s social environment, and they can make it difficult for you to workout. Furthermore, anxiety before a game can decrease your performance and cause you to lose focus.
Cannabis has many psychological advantages; however, the most impressive, in my opinion, is its ability to counter stress and anxiety. The primary cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, i.e., THC and CBD, interact with our body’s natural endocannabinoid system and promote the release of certain hormones and neurotransmitters like Dopamine and serotonin, which can help in combating anxiety.
Moreover, in most cases, hardcore workouts and training can increase cortisol levels in your body, which is primarily a stress hormone. Cannabis can also decrease your Cortisol levels to reduce post-workout stress.
Cannabis oil can help you recover from injuries:
When you have an active lifestyle, where you work out regularly or play a professional sport, you are bound to get some small injuries from time to time. Injuries can be quite devastating, both on a physical and psychological level, but they are part of any sport, and the quicker you can recover from them, the better are your chances of success.
Cannabis can be quite helpful in recovering from injuries, however instead of smoking it; you should try using CBD oil. If you have a sprain, a pulled muscle, a torn tendon, or any other sports-related injury, regular massage with CBD oil can effectively decrease pain and inflammation, and it can accelerate your healing abilities as well.
Cannabis can increase your energy and improve your focus:
The effects of cannabis may vary from strain to strain, for instance, if you haven’t used weed, you most probably think of cannabis as a substance that makes you lazy and gets you stuck on the couch. This is mainly because pop culture portrays cannabis in such a light. Where I do not deny that certain cannabis strains do have this effect, some of them can also increase your creativity and boost your energy.
In general, high THC strains usually make you lazy; however, if you want an extra boost of energy, you should opt for High CBD Cannabis Sativa strains. You can also go for some CBD edibles if you don’t want to smoke weed because smoking can lead to decreased lung capacity, which is something you don’t want if you are an athlete.
Cannabis helps athletes stay compliant with USADA:
USADA is the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and it is responsible for keeping our sports clean and safe from steroids and PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs). Any dominant athlete in the US has to comply with the regulation of USADA, which can sometimes be challenging.
Now, of course, not every athlete uses PEDs, but they can still get into trouble with USADA because of using other medications. For a certain period before a game or a performance, athletes aren’t allowed to use certain painkillers, antibiotics, and other medications as they can mask the signature of PEDs in an athlete’s system.
Therefore, Cannabis products like CBD oil, which can be applied topically, can be a great alternative to painkillers and antibiotics, and as it is an entirely natural substance, it is not prohibited by USADA; however, you should be careful with smoking weed.
Though you won’t fail your regular dope test if you use marijuana, the ones done on the day of the game, require you not have any cannabis in your system, though the penalty for cannabis is not as severe as PEDs.
Still, you should be careful and review the USADA guidelines for your specific sport before you start using cannabis.
Cannabis can improve your metabolism:
Increasing your metabolism before you start working out can have some impressive results. Various studies have shown that cannabis can increase your metabolism and help in losing weight, therefore if you are exercising to get into better shape, then you should try weed.
Studies have shown that people who use cannabis regularly (at least three times a week) have significantly lower BMIs, lower cholesterol levels, and lower fat percentage than people who do not use cannabis.
Therefore, cannabis can help you improve your active lifestyle by helping you lose weight and maintaining it as well.
Cannabis is an amazing substance, and though it is popularly recognized as a recreational drug that makes you relaxed and lazy, it can have many positive impacts on your health. It can also help you maintain and promote a more active lifestyle.
