CBD is in fashion and more so in the world of sport. This is due to the different studies that have been published on the properties of CBD. Today
we already know the effects of CBD on high-performance athletes and the benefits it provides them . Later in this article we will talk about the high-performance athletes who use it and their testimonies.
We will begin by defining the concepts and synergy between CBD and sport.
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What is CBD?
Cannabis has been used by humans
for thousands of years . But
it was not until the 20th century that it began to be studied .
In 1964 , Raphael Mechoulam
managed to isolate and synthesize the structure of CBD and THC. At that time,
they began to discover the properties and benefits of cannabinoids in the human body. The best-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
Unlike THC,
Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid ( phyto=derived from plants)
that does not get you high . This is stated by the World Health Organization in
its November 2019 report, which states that CBD is neither harmful to health nor addictive. The WHO also recognizes that it has
very promising effects in terms of its medicinal and therapeutic use since it has a multitude of benefits and properties among which are
its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antibacterial and anxiolytic effects.
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Topical use of CBD for muscle and joint inflammation is the most commonly recommended way to use CBD for localized pain.[/caption]
What are the benefits of CBD?
CBD has the following properties:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic
- Antioxidant
- Anxiolytic
- Anticonvulsant
- Neuroprotective
- Anti-nausea and antiemetic
It is used
to treat diseases such as epilepsy, fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis.
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Gerard Descarrega competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Gold medal winner in the 400 meters.[/caption]
What is CBD used for in sports?
Athletes have been using CBD for a long time
to reduce recovery time. When a person practices sports,
the body is subjected to great stress . Joints, tendons and muscles
can suffer and minor injuries can occur. What determines how far an athlete can go is their ability to recover. The sooner they recover, the sooner they can return to training or competing.
Athletes use CBD for inflammation, chronic pain, nausea, muscle relaxation, etc.
CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors . To this day, it is still unknown exactly how it interacts, but researchers have discovered that, although it does not bind directly,
CBD influences the CB1 and CB2 receptors , activating them in a certain way that promotes the healthy function of our endocannabinoid system and
offers the properties of CBD on a global level (anxiolytic, antioxidant, antibacterial, etc.). It has also been discovered that
CBD affects another cannabinoid receptor, the TRPV1 receptor ,
responsible for our body's response to pain and inflammation . This is where its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties come from.
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Analgesic properties : CBD attacks pain. It interacts with the receptors and mediates pain signals , so you stop feeling discomfort. This property greatly helps athletes with chronic pain , helping them suffer less during their workouts.
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Anti-inflammatory properties : In recent years, many athletes have stopped using ibuprofen and have switched to CBD , because it does not have as many side effects on the body . Muscle inflammation is very common among athletes.
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Anti-nausea Properties : During high-intensity training, it is normal to experience feelings of dizziness and nausea, due to the great physical effort that athletes exert during training and competitions. Some studies confirm the great effectiveness of CBD in suppressing the urge to vomit.
-
Antioxidant Properties : These properties help you recover faster because they directly affect fatigue and muscle soreness. CBD can help you reduce muscle soreness after physical exercise.
A curiosity: there is a well-studied aspect about
the relationship between CBD and an endocannabinoid . We are talking about
Anandamide , a cannabinoid that
our body produces naturally and interacts with the CB1, CB2 and TRPV1 receptors .
Anandamide is responsible for the post-workout high , also known as the runner’s high.
CBD can
slow down the breakdown of anandamide and prolong feelings of happiness and relaxation.
Therefore
, CBD helps reduce inflammation, reduce fatigue after sports activity, reduce discomfort and nausea and achieve a faster recovery .
How can CBD be used?
There are several ways to use CBD . For the treatment of
chronic pain , it is most commonly inhaled through vaporization or sublingually through CBD oils. In the case of muscle pain, athletes are recommended to use
CBD recovery balms and creams .
In Spain it is only regulated for topical use, in other countries such as
the United States they have countless formulations to dispense, achieving greater control and precision of the effective doses for each user.
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Marvin Washington, a professional American football player, claims the benefits of CBD in sports.[/caption]
Elite athletes who consume CBD
Many athletes have already openly acknowledged that they use CBD as part of their training, diet, and recovery strategy. According to
Marvin Washington , former
NFL player, he believes that it is time to consider the promising therapeutic properties as a safe alternative to
opioids :
“There needs to be an athlete cannabis movement, as there is strength in numbers, plenty of numbers. We can change policy and have all four major leagues look at whole plant cannabis as an alternative to opioids. Concussions and opioids are the two biggest issues facing the NFL with regards to player health, and cannabis can help both.”
Another cyclist worth mentioning is Floyd Landis , winner of the Tour de France in 2006. Landis
has been using CBD since his hip surgery, where he had a prosthesis implanted . Another cyclist and triathlete who uses CBD for muscle pain is
Andrew Talansky , who also
acknowledged that it helped him sleep .
NFL player Eugene Monroe has acknowledged that he supports CBD for its beneficial effects on professional athletes.
“The pain never goes away, my body is damaged,” Eugene Monroe
admitted to the Washington Post last year
. “I have to manage it somehow. Treating it with pills was slowly killing me. Now I am able to perform and be extremely efficient by learning how to use different formulations of cannabis.” In fact, he has a
website dedicated to advocating the use of cannabis for athletes.
Another of the most famous athletes who uses CBD is
UFC star Nate Diaz . Diaz has spoken publicly about his CBD use and how it helps him before and after fights.
"It helps me with the healing process and inflammation. So the best thing is to take it before and after fights and training because it improves your life , " Diaz
said at a press conference last year, following his fight against Conor McGregor in the UFC.
The world of extreme sports was a pioneer in the use of these products. There are studies showing that
many board sportsmen (surf, snowboard, skate, ski, etc.)
already use CBD to improve their performance . An example would be
Ross Rebagliati, Olympic snowboard champion or Billy Kemper, XXL surf champion. Both use CBD to improve their performance and to obtain a faster muscle recovery.
Billy Kemper confessed that he found CBD when he was looking for a natural product that would help his mother with nausea and her sleeping problems. In this area of extreme sports, there are countless cases of athletes who use this type of products;
Mason Ho, Jaime O'brien, Tony Hawk, Nathan Florence…
Outside of extreme sports
, other athletes who use CBD products include
the well-known golfer Bubba Watson or the world soccer champion Megan Rapione.
Legality of CBD in high-performance competitions
The World Anti-Doping Agency (or WADA) is an
international organization founded by both the International Olympic Committee . Its main activities include
scientific research and education of the sports community , as well as the development of a "doping-free" sports world. Any derivative of Cannabis was prohibited until January 1, 2018, until the
World Anti-Doping Agency excluded CBD from the list of prohibited substances . So in
2021 CBD will be very present at the Tokyo Olympics due to its benefits for physical activity and health.
In recent years, many athletes have joined the
CBD wave as a natural remedy for chronic pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and nausea. CBD consumption in sports is increasing rapidly day by day, and
as research progresses, we will be able to discover new properties and applications of this cannabis derivative.
