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CBD and bodybuilding

Those who use CBD in bodybuilding believe it will help them in a wide variety of ways. That a growing number of gym-goers want to try CBD is not news. After all, it's an industry famous for selling a number of supplements. Some, like creatine, are backed by science. Others are utterly ridiculous for a change, with no apparent benefit other than a drain on your bank account.

For those looking for benefits, bodybuilding and CBD is a combination that makes sense. Unlike THC, the intoxicating compound in cannabis, CBD doesn't produce that familiar 'high' feeling. It affects the cannabinoid receptors found in the human body and brain. The primary receptors are CB1 and CB2.

Does CBD build muscle mass?

There is a study that CBD can help with the muscle building process.

First and foremost, beware of any brand that makes health claims regarding cannabidiol. The FDA has made it clear that doing so is illegal. Sellers cannot make any medical claims or say that CBD cures or treats any condition. It doesn't matter if there is compelling evidence.

Even if CBD doesn't directly build muscle, it could have a number of benefits that pave the way for individuals to increase muscle mass. Think about it: if you were able to recover faster, you could complete more workouts overall. Through this process, you would likely benefit from higher muscle levels. No ingredient or product in the world can help you gain muscle mass without working hard at the same time!

CBD can offer an alternative to anti-catabolic products that are taken to reduce muscle loss. Those who are familiar with bodybuilding have probably heard of anabolic and anti-catabolic supplements. Catabolic hormones cause muscle loss. As the name suggests, anticatabolics reduce the production of catabolic hormones. Anabolic supplements increase the production of anabolic hormones. This particular process aids protein synthesis and leads to faster muscle growth.

CBD does not replace anabolic products. However, it potentially offers an alternative to anti-catabolic ones. Remember that CBD binds to CB receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). It may help regulate the body's metabolism and appetite.

Why do bodybuilders use CBD?

There are many potential benefits for bodybuilders who use CBD. One of the most important, however, is CBD's effect on inflammation. The inflammatory process includes swelling, pain, heat, redness, and loss of function. It is a necessary immune response that can protect us from harmful microorganisms.

Bodybuilders need acute inflammation. It is a short-term process that helps kill foreign bodies. Once it reaches this process, antibodies kick into gear and remove the debris while repairing damaged cells. If you've ever trained hard, you'll experience the pain of this form of inflammation. Even though it hurts like hell, it's a good thing!

What you don't want is chronic inflammation because it causes muscle breakdown. It can persist for months or longer without the necessary immune response to stop it. Chronic inflammation not only damages muscle growth, but contributes to various diseases such as arthritis and Alzheimer's.

CBD oil and bodybuilding - research on its benefits

There are many other ways that CBD is beneficial for bodybuilding. This includes:

  • Faster muscle recovery
  • Improved sleep
  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Weight watchers
  • Increased energy levels
  • Reduced DOMS

There is no doubt that CBD oil and natural bodybuilding are a dynamic duo. Anyone who has weight trained for an extended period of time knows that all of the above points are key components to better, more consistent workouts.

As it happens, there is research that suggests CBD helps with everything just mentioned. Let's take a look at this:

Faster muscle recovery

Remember that chronic inflammation hinders muscle recovery and can kill your work. Fortunately, it seems that CBD could help with inflammation after a workout, thus helping your body recover faster from an intense workout.

The standard way to deal with chronic inflammation is with NSAIDs. A 2017 study by Lilja et al. found that high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit muscle growth. CBD, on the other hand, could help reduce chronic inflammation without hindering the muscle-building process. Cannabinoids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. CBD in particular has a different way of interacting with the ECS that could help reduce inflammation.

Improved sleep

The body needs sleep to restore and heal muscle tears associated with weightlifting. If you don't get enough rest, your body has trouble synthesizing protein into muscle. Sleep affects almost every tissue in the body, including breathing, the immune system, and growth and stress hormones.

 

 

Lower stress and anxiety

The enemy of muscle building, cortisol, also comes to the fore when we are stressed. Symptoms include low concentration, anxiety and low self-esteem. We've already outlined how CBD could help lower cortisol levels, and research shows it can reduce anxiety.

Weight Watching

Those who are serious about bodybuilding also try to keep their body fat percentage low. It happens that CBD can help with weight loss. A study published in Nature found that CBD potentially increases leptin levels in the brain. Leptin is a hormone associated with making us feel full.With higher levels of leptin, you are less likely to experience cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods that may prevent you from reaching your ideal body fat levels.

Increased energy level

It's hard to do a great workout when you feel sluggish. CBD could help by regulating blood sugar levels in your body. This in turn affects the level of insulin you produce. By keeping insulin levels lower, the body burns more glucose for energy rather than converting it into fat. In addition to seeing better muscle-building results, you may also enjoy more "zip" in your workout.

Reduction of DOMS

If you've ever felt pain that lasts for days after an intense workout, you've experienced the joys of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). You are likely to feel this burning sensation 12-24 hours after your workout. While this is an integral part of the process for some lifters, others may decide that their DOMS is too painful to train for several days.

CBD, however, can help reduce the pain you feel after a strenuous session. A growing number of bodybuilders claim that taking cannabidiol helps their DOMS dissipate faster and helps them get back to the gym quickly.

Now that you can see the benefits of CBD oil for bodybuilding, let's take a look at the professionals who use it.

How to use CBD in bodybuilding

CBD oil is quite expensive, but you don't need to use large amounts of it. If you are a cannabidiol newbie, you should use 1 mg to 6 mg of CBD per 4.5 kg of body weight daily. This means that a bodybuilder weighing 82 kg should take between 18 mg and 108 mg per day.

'Many CBD experts recommend starting with a dose of 10 mg per day. But bodybuilders may find they need more,'' says Libor Šlechta, one of the owners of Carun Pharmacy. You have the option of consuming CBD oils or edibles. If you are using CBD for muscle pain, you should consider investing in topical preparations like cream. Rub CBD ointment into any part of your body that hurts and observe the effects, Mr. Šlechta adds.