It’s no secret these days that CBD is capable of a great many things in the body—for both people and pets. You may be already CBD oil for anxiety or for focus, but have you ever thought about what CBD could do for your exercise routine? Can you use CBD for muscle growth? Does it work well for athletes? Today, you are going to gain some insight on CBD research and how it can change the way you train.
What is CBD?
CBD—short for cannabidiol—is a compound from cannabis plants. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the plant, though it does not work the same way as some of the others. Cannabidiol is not like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that gives you a high. Instead of producing euphoria, CBD helps calm the body down.
How Does CBD Work?
Understanding how CBD may benefit your workout and weight loss goals stems from knowing how it impacts your body. As mentioned earlier, CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids affect the body a number of ways. Often, they interact with receptors that are found within the endocannabinoid system, or ECS [1]. The ECS is a subsystem that intertwined with many others, including the immune and endocrine systems. It’s complex and responsible for many bodily reactions, like inflammation and pain.
Now, when THC interacts with the ECS, it often excites the system, resulting in the ‘high’ feeling. CBD, on the other hand, complements the regulatory process of the endocannabinoid system, resulting in its well-known analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits [2, 3].
Can CBD Help Me Build Muscle?
Although there are few studies out there on CBD and how it affects your workout (or the results of your effort) directly, there is evidence to consider. Think about the body for a moment. Throughout the day, your hormones rise and fall. Some catabolic hormones, such as cortisol, are known for causing a loss in muscle mass and tone. Now, exercise is considered a form of eustress, or good stress, that is beneficial in moderation.
However, if you are like most people, you probably have other kinds of stress going on. All that stress is going to interfere with one key player in protein synthesis: your sleep. Overnight when you rest, your cortisol levels drop. This is the time when the body recovers from your workouts, helping you build muscle.
In this way, CBD may indirectly assist with muscle growth. One study from 1993 found that CBD may interfere with cortisol secretion [4]. Supporting the evidence gathered from the 1993 study is another more recently conducted set of trials from 2021 [5]. Researchers found that CBD is capable at significantly reducing the stress response—to the same degree as many pharmaceutical options.
Furthermore, another study from 2021 looked at CBD supplementation and how it impacted muscle regeneration [6]. The participants performed a series of one-repetition maximum back squats and tracked creatine kinase and myoglobin levels for 72 hours afterwards. Compared to the group who took the placebo, those who took CBD saw better muscle recovery and performance.
Best CBD For Pain
Does CBD Help With Muscle Fatigue and Soreness?
Muscle recovery is another thing you should consider when you are trying to increase the size of your muscles. Anyone who has ever worked out or done hard physical labor will know how it feels when your muscles are fatigued. Whenever you workout, you tax your muscles and create little tears, which is where delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) comes from. The muscles, because they are injured, also become inflamed.
Some people may choose to take an NSAID, but there is another option that can help decrease muscle soreness and prompt faster recovery: CBD.
As mentioned earlier, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. A review from 2020 looked at the anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory impact of CBD and suggested that the physiological, biochemical, and psychological benefits of the compound could benefit athletes [7]. Yet another review of literature from 2021 found that there is a high prevalence of runners, cyclists, and triathletes who are using CBD and other cannabis-related products for pain relief and improved sleep quality [8]. The review also touched on how CBD was found to mediate inflammation and promote healing of various injuries, while also counteracting oxidative stress on the body.
In other words, less inflammation leads to less soreness, as well as faster recovery, so you can get back to the gym and train even harder.
Choosing The Right CBD For Muscle Growth
In order to have tangible benefits from your CBD, you need to choose the product that is going to have an effect on your specific needs. The two main things to consider are formula and dosage.
CBD is available in a variety of forms, from edibles, topical creams, oils, capsules, and more. What you choose to take is up to you, but you should be aware of how each formula impacts your body. A topical cream, for instance, may be best for dealing with localized pain, such as an aching muscle. Meanwhile, a sublingual tincture may be best for some quality sleep, so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to lift in the morning.
Secondly, how much CBD you take is going to be unique to you. Each person who takes CBD will react differently, based on your age, weight, gender, as well as what you are trying to treat and where. You may need more or less CBD than your friend. In order to find the best amount, always start low, around 10/mg a day and gradually increase from there. You will eventually find the amount that your body needs.
Get Your High Quality CBD Today
So, can you use CBD for muscle growth? There is no clear evidence yet whether CBD should replace your protein shake and Tiger Balm, but it does have many positive benefits. Even if cannabidiol cannot increase your gains, there is scientific evidence to support its anti-inflammation abilities. That alone can help you be the best version of you.
If you are looking for CBD products to add to your wellness regimen, make sure you are purchasing only the best. Sugar Bottom Hemp is devoted to delivering high quality CBD products to you, your family, and beloved pets. Our CBD is extracted from organic hemp then analyzed by a third-party lab for purity. Why not check out our complete catalog today? You are bound to find something you will love.
Resources
- Grinspoon, P., MD. (2021, August 11). The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569
- Mlost, J., Bryk, M., & Starowicz, K. (2020). Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment: Focus on Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(22), 8870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228870
- Henshaw, F. R., Dewsbury, L. S., Lim, C. K., & Steiner, G. Z. (2021). The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(3), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0105
- Zuardi, A. W., Guimarães, F. S., & Moreira, A. C. (1993). Effect of cannabidiol on plasma prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol in human volunteers. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas, 26(2), 213–217.
- Henson, J. D., Vitetta, L., Quezada, M., & Hall, S. (2021). Enhancing Endocannabinoid Control of Stress with Cannabidiol. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(24), 5852. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245852
- Isenmann, E., Veit, S., Starke, L., Flenker, U., & Diel, P. (2021). Effects of Cannabidiol Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Regeneration after Intensive Resistance Training. Nutrients, 13(9), 3028. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093028
- McCartney, D., Benson, M. J., Desbrow, B., Irwin, C., Suraev, A., & McGregor, I. S. (2020). Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: a Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research. Sports medicine – open, 6(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00251-0
- Rojas-Valverde D. (2021). Potential Role of Cannabidiol on Sports Recovery: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 722550. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.722550
