Professional and amateur athletes are always looking to improve their performance. For that reason, fitness enthusiasts invest money into good quality sports equipment, training coaches, physical therapists, and chiropractors. Some swear by taking vitamin supplements, pre-workout drinks, and drinking alkaline water. It’s no wonder vegan athletes would decide to explore one of the most popular new products, CBD oil. Many athletes use CBD to improve their athletic and physical performance. We at Puure Therapeutics created this article to break down CBD and the benefits vegan athletes can reap from it.
Here is what you will learn:
Let’s get started!
The Cannabis sativa plant is commonly referred to as a marijuana or hemp plant. Each Cannabis sativa plant contains over 80 cannabinoid chemicals. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of those chemicals and, unlike marijuana, it doesn’t contain a high amount of THC as an active ingredient. For this reason, CBD has many of the same healing qualities of medical marijuana but isn’t able to make you “high”.
In 2018, the federal Farm Bill was passed which made selling hemp and hemp products legal nationwide. There are exceptions to this law. Hemp-derived CBD products may only be sold if they have less than 0.3% THC. However, it’s still a good idea for shoppers to review the CBD product’s label in case there are any oddities.
CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant and mixed with a carrier oil, often coconut oil. Manufacturers frequently use food-grade essential oils to infuse flavor or scent into the CBD product. Collectively, these elements are typically organic and vegan friendly. Meaning in fact, CBD Oil is vegan friendly.
Beginning in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) deleted CBD from their list of prohibited substances both in and out of competition. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) made the same move. Of course, athletes need to be aware of an important footnote to these changes. Only CBD products that have no trace of THC are acceptable. The psychoactive component of THC remains banned, as well as illegal in most American states.
Now that CBD is available to all athletes, from pro gymnasts to recreational marathoners, there are several specific reasons why they are drawn to the plant byproduct. A few of the most common benefits of CBD are improved performance, reduced stress, pain relief, and increased energy.
Research indicates that CBD elicits a positive reaction from the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system is an extensive physical network that influences the nervous system, immune system, brain, bones, skin, and various organs. It also impacts physiological functions in the body, like sleep, metabolism, stress, pain, mood, appetite, reproduction, and pain.
A healthy dose of CBD can help boost your endocannabinoid system, improving overall body functions. Vegan athletes that supplement with CBD products may find a reduction in inflammation, fatigue, and aches and pains all while improving recovery and maximizing performance. The faster athletes can recover, the more they will be able to push the limits of their body. CBD is a great way to naturally relax your muscles and relieve them from the intense stress of sports.
Some vegan athletes find that replacing certain prescription pills with CBD is best. That’s because medication can cause dependencies, hormonal imbalances, and other negative side effects. However, CBD hasn’t been found to have any of those similar side effects, because it is natural. On and off the field, CBD is a much healthier alternative to taking prescription pills. With CBD, there is no risk of addiction or damage to bodily functions over time.
Taking CBD hours before a fitness competition or other event has been shown to lower anxiety, particularly for vegan athletes that suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. Brain receptors that manage stress, CB1 and CB2, are known to react positively to CBD. The more relaxed your body is the less amount of energy it needs to run on. This leaves athletes with a lot more in the tank when it comes to crunch time. Athletes perform better when you aren’t tenses up and are simply relaxed. CBD relaxes and soothes your muscles so you can perform the best of your abilities.
First, vegan athletes will want to understand the following aspects of CBD products.
Lab Tested CBD: At this time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements like CBD. That means it’s up to the consumer to research the products they are purchasing. Always look for items that have been lab-tested by a third-party so you can feel confident you’re getting safe and effective CBD.
Organic, US Grown CBD: Cannabis sativa plants grown in the United States are subject to federal agricultural standards that other countries may not require. For instance, US-grown hemp plants can’t have more than 0.3% THC. This is important if you’re a vegan athlete that has to take a drug test.
Purchasing Organic CBD Oil ensures that the product is pesticide and chemical free. The better the ingredients that are put into the product, the better the results you are going to get out of it. When you see a US Grown and Organic sticker on the label of a CBD Oil, you know it is a great choice.
Broad-Spectrum or Full Spectrum: Instead of buying distillate or isolate CBD, be sure to purchase full or broad-spectrum CBD oil. Broad Spectrum and full spectrum CBD oil both include all cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are the source of all of the nutrients and health benefits of CBD.
Although they are both a great choice for vegan athletes, there is one distinct difference, full spectrum CBD Oil contains 0.3% THC. Do not worry, this is not enough THC to get you “high”. You won’t get high but that small percentage of THC may be enough to show on a drug test. This is what makes broad spectrum CBD such a great choice for vegan athletes. Broad Spectrum contains 0.0% THC so there is no risk of failing a drug test. If you are a vegan athlete subject to drug testing,we recommend Broad Spectrum CBD Oil.
Both, broad-spectrum and full spectrum CBD products are subject to less processing which leaves behind most of the volatile organic compounds, like terpenes. CBD terpenes impact the smell and taste of the product, as well as encourage a strong immune system, sharp brain function, and high energy.
Now that you know how to read the CBD label, you’ll have to decide how you want to use it. There are a few different choices.
There are numerous CBD edibles, like truffles, candy bars, gummies, mints, lollipops, coffee, teas, seltzer waters, and dozens of others. Edibles are fun, discreet, and mask the grassy taste. Remember, edibles can take up to two hours to begin working since they have to pass through your digestive system first. Reports say you’ll absorb about 20% to 30% of the CBD into your body.
There are plenty of CBD-infused creams, salves, gels, balms, lotions, and trans dermal patches being sold these days. If you want to treat a targeted area of your joints, skin, or muscles then topicals may be best. You can even buy CBD lotions that are mixed with menthol, camphor, or capsaicin. This combination can bring about even more therapeutic benefits.
Keep in mind, topicals provide more concentrated treatment than edibles since they have a more direct path to the problem area. Unlike CBD tinctures that go under the tongue, topicals aren’t as quickly absorbed through the skin. So, you may want to select a higher amount of CBD when you opt for CBD lotions.
Edibles may contain preservatives and sugar. If you’re a vegan athlete that’s trying to avoid these types of additives, then you may want to buy a CBD tincture instead. Sublingual CBD is meant to be absorbed under the tongue which is a fast-acting method. CBD tinctures include lozenges, oils, and sprays.
This method gets CBD into the bloodstream fast. You’ll feel the effects within 10 minutes and 34% to 56% of the CBD will be absorbed by your body. Vegan athletes, like yourself, may smoke CBD in a joint, use a vape pen with a CBD oil cartridge, or inhale CBD sugar waxes.
Be careful not to use CBD vape cartridges that have thinning agents such as MCT, vegetable glycerin, or propylene glycol. In recent years, doctors have found that these elements may contribute to lung tissue damage.
There’s not an easy, one-size-fits-all answer to this question. First, CBD items aren’t regulated, and doses may be inconsistent. Plus, there are many different forms of CBD you can use and that makes the dosing inconsistent too.
The only precise way to take CBD is via capsules. Or you can calculate how many milligrams of CBD in one volume (e.g. 1 milliliter) of tincture drops.
CBD affects each person differently as well. That’s another reason it’s hard to know how much CBD should be used. The best option is to be cautious, taking the lowest dose possible and gradually increasing the CBD intake over time.
If you are an athlete looking to improve performance and enhance recovery times, then we highly recommend CBD Oil as a natural supplement. However, not all CBD Oils are created equal, especially if you are a vegan athlete. Make sure to look for Organic, US Grown, Broad or Full Spectrum CBD Oil. Find the best deals on all your CBD needs at Puure Therapeutics.
If you are hesitant or want to learn more about the benefits of CBD and if its a good fit for you, contact us today.
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