Contents
- Use cannabis for motivation
- Improve stamina
- Increased respiratory function
- Muscle recovery
- Pain-relief
- Natural vasodilator
- Using weed after a workout
The verdict
Did you hear all the rage about athletes using CBD for muscle recovery? You might want to start growing Blueberry autoflower seeds when realizing all the ways cannabis can possibly benefit your performance.
Below we unpack how you can use weed for better recovery and a more productive exercise session.
1. Use cannabis for motivation
Have you ever had one of those days when you just don’t want to work out? Sometimes exercise routines become monotonous, or the difficulty sucks the excitement out of it.
Many users report that weed helps them stick to their plans and increases their motivation to meet fitness goals. It may also assist in following through with daunting endurance exercises.
How does cannabis help with staying focused on your goal? Combining cannabidiol (CBD) and working out is still beneficial, but the motivation aspect comes from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Delta-8 THC. Here’s how it works:
- It stimulates the endocannabinoid receptors responsible for reward and dopamine release.
- It may cause your brain to release more dopamine, create feelings of satisfaction and increase pleasure sensors.
- This hormonal release triggers a ‘runner’s high’ type of sensation that makes the exercise pleasurable and worth completing.
2. Improve stamina
The reason cannabis may improve stamina is trifold; improved mood, less pain, and easier breathing. Many athletes believe taking a low to moderate dose of weed helps them push harder and get more done.
Completing tedious workouts is hard when you’re in a lousy mood, but some weed strains can uplift your emotional state. They also increase focus, helping you employ required muscle groups quicker and improve coordination.
Even the slightest injury can ruin your stamina, but marijuana has pain-relieving properties that might dull pain. It may also increase flexibility and make breathing easier, helping you get through intense workouts.
3. Increased respiratory function
THC functions as a bronchodilator, allowing airways to open and oxygen to travel easier. Deep breathing is essential, especially during aerobic exercise. You get a smoother workout with less panting and breaks by taking in more oxygen.
Many people struggle with breathing during exercise, especially those with asthma or COPD. Using CBD after a workout may reduce inflammation in the lungs and assist with easier breathing for those with exercise-induced asthma.
It might also boost your circulatory system aiding in oxygenating your muscles, so you’re not as sore the next day.
4. Muscle recovery
Cannabis might reduce muscle spasms, stiffness, and inflammation. It may even reduce the extent of pro-inflammatory cytokines your body releases from exercise injuries or infections.
Using CBD for muscle recovery could be highly beneficial for reducing inflammatory responses and aiding in speedy recovery. It can help you move faster so you won’t have to rebuild your stamina after an injury. THC might increase circulation and promote quicker healing.
5. Pain-relief
Three components of cannabis work together to provide possible pain-relieving effects; CBD, THC, and terpenes.
CBD has anti-inflammatory effects that may assist injuries in healing faster. It might help repair nerve tissues thanks to its neuroprotective properties. The strong analgesic properties are why it’s so popular for boxers and other combat athletes to use CBD post-workout.
THC has pain-perception abilities. In other words, it can adjust how your brain sends pain signals. It may reduce the intensity, but THC can reduce the sensation in some rare cases. Before using it for pain relief, you should know your body’s unique reactions.
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds found in marijuana. They give flavor and scent to various cannabis strains but also have health benefits. Myrcene is a dominant terpene found in over 40% of cultivars and has muscle relaxant and pain-relieving properties.
6. Natural vasodilator
Did you ever notice how some people get red eyes when they smoke weed? THC causes blood vessels to expand and increases blood flow which is visible in the whites of the eyes.
THC is a vasodilator with the possibility to increase blood flow and improve circulation. This property is a lifesaver for athletes as it could mean better flexibility, blood flow, and lower blood pressure.
7. Using weed after a workout
Many athletes use cannabis after exercising, including NBA players who smoke weed. Why should you use weed after a workout?
For starters, it’s rewarding. The same way a slice of cake after a workout feels so good, cannabis is a special treat for a job well done. It stimulates dopamine and makes you feel happy after exercising.
Weed can help you get into the habit of exercising by giving you something to look forward to. It may also reduce soreness the next day, so you won’t regret leg day.
If you participate in combat sports, you’re likely to experience common injuries, so having a potent anti-inflammatory like CBD might be beneficial. Using it after a workout may help you heal faster and oxygenate your muscles for quicker recovery.
Sleep is essential for muscles to grow and recover from exercise. If you don’t get enough or have trouble dosing off, a cannabis indica strain could help. Alternatively, It’s especially beneficial for those who work out at night as a sativa cultivar can keep you up for longer.
The verdict
Cannabis and exercise may work well together. It has the potential to relieve pain, improve endurance and make it more enjoyable. Both CBD and THC have properties that could help make your post-workout experience smoother and happier.
Kyle Kushman
Kyle Kushman is an American writer, educator, activist and award-winning cannabis cultivator and breeder specializing in veganic cultivation. He is a representative of Homegrown Cannabis CO company, has been a contributor for over 20 years, and has taught courses in advanced horticulture at Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California and across the United States. Kushman also hosts a cannabis podcast called “The Grow Show with Kyle Kushman”.