Out of the many users of CBD, sportsmen, and athletes are an expanding market of interest for businesses. The popularity has been so high that in September of 2019, a group of athletes joined together to launch MotiveCBD, a brand dedicated to meet the needs of this profession.
MotiveCBD has introduced products that are aimed at helping athletes improve their performance and recover from strenuous physical activity. According to Corey Poches, founder and CEO of MotiveCBD, “We provide a line of consistently-tested CBD products, formulated to fit any routine, that helps athletes of all ages, shapes, and sizes recover from sports-related conditions.”
The existence of a complete line of CBD products dedicated fully to sportsmen and athletes shows that there is a big demand for it. For those who still doubt its therapeutic benefits, here are a few accounts by professional sports personalities who believe in its efficacy:
Teal Stetson-Lee: Professional Cyclist
Hailed as Nevada’s first cannabis-backed professional athlete, Teal Stetson Lee is not only a user of CBD but also a partner in companies that sell it. She took a huge leap of faith by associating herself with KYND Cannabis Company and the MYT Dispensary at the peak of her professional career. She believes it was necessary to take this stance to help shatter the stigma associated with the drug.
When it comes to using CBD, she believes that its tinctures and creams are very helpful in soothing sore muscles and healing injuries.
Kerri Walsh Jennings: Olympic Beach Volleyball Player
Kerri Walsh is a three-time gold medalist and professional beach volleyball player. She is a brand ambassador of cbdMD. In the ad campaigns of this company she can be seen applying their topical lotion on her elbows, probably to ease the pain. She also uses some products of cbdMD to help her sleep and improve her overall well-being.
Judith Hagger: Professional Triathlete
When asked to describe her experience with a product of the CBD company she endorses, Judith Hagger her three words: supportive, strengthening, and therapeutic. She has also been using the products by Spirit of Hemp as a sleeping aid and muscle relaxant.
How Does CBD actually work for Athletes?
Having gone over real-life examples of athletes who use CBD for relief from different conditions, let’s look at the science behind it.
The undeniable natural bond between cannabinoids and cannabis
The endocannabinoid system of the human body is a very complex system of different chemical processes. As it was discovered comparatively recently to other body mechanisms, scientists are still struggling to understand its actual nature.
From what is known today, the ECS has three important components: cannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. Its main role is to maintain a state of homeostasis in the body and ensure a smooth function of other physiological processes.
The cannabinoids that make-up the ECS hold a striking resemblance to the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Therefore, by feeding exo-cannabinoids to the ECS, a lot of imbalances that occur in the body can be successfully resolved.
This explains why CBD and other cannabis derivatives work effectively to soothe neuropathy, arthritis, seizures, and other physical ailments. Its effectiveness in treating extreme and rare types of seizures has been so effective that the FDA eventually approved Epidiolex for treatment.
Are there any risks with using CBD?
The best part about using CBD for soothing any condition is that it is safe. Most people confuse it with THC, the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant that causes a euphoric feeling in users.
To clear this misconception, let’s begin from the top. The cannabis family produces two strains of plants: hemp and marijuana. CBD can be extracted from both of these sources. Here’s the twist, CBD derived from hemp contains a fairly low percentage of THC than that derived from marijuana. Although both have the same CBD structures, hemp provides a more purified version.
This is why hemp-derived CBD products are legal all across the USA. These products can contain THC concentration that is as low as 0.3% – a safe window. This makes it free from side-effects like addiction and dependence for the users. So if you are an athlete or someone who loves strenuous exercises, go get your favorite brand of CBD.