CBD and Exercise: How Do They Work Together?

CBD and Working Out: The Source of Post-Workout Inflammation

The intersection of CBD and exercise is hardly new. As early as 2009, researchers were investigating this cannabinoid’s potential to impact our natural inflammatory response and support immune system functioning. But it’s only with the advent of offerings like our original and award-winning Releaf Balm or our potent and effective CBD Ingestibles that larger numbers of us are tuning in to CBD fitness products.

Why do we tend to feel sore after a workout? In the majority of cases, it’s caused by "Delayed onset muscle soreness," or “DOMs.” In the past, many athletes turned to so-called “heat rubs” such as Bengay or Ebanel, despite the fact that many fitness experts believe there’s little evidence they really work.

Using CBD pre-workout, by comparison, gives our muscles a concentrated dose of this powerful and natural anti-inflammatory. And whether you access it through topicals or ingestibles, the place it all comes together is called the endocannabinoid system. And as a supremely important regulatory network, it deserves an introduction of its own.

CBD and Exercise: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System

CBD is the second most common cannabinoid—or “major active ingredient”—in cannabis and its cousin, the hemp plant. And it’s designed to partner with our bodies, literally. As we’ve written previously about the endocannabinoid system (ECS), cannabinoids are in a very real sense “speaking the body’s language.”

In the ECS, cannabinoids such as CBD interact with specialized receptor cells to elicit a surprisingly wide range of effects. A large and growing body of evidence from animal studies suggests that CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory, may protect us from nerve damage and joint pain, and partner with the immune system to help modulate our experience of pain, sensory perception, and other crucial bodily functions.

Not only that, but exercise stimulates the endocannabinoid system. This in turn may boost levels of our own natural cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, to support pain-relief and anti-inflammatory responses in the body.

CBD Pre-Workout: Finding Your Dosage

You might be wondering just how much CBD is needed to relax muscles. Because everyone’s body is different, there’s no single recommended dosage.

If you’re using an ingestible such as our CBD Releaf Oil, we recommend taking one to two dropperfuls, then repeating as needed throughout the day. For our CBD Releaf Capsules, we recommend a single capsule at a time, also repeated as needed throughout the day. If you’re using them pre-workout, we recommend you take them at least 30 minutes before exercising.

Then there are CBD topicals, including our Releaf Balm and Releaf Oil. Crafted from pure CBD mixed with such ingredients such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender, these products deliver the healing power of CBD right to the source. We recommend you gently massage them into sore spots for 15 seconds or more. Again, waiting a short time before working out will give these products a chance to get to work, but it isn’t strictly necessary to pause.

CBD and Exercise: Wrapping Up

We hope today’s post lends valuable insights on how to get the most benefit from our CBD products in supporting your workout goals.

We work hard to provide some of the highest-quality CBD products out there, from our award-winning CBD Releaf Balm to our CBD Releaf Softgels (available in Regular and Double-Strength varieties). That’s why we exclusively use solventless infusion methods for everything we create. It’s our pledge to you and a very important part of our process.

Do you have other questions about CBD and exercise-related inflammation? Just ask! We’re here to help.