CBD for Athletes: A Complete Guide

CBD for athletes has a long-standing reputation for being a controversial topic. However, over the last few decades, more and more professional athletes are endorsing CBD, or cannabidiol, for various health reasons.

CBD is one of about 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in a cannabis plant. Although CBD research still has a long way to go, recent studies show its potentially beneficial effects for treating inflammation, joint pain, and other common ailments in athletes.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs is a significant concern in professional athletics. THC is another common cannabinoid used recreationally and to treat various medical ailments. While many organizations list THC as a prohibited drug for athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency allows athletes to consume CBD.

Although the World Anti-Doping Agency permits CBD use for professional athletics, athletes must conduct further research on their particular league’s regulations regarding CBD and drug use.

One of the benefits of CBD is its versatility. Athletes can consume the cannabinoid through energy shots, therapy creams, and other products. This allows each athlete to choose the method that works best for them.

How Can Athletes Benefit from CBD

In order to understand how CBD is beneficial for athletes, it is essential to know how it works. Your body has a system of cannabinoid receptors called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.

The ECS is in your organs and controls various functions such as your immune response, appetite, pain perception, body temperature, and the sleep-wake cycle. Although it has multiple functions, its primary goal is to maintain homeostasis, which is your body’s internal balance. A disruption in the balance can cause chronic pain and diseases such as insomnia and neurodegenerative disorders.

To help maintain a state of homeostasis, athletes and individuals suffering from chronic conditions can turn to CBD. CBD helps to regulate your ECS by influencing your brain’s cannabinoid receptors.

Since CBD does not bind directly with your brain’s cannabinoid receptors, it is not intoxicating. The effective ECS regulation and lack of any high  make CBD an attractive substance for athletes.

CBD is a versatile substance that has several potential benefits for athletes.

Alternative to Painkillers

Athletes in every sport can relate to having occasional pain and soreness. Pushing your body to its limits can significantly affect your muscles. As a result, many athletes turn to painkillers to relieve their pain and reduce inflammation.

The most common painkillers consumed by pro athletes are anti-inflammatories like naproxen and ibuprofen. However, in some cases, athletes may need more potent prescription drugs, which can be addictive. As a result, many athletes can end up feeling worse and face a higher risk of addiction.

As previously mentioned, CBD does not bind directly with your cannabinoid receptors, making it a safer painkiller. Research suggests that CBD can effectively reduce inflammation and pain without the harmful risk of addiction.

CBD can help you manage pain by acting on your opioid and TRPV receptors, helping you feel less pain and experience less inflammation.

Recovery

Athletes undergo physical and mental stress nearly every day. Although working hard and pushing your body has physical benefits, it is vital to have a healthy recovery.

Every athlete knows that physical and mental recovery is critical for overall health and performance. Unfortunately, busy schedules and constant physical stress can make it challenging to recover properly. CBD has the potential to promote recovery by reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and regulating your body’s sleep-wake cycle.

In addition, CBD helps regulate cortisol, which your adrenal system releases into your bloodstream as you exercise, in your body.

According to a study by the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Medical Psychology at the University of Brazil, CBD helps to reduce cortisol in the bloodstream. Lower production of cortisol can have positive effects on your body by promoting better physical recovery and sleep.

Performance

Every athlete strives to be their best, both physically and mentally. Studies show that CBD can help athletes improve their sleep quality, reduce inflammation, and promote physical recovery. As a result, many athletes incorporate CBD oil and other products into their routine for better performance and overall health.

Sports Medicine published a review in 2020 regarding non-athlete clinical trials and preclinical studies with animals. Results from these trials suggest that CBD has psychological, physiological, and biochemical benefits that can help athletes improve performance.

CBD for athletes can help boost performance in various ways. For example, topical CBD, like SUPA Natural’s CBD Cooling Gel, can help you target a specific area of your body and promote quicker healing. In addition, many athletes consume CBD oil for pain management or to reduce inflammation.

Aside from recovery and managing chronic pain, CBD for athletes can help reduce stress and anxiety to promote better performance. CBD can help alleviate the pre-games nerves by reducing anxiety and giving you more confidence.

Appetite

Part of being a professional athlete is having a healthy diet. As previously mentioned, your ECS helps control your appetite. By regulating ECS activity, CBD can help you attain your body fat percentage goals by helping you control your appetite.

Certain studies suggest that cannabinoids, like CBD, can help individuals achieve a smaller waist and reduced obesity rates. Unlike THC, CBD is a mild appetite suppressant that can help you relax without giving you the “munchies.” It does this by acting on the GABA-A receptor to help regulate behavior connected to hunger and appetite in a healthy way.

In addition, CBD can be beneficial for athletes with a lower insulin sensitivity by improving glucose and glycogen storage space in the muscles and liver.

Sleep

As an athlete, your body relies on quality sleep for recovery. Unfortunately, the stress of the profession and the toll it takes on the body can make it difficult for athletes to get the sleep they need.

To promote better sleep and recovery, many athletes will take prescription sleeping pills or OTC medications. Unfortunately, these methods can have long-term effects on your sleep pattern.

One of the many benefits of CBD is its ability to control your sleep cycle. It does this by reducing the three primary causes of troubled sleep:

1. Anxiety
2. Stress
3. Pain

By regulating these factors, you can achieve better and deeper sleep, which is essential for your body’s recovery.

Focus

Athletic performance relies on more than strong muscles and impressive speed. A lack of focus and energy can have draining effects on your body and negatively impact your performance.

To enhance focus and boost energy, many athletes rely on pre-workout supplements. CBD can act as a natural pre-workout supplement by increasing energy, focus, and performance. Whether you lift heavy weights or run long distances, CBD may help you improve your focus and overall workout.

One of the reasons many athletes take CBD before their workouts is to reduce muscle burning and fatigue. Whether a run time or weight-lift, breaking a personal record can be challenging when your muscles are burning or tired. CBD can help athletes be their best and push their bodies further by alleviating muscle stress.

Stress

Stress and anxiety are common among athletes of various sports. Not only does CBD have potential physical benefits, but studies show that it can help significantly reduce stress and anxiety.

Various journal publications suggest that CBD oil can help individuals reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder and even PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

In addition, research suggests that certain orally-administered CBD can help reduce stress for those giving public speeches.

Is CBD Legal for Athletes?

Cannabis legalization is often a controversial topic, especially regarding professional athletics. Determining whether or not athletes can consume cannabis is not always a straightforward answer. The good news is that CBD is legal for athletes.

In 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency made it legal for athletes to consume CBD, both in competition and not, by taking it off the list of prohibited substances. However, it is crucial to remember that CBD is the only cannabinoid removed from the list. Other cannabinoids such as THC are still banned.

How Much CBD Should You Take?

Since CBD is not regulated, each CBD product has different levels of cannabinoids. The product inconsistency makes it difficult to establish a general standard for consumption.

The amount of CBD you should take will depend on various factors such as the type of CBD product, the dosage, your size, and the reason for taking it. The best way to determine how much CBD your body needs is by starting with small doses and gradually increasing until you achieve the desired results.

If you want to use CBD for pain management, an excellent place to start is by administering one to six milligrams for every 10 pounds that you weigh. Additionally, athletes can benefit more from topical CBD products to provide faster relief.

Taking CBD orally is recommended to reduce anxiety or improve sleep. For example, many professionals recommend taking between 25 to 75 milligrams to alleviate stress and help attain better sleep. In addition, higher doses of CBD between 300 and 600 mg can help reduce anxiety from public speaking.

When exploring CBD doses, it is crucial to start small and wait a few minutes. If you don’t feel anything after ten minutes to an hour, increase your dosage in small increments.

Since most athletes are subject to routine drug testing, it is crucial to find high-quality CBD products. Since products have varying levels of cannabinoids, some will have higher levels of THC. If you want to find CBD products that won’t lead to positive drug tests, it is critical to take your time to find high-quality products with lower THC levels.

What Kind of CBD Is the Best for Athletes?

Since the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from the prohibited substances list, more and more athletes are exploring the various health benefits of CBD. However, with so many different products available, narrowing down which ones are best for you can be challenging.

The first step in finding the right CBD is to find a trustworthy manufacturer. Brands with third-party testing are typically highly-reliable and produce high-quality products. The higher the quality of the CBD is, the better performance it will have.

In addition to finding a reliable CBD brand, it helps to know the different spectrums of CBD:

• Full-spectrum CBD: uses the whole hemp extract and often contains higher levels of THC
• Broad-spectrum CBD: often the most beneficial CBD spectrum as it doesn’t contain THC and has more unique or rare cannabinoids than full-spectrum CBD.
• CBD isolate: pure CBD products that do not contain any other cannabinoids

Broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate are generally the best options for athletes, since neither contains THC. Since broad-spectrum contains other cannabinoids such as CBC, CBN, and CBG, it has more therapeutic effects. Since CBD isolate only contains the CBD cannabinoid, it is the safest option for athletes to avoid testing positive; however, lacking other cannabinoids means that it may have limited effects.

Full-spectrum CBD, like SUPA Natural’s Full-Spectrum CBD Oil, contains various cannabinoids that can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and alleviate pain. However, the presence of THC makes it a risker product for athletes.

If you want to explore CBD products but aren’t sure which ones are best for you, SUPA Naturals can help. From your physical requirements to athletic and recovery goals, we consider various factors to help you find the most beneficial CBD product.

Athletes or Organizations and Their Statement About CBD

Now that the NCAA has less restrictive CBD regulations, more athletes are starting to turn towards natural cannabinoids for various health and performance benefits. Professional and amateur athletes express their stance on CBD consumption and benefits by sharing their stories and encouraging others to try more natural supplements.

The NCAA isn’t the only organization to alter its stance on CBD. Professional programs such as the NFL, MLB, and NBA have established similar regulation changes regarding CBD for athletes. Now that athletes have less severe penalties and can have higher levels of THC present in drug tests, many are coming forward to express their appreciation for the more relaxed rules and physical benefits of CBD.

Players in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the several major organizations to alter their stance on athletic CBD consumption. In 2020, the World Anti-Doping Agency allowed for the use of cannabidiol during athletic competitions. Due to the removal of CBD from the list of prohibited substances, many professional basketball players are taking advantage of the cannabinoid’s natural healing effects for pain management, recovery, and other common ailments.

It’s no wonder why basketball players are concerned about potential injuries and muscle fatigue. Professional players spend hours every day preparing for the physical and mental stress of the contact sport. Yet, despite their workout dedication, injuries on the court are inevitable.

Sports Health published a 17-year review in 2010 that reported the various injuries of NBA players. According to the report, about 63% of pro basketball player injuries involved the lower extremities, while 13% consisted of the upper extremities. Around 12.9% of NBA player injuries were in the torso, while other common injuries included spine and ankle injuries.

With several players receiving severe injuries and the rest suffering from sore muscles and fatigue, it’s no wonder why so many are turning to CBD products. One of the most notable CBD promoters is NBA player Klay Thompson.

Klay Thompson suffered from an ACL injury that left him questioning the future of his career. To promote healing and ease the challenging recovery process, Thompson turned to CBD. Not only did Thompson use CBD to aid him on his recovery journey, but he and other professional athletes started a CBD brand called Just Live.

As the first active professional NBA player to start their own CBD brand, Thompson encourages other athletes to explore the various health and healing benefits of CBD products. In his words, “It’s a natural way with CBD.”

Players in the NFL

Football is another popular contact sport known for causing various athletic injuries. CBD consumption has been a controversial topic in the NFL for many years. However, under the NFLPA agreement, NFL players can now use CBD oil to better themselves physically and mentally.

The agreement arises from years of research that suggest CBD oil can help players reduce inflammation while increasing their energy levels. Many professional football players are using CBD products to boost recovery and achieve higher performance levels.

Some of the NFL’s most prominent names promote CBD products due to their personal experiences. For example, the Tennessee Titan’s linebacker Derrick Morgan is a well-known advocate for CBD products. As one of the first active football players to push for CBD legalization back in 2016, Morgan has been very open about his cannabinoid use for training and muscle recovery.

Another recognizable name in CBD promotion is Baker Mayfield. The Cleveland Brown quarterback endured his fair share of athletic injuries and credited CBD products as part of his recovery process. He started investing in a CBD brand called Beam in 2020 and claims that their products were a significant contributor to his physical recovery.

Players in Hockey

Hockey is one of the world’s most popular sports. The National Hockey League (NHL) is less strict than the NBA and NFL regarding cannabis use. However, they regulate drug use under two main policies:

1. The performance-enhancing drug policy
2. The drug of abuse policy

The first policy bans various performance-enhancing drugs such as stimulants, growth hormones, and steroids. Although CBD is not on the list, professional hockey players are still subject to routine drug tests that detect cannabinoids.

NHL regulations allow players to use CBD products as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. Professional hockey players also have a less strict drug testing procedure than other professional sports.

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the NHL’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program require cannabinoid tests for professional hockey players. Unlike other professional sports programs, athletes who test positive for high levels of cannabis do not receive automatic punishment. Instead, positive test results go to the NHL and NHLPA committee for further review.

A hockey player that tests positive for high cannabinoid levels must meet with a medical professional for a mandatory assessment. NHL players will face potential suspension if they violate the organization’s cannabinoid policy multiple times.

Several NHL players are strong supporters of CBD use for performance and recovery. One of the most notable names is former Philadelphia Flyers player Riley Cote.

Cote’s early retirement was partly due to the extreme toll the sport took on his body. One of his retirement endeavors was creating Hemp Heals, a non-profit organization that works to put CBD in a better light through education.

Other notable NHL names like Ryan Vandenbussche and Dalen Purinton are also CBD product promoters. From investing in CBD companies to establishing their own brands, numerous NHL players are embracing the natural effects of CBD.

Players in Soccer

CBD regulations for soccer are similar to that of other sports. While the general allowance for THC presence in a drug test is 0.3%, some countries allow up to 0.5%. However, professional soccer players should always be careful with CBD use, as they undergo constant drug testing.

Although the World Anti-Doping Agency no longer has CBD on its list of prohibited substances, other organizations like FIFA, NWSL, and MLS can alter CBD allowance.

Many soccer players turn to CBD products to help them alleviate pain, inflammation, and other common athletic ailments. The 2019 FIFA women’s World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe is one of the biggest professional soccer names on the CBD support list. The legendary soccer player is an advocate for CBD for athletes and even partnered with her twin sister, Rachel Rapinoe, to form a company to promote CBD education and products.

Soccer players aren’t the only ones partnering with CBD companies. The Portland Thorns FC is the first soccer team to partner with a CBD company, making its mark in CBD product history.

Weightlifting and CrossFit

CrossFit and weightlifting athletes have the unique ability to lift heavy and continuously push their bodies constantly. So, it’s no surprise to see why many professional athletes are CBD advocates.

Both weightlifting and CrossFit athletes agree that recovery is essential for any training regime. One name, in particular, stands out when discussing the importance of recovery – Alex Anderson.

Anderson is a professional CrossFit athlete who works out for several hours a day to train for the CrossFit Games. He believes that recovery is more critical than actual training. To boost recovery, Anderson is an avid CBD user.

The CrossFit professional partnered with a nutrition company called Xwerks when they started creating CBD products. Anderson uses CBD products to boost his recovery during non-training days and relied on them to help him recover from a severe back injury in 2018.

Olympics

Olympic athletes fall under the umbrella of the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. Since the agency removed the CBD prohibition in 2018, many Olympic athletes are starting to use CBD products to enhance their training and overall well-being.

Olympians can use CBD products so long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. However, Olympic athletes must be extremely cautious when consuming CBD products as testing positive for excessive THC can prevent them from competing in the games.

Recent Regulation Changes in Other Pro Sports

Along with an updated list of prohibited substances from the World Anti-Doping Agency, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has taken steps towards CBD acceptance. The NCAA has adjusted its CBD regulations by increasing the threshold of THC presence in drug testing and reducing the punishment of a positive drug test.

For example, the original threshold for THC was 35 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Now, athletes can have a THC presence of up to 150 ng/ML before testing positive.

One of the reasons for the more lenient threshold is the knowledge that athletes often consume CBD casually. Since cannabinoids stay in your system for a long time, athletes who consume CBD recreationally are likely to have traces still in their bloodstream before an event.

Now, athletes also face less severe consequences for testing above the allowed THC threshold. Initially, testing positive for drugs after the first test would result in being suspended for half of the season. The updated cannabinoid regulations now dictate a suspension for only 25% of the season after the second positive test.

The relaxed attitude towards CBD comes from more recent studies and research that show this particular cannabinoid is not performance-enhancing. Although it can help athletes better themselves by improving sleep, boosting recovery, and relieving anxiety, it does not have the same addictive effects as other prohibited drugs.

At SUPA Naturals, we understand the unique stress and physical toll athletes face in their careers. Our goal is to help you find relief through natural means by providing high-quality CBD products. Contact us today to learn more about CBD for athletes and how our products can help you improve recovery and performance.