If you are an athlete or a fitness enthusiast who has heard about the many health benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), you may wonder if CBD oil can help build muscle. There are a growing number of people looking to CBD oil, not only to build and strengthen existing muscles, but also to help muscles that have been compromised due to illness or injury recover fully.
Although more research needs to be done, current science seems to suggest that CBD oil has properties that can help build muscle.
Benefits of using CBD oil to build muscle
The importance of muscle mass is twofold. CBD oil contributes to muscle development, in that it regulates hormones and fat burns more easily due to the increases levels of brown fat and the energy needed to build and maintain muscle. This in turn speeds up your metabolism. The combination of muscle building and fat loss leads to a leaner and stronger figure, which is ideal not only for people who engage in physical and recreational activities, but also to maintain a healthy body mass index and in turn reduce the risk of excess weight related diseases, like diabetes, cancers and heart disease…etc
Muscle development can also help improve bone density, which is especially beneficial for older people who may have elevated risk of the development osteoporosis. The use of CBD oil can help some of these vulnerable populations to more easily develop muscles and whilst relieving the inflammatory pain associated with more intense levels of training, helping them avoid further health risks.
Strength training in combination with a high calorie, balanced, protein-rich (lean source) diet is required to produce and support muscle growth. Unfortunately, building muscle is not easy and requires dedication and commitment. No matter whom you are and how often you train, you run the risk of hitting a wall in your progress. Or you may have a condition that prevents you from pushing your body to the extent necessary to develop your muscles.
When people have problems developing or maintaining their muscles, testosterone and human growth hormone supplements are sometimes prescribed. This is especially common in people with sarcopenia, which is the natural loss of muscle tissue that occurs with age.
Unfortunately, there are negative side effects associated with these treatments, which include nerve, muscle and joint pain, high cholesterol, aggression and changes in the reproductive system. Due to unwanted side effects, testosterone and human growth hormone supplements are not ideal treatment options and as supplements they will produce results but with those come many health risks.
Using CBD oil to help build muscle is a much more natural approach, without the negative side effects of hormone use. Always contact your doctor as a precaution before using CBD oil, as this may interact with other medications you already use.
How effective is CBD oil in muscle building?
The first thing you should know about the effects of CBD oil on muscle growth is the role that catabolic hormones play in the human body.
Cortisol, known as the “stress hormone” because it is released in stressful situations, is a catabolic hormone that plays an important role in many parts of the body, including the immune system and the liver. However, it can also reduce protein synthesis and prevent the growth of new tissue, two important basic components of muscle development..
CBD oil is an anti-catabolic, which means that it helps regulate the levels of hormones like cortisol in your system. When taking CBD oil, the cortisol level is kept in check, which ensures more muscle growth and protein synthesis occurs during the day.
In addition to the role that CBD oil plays in regulating catabolic hormones, CBD oil also provides restful sleep. During sleep, your body does most of the work required to build and repair muscle tissue. Unfortunately, up to 25% of American adults have problems achieving the deep REM sleep that the body needs to do the repair and build muscle.
By taking CBD oil, you not only reduce cortisol fluctuations during the day, but also help your body rest deeply at night, increasing your effectiveness at building muscle day after day.
How to use CBD oil to build muscle
Bodybuilders and sports enthusiasts can use CBD oil to lower cortisol levels during a high-intensity workout. This can lead to better muscle tissue growth while preventing the retention of fat and other negative side effects associated with cortisol. And there is the added benefit of a deeper, more restful sleep, which also means better conditions to support and facilitate muscle growth whilst sleeping.
Older people, people with health problems, or people recovering from an injury can use CBD oil not only to get the benefits mentioned above, but also to find possible relief from pain, Inflammation and even fatigue, which promotes a more active lifestyle or increased exercise intensity levels.
Whatever the reason you want to use CBD oil to build muscle, ultimately the way you take it is a personal decision. If your focus on fitness, CBD gummies or vaping a CBD vaporizer may not be your first choice.
Organic CBD Tinctures and capsules can be a good place to start if you want to use CBD oil to support muscle growth. Both are discreet and work for hours (easily long enough to last and entire workout). At the end of the day, it’s up to you to try different CBD oil products and decide which one best suits your needs.
Always follow your CBD product recommendations for dosage
The standard for serving CBD oil is 25 mg of CBD, taken twice a day.
If you don’t get the results you want, increase the dose by 25 mg every 3-4 weeks until you find the right amount for you.
If you are an athlete you may benefit from a personal and scientific approach to creating your CBD oil diet, in this case you should speak to your sports doctor who may need to reach out to other sports science professionals.
Is CBD oil legal for athletes?
The simple answer is yes, CBD oil is legal for athletes. However, there are some exceptions, so CBD oil products must be carefully selected.
Although CBD oil is legal in most states, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabinoid in cannabis, has a different set of restrictions. The anti-doping rules of USADA mention THC as a prohibited substance.
Although many CBD products are sold as completely THC-free, the lack of regulation in the industry means that some manufacturers can allow THC to slip through. If you are an athlete who wants to use CBD oil to build muscle, choose a non-THC CBD oil isolate from an accredited company that issues test certificates so you know exactly what it is or what it is not in your CBD oil.
Tristan says:
Brilliant and cutting edge