CBD for Athletes and Active Individuals

Posted in Science of CBD

CBD for Athletes and Active Individuals

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CBD for Athletes and Active Individuals: The Research, The Benefits, and The Side Effects

As studies continue to show the benefit of CBD for sports injury recovery, there is no doubt that this “miracle plant” has plenty to offer. Sports and recovery are known to go hand-in-hand, especially for modern athletes taking their performance levels seriously. But this also rings true for the amateur cyclist, runner or part-time tennis or golf enthusiast who suffers from irregular sporting pains and minor injuries, and look to active recovery forms as an integral part of the entire recovery process.

Recovering well, means that your next stint on the bike, the sports field, or the running track, will be that much more enjoyable, pain-free and rewarding.

Originally founded in the UK, fourfivecbd is the brainchild of two professional rugby players, Dominic Day and George Kruis, whose extensive rugby careers brought forth a need for a product which would ultimately help professional athletes and active people alike during all forms of recovery with a natural alternative, using CBD.

CBD, cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in hemp, which is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning it cannot get you high. CBD is famously  known for its unique effects in reducing anxiety and depression, increasing focus, and assisting with chronic pain, especially those fighting cancer.

Dominic Day played professional rugby for over 14 years, playing in Wales, England, Japan and Australia before finally hanging up his boots earlier this year. Meanwhile, his business partner, George Kruis, is still actively applying his trade for the Saracens and was a key part of the England squad who made it to the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in 2019.

Together, Dominic and George believe that through their own personal sporting experiences, they needed to find a trustworthy natural supplement and both felt that CBD was the way to go. So ultimately, they took matters into their own hands and created their own range of products that would fall well within the correct guidelines and regulations.

Their range, which consists of oils, muscle rubs, and capsules, are specifically designed with active people in mind, not just sportsmen. These products are all easy to use, easy to dose, and easy to take with you even on your busiest days.

We caught up with George and Dominic, who told us everything we need to know about the brand, and more, in an exclusive one-on-one interview with cbdstore.co.za.

Firstly, is CBD legal in South Africa? 

Yes, it is indeed legal.

a) providing a maximum daily dose of 20mg of cannabidiol and making a general health enhancement, health maintenance or relief of minor symptoms (low-risk) claim;

or b) processed products made from cannabis raw plant material intended for ingestion containing at most 0.0075% CBD where only the naturally occurring quantity of cannabinoids found in the source material is contained in the product.

It has also been a permitted substance on professional athlete’s drug tests, listed by World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) and Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO), since 1st January 2018.

 

Why do CBD’s key benefits lend themselves to recovery and training?

There is great anecdotal evidence to show that CBD has had positive effects on pain, inflammation, stress, anxiety, and sleep. All of these factors are key in any person performing at their peak. Many sportsmen and women have also decided to use CBD as an alternative to mainstream pharmaceuticals that they do not feel comfortable taking on an on-going basis.

For more info visit https://trainright.com/cbd-for-athletes-cannabidiol/

CBD for pain relief – what is the beneficial link between the two?

Cannabidiol has been demonstrated to ameliorate activity of certain nociceptive (pain) receptor systems in the CNS reducing the pain response, as well as reducing perception of pain. This occurs in part through raising levels of anandamide activity at CB1 receptors, as well as direct modulation of different receptor and ion channel pathways. This has directly positive effects for both inflammatory and neuropathic types of pain.

Cannabidiol and the ECS are also intimately involved in tissue healing in the face of inflammatory conditions and inflammation-mediated pain. This is an exciting area for CBD as tissue healing, as well as the anti inflammatory actions of CBD has huge potential to support injury recovery whether occurring as a result of sport, surgery or by other means. This has far reaching beneficial health consequences for professional athletes and active people alike.

 

What do you advise your clients before trying CBD for the first time?

Do your research; brands should publically display their test certificates on their website in order to openly show the public the quality of their product. Unfortunately there are companies out there attempting to take advantage of a new industry and the lack of knowledge around it by selling poor quality products. Fourfivecbd pride themselves on clear content and facts, which can be found on all their brochures, packaging and their website. https://fourfivecbd.co.za/

What is the relationship between CBD and the body?

This is a difficult question to answer without putting down too many words. Essentially this revolves around the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).  The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is less well known compared to the other systems in the body, including the immune system and central nervous system (CNS). It’s only in the last 30 years that our understanding of the widespread importance of the ECS to health has been revealed.  The ECS has many roles and can be considered to be an interface between the brain, the central nervous system and the immune system, filtering messages and playing a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body.

The ECS is made up of CB1 and CB2 receptors: CB1 receptors are concentrated in parts of the brain responsible for mental and physiological processes (i.e. memory, high cognition, emotion, and motor coordination), as well as throughout the CNS: CB2 receptors are found mainly in the peripheral tissues including parts of the immune system, spleen and gastrointestinal tract.

CB1 and CB2 receptors are modulated by our body’s own natural endocannabinoids, namely anandamide, made from fats found in cell membranes. Levels of anandamide are regulated by an enzyme (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase, FAAH), which breaks down anandamide surplus to requirement inside the cell.

In a healthy body, there will be enough available endocannabinoids interacting with the ECS to maintain crucial homeostatic functions: such as appetite and body temperature control, as well as mood, sleep and normal immune system function.

However, with ageing, stress, injury and general poor maintenance, the body’s ability to regulate endocannabinoid levels may be compromised. It’s for this reason that cannabinoid molecules found in certain plants (i.e. phytocannabinoids) such as cbd may help provide a regulatory balance. Research also suggests there is a synergistic relationship between phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids helping to balance the ECS, immune system and CNS.

This means our bodies are designed to interact with cannabinoids either from external or internal origin.

When taking CBD products, will it interfere with other medication and/or prescription pills?

We would always advise speaking to your medical practitioner if there are concerns about any chronic medications.

FUN FACT: Did you know that “anandamide” is derived from the Sanskrit word for bliss, joy and delight.

 

Are there any known side effects to taking CBD?

There are no known side effects of CBD and no known cases of an overdose with regards to CBD products.

How do you manage to recognize positive improvements from taking CBD products? What signs of improvement become visible?

 

With regards to sleep, one can track the improvement in the amount of deep sleep they are experiencing in a night. This can be tracked through a fitness app or sleep tracker. There is also the feeling of calmness and clarity of mind where an individual is usually stressed. There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence of recovery time having been reduced in cases where individuals have been using CBD products. Many individuals have also indicated increased energy levels during their workday. This would most likely be attributed to the more restful sleep and reduced anxiety levels of everyday life.

Are your products taken for specific ailments or is it a general scope?

We firmly believe CBD is and should become a daily addition to your supplementation as the ever-increasing anecdotal evidence is pointing to improvements in so many aspects of individual’s lives.

 

Other than injury recovery and sleep-aid, would you consider your products to reduce anxiety and depression?

Anxiety affects many people and includes a spectrum of symptoms. These symptoms could include the feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness; problems sleeping; cold or sweaty hands and/or feet; shortness of breath, heart palpitations; an inability to be still and calm; dry mouth; numbness or tingling in the hands or feet; nausea and muscle tension.

More defined conditions of anxiety could include the likes of panic disorder; phobias; social anxiety disorder and generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

There are many different short and long-term reasons that can contribute to feelings/conditions of anxiety, and athletes are no exception with many finding that nerves prior to an event may affect sports performance. Clinical evidence is now mounting for the interactions of CBD with GABA and 5-HT receptors in the CNS, which support better quality sleep and contribute to calmer feelings, positively affecting sports performance and everyday challenges in our active lives.

 

FUN FACT: Did you know CBD  is involved in tissue healing in the face of inflammatory conditions.

Lastly, you’ve been hailed for being the best CBD oil in South Africa – what do you lend your success to?

This is huge compliment, and we think this can be attributed to the culture of the Fourfivecbd company. It has always been the goal to produce the best quality and safest product on the market, as they are professional sportsmen themselves. Fourfivecbd are advocates for the cannabis industry, and they wanted to use our platform within sport to show the benefits CBD can have as well as help remove the stigma that cannabis products cannot be used in high performance environments.

South Africa being a sports-driven country will no doubt enjoy a product like this! And just as their slogan suggests, Rest – Recover – Rise!

 

 

For more information, visit their website or social media pages on:

https://www.instagram.com/fourfivecbd_sa/

https://www.facebook.com/fourfivecbd.sa/

https://twitter.com/FourfivecbdS