Keeping lean and fit is great for your health, and science supports this. While there are endless ways of keeping in shape, running is perhaps the cheapest of the lot. You only need a pair of well-fitting sneakers, and you’re good to go.
Simple it may be, but don’t be mistaken; running is an energy-intensive sport. In fact, running is probably second to none when it comes to burning calories. So, it’s only sensible to promptly replace burnt calories to keep your energy levels stable.
Generally, the carbohydrates stored in our skeletal muscles give us the energy to do short runs. But if you plan on doing long runs (> 60 minutes), it’s advisable to include supplemental nutrition for energy.
This brings us to ways of fueling long runs. Energy bars, gels, and chews are popular ways of boosting energy levels during endurance exercises. These typically contain carbohydrates from different sources to provide energy and reduce exhaustion.
Some also contain electrolytes to replenish the ions we lose through sweat. However, these are consumed with fluids to avoid dehydration, especially during long runs. For all runners, the best energy source is that which gives you the energy you need and is compatible with your digestive system.
CBD use in sports is growing thanks to its vast array of benefits. But can CBD help runners? Let’s find out.
Key Takeaways
- CBD has lots of potential benefits for runners. Reports suggest it may help boost mood and energy and fast-tack healing and recovery.
- The best way to harness the benefits of CBD is by integrating it into your running routine.
- Chinese herbs work well with CBD, so products with these ingredients are likely more effective.
What Are The Benefits Of CBD For Running
CBD is one of the ‘dynamic duo’ of cannabis, the other being ∆9-THC. A lot of research has been conducted on these two cannabinoids since their discovery over half a century ago.
The findings from these studies have opened our eyes to the impressive properties of cannabinoids. But most importantly, we now understand how these attributes can positively affect human health and wellness.
In particular, CBD continues to be a ‘revelation’ in sports due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties that hold immense potential for athletes. Moreover, its non-psychoactive, which, from a runner’s perspective, is crucial to maintaining cognitive function and coordination.
There’s little research on the effects of CBD on physical activity. However, a first-of-its-kind study dubbed SPACE seeks to provide answers to a question that continues to generate intense scientific debate: do cannabinoids affect performance?
Preliminary findings of other studies suggest that cannabinoids may have a psychological effect. In one experiment, 70% of the participants who mixed cannabis with working out said it increased enjoyment. Another 78% of the subjects stated it boosted recovery, while 52% reported feeling more motivated.
Interestingly, another study showed that older adults who used cannabis tended to exercise more than their peers who didn’t. Angela Bryan, a psychology and neuroscience professor and advisor in the SPACE study, contends it could be due to the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of cannabis.
While nothing is concrete at the moment, a participant in the SPACE study reported feeling less joint pain. This is undoubtedly promising, but more research is required. So we dug deeper, and here is what we found.
back to menu ↑CBD For Running Injuries
Despite the apparent benefits of running, injuries sometimes do happen. It’s not uncommon to find athletes breaking an arm or leg from a fall. Other times, they bump their shins on other objects or land awkwardly and sprain their ankles.
Generally, shin splints, fractures, runner’s knee, Achilles tendinitis, hamstring injuries, etcetera, are common among athletes. Though good bed rest can help resolve some running injuries, others may require extra medical care.
CBD is not FDA-approved for use in clinical settings, but there is mounting evidence it may help resolve some types of injuries. Here are areas where CBD may help.
- Fractures
Research shows that activating cannabinoid receptors using their respective agonist molecules may help restore bone loss. This is valuable information when exploring alternative treatment options for diseases like osteoporosis.
Similarly, in the case of fractures, scientists contend that cannabinoids may positively affect bone formation and healing. How so? Well, cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are expressed in skeletal muscles and bones, where they regulate bone homeostasis.
CBD interacts variably with these receptors. A study showed that CBD treatment enhanced fracture healing in mice. Besides promoting bone healing, a joint experiment by researchers from Hebrew and Tel Aviv Universities showed that CBD-mediated fracture healing resulted in stronger and denser bones.
- Swelling and pain
Most, if not all, running injuries are characterized by pain and swelling. Generally, injuries damage muscle tissue triggering inflammatory responses as the body tries to self-heal. The process usually starts when more blood flows to the injured area to supply macrophages and other substances involved in the repair and healing processes.
Consequently, this inflames the affected part and triggers pain receptors in the affected tissue. This is why pain and inflammation often co-occur. How can CBD help?
CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory agent with significant therapeutic effects on inflammation and pain. For this reason, it is proposed as a potential treatment for health conditions symptomized by pain and inflammation, such as arthritis.
Though these findings need further validation, they highlight CBD’s potential to alleviate running injuries that involve pain and swelling.
Other non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBG also exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Since cannabinoid activity tends to overlap, combining them is thought to magnify their overall effectiveness. This is referred to as the “entourage effect.”
back to menu ↑CBD For Running Recovery
An intense workout session puts athletes’ bodies under so much stress and strain. In such times, a lot of damage happens to the skeletal muscles and tissues, leading to pain, soreness, and inflammation. These are the realities of a physically-intensive lifestyle.
Generally, exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) affects muscle function and triggers an inflammatory response. As mentioned earlier, this is a normal process that helps repair and regenerate new muscles. However, excessive inflammation can lead to prolonged muscle soreness and delayed recovery.
CBD is shown to modulate inflammatory responses via several pathways. In preclinical studies, it demonstrates the ability to attenuate the proliferation of immune cells.1, 2, 3, 4 Other studies show that CBD stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-4 and 10.5, 6, 7. It can also suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1β, 6, 8, and TNF-α. 8, 9, 10, 11.
So, CBD’s anti-inflammatory mechanism(s) is quite elaborate. However, it’s noteworthy that these findings are based on in vivo and animal studies. Research on the effects of CBD on human inflammation is limited and inconclusive.
Nonetheless, it may positively impact muscle recovery. NSAIDs like ibuprofen are thought to have no influence on EIMD, soreness, and inflammation.12, 13. Should CBD work in a similar fashion, it could minimize training benefits without affecting muscle function and soreness. Such issues underpin the need for further studies.
back to menu ↑CBD Oil For Runners
There’s no doubt that CBD has lots of potential health benefits for highly active people. But besides helping with pain and inflammation, in what other ways is CBD oil beneficial to runners?
It turns out that CBD may, directly and indirectly, impact energy levels. Researchers have developed a positive relationship between mood and CBD use. For instance, a study showed that CBD increases the levels of “feel good” hormones like anandamide and dopamine in the brain.
These neurotransmitters are involved in various bodily functions. Anandamide, for example, stimulates happiness and mental health, which explains why it’s also called the “bliss molecule.” Similarly, dopamine regulates mood and feelings by acting on your brain’s reward system.
Mood and energy correlate; you naturally feel energetic and vibrant when you’re upbeat. In this state, you feel driven to do things you would be less inclined to do when downbeat.
Another potential benefit of CBD relates to blood flow. One of the few human clinical studies showed that CBD significantly increased blood flow to the brain, specifically the hippocampus. Now, you may wonder how this helps runners but remember that every sport involves learning. You get better by integrating new techniques into your running; otherwise, training would be meaningless.
The hippocampus is the brain’s center for learning and memory. In essence, anything you learn is processed and stored here. So, increasing blood flow to the hippocampus makes it more efficient and effective.
Also, CBD can directly boost energy levels. Studies indicate that taking CBD one hour before activity may promote wakefulness and raise energy levels. Used long-term, CBD can modulate the sleep-wake cycle, essentially improving sleep quality. When you sleep better, your body processes energy more efficiently and keeps your energy reserves well-stocked.
So, as you can see, CBD may help with various aspects of running.
back to menu ↑How To Add CBD To Your Running Regime
The good thing with CBD is that it’s easy to use and has no particular restrictions. However, it’s advisable to integrate it into a routine for the best results.
For example, if you prefer morning runs, you can add CBD to your pre-workout. CBD comes in many forms – pills, capsules, powder, oils, tinctures, and topicals. Powders, oils, and tinctures mix with morning beverages like coffee, tea, or milk. Oil typically does not mix well with water, but it still works.
Taking CBD for morning runs improves focus, energy, and performance. After a workout, you can apply CBD topicals to sore muscles to aid recovery and restoration.
back to menu ↑Chinese Herbs For Inflammation
Besides CBD, Chinese herbs also display powerful bioactivities that could help runners. These herbs have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years due to their medicinal properties.
So, which herbs can help reduce exercise-induced inflammation?
- Turmeric: This herb displays significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Doses between 400mg and 600mg have been shown to be effective against inflammation. For this reason, it’s one of the main Chinese herbs used in arthritis treatment.
- Ginger: This is another rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It’s one of the go-to herbs for anyone seeking relief from inflammation. It’s also commonly used in arthritis treatments.
The list of herbs with anti-inflammatory effects is long. Some names worth mentioning include Isatidis folium, Coptis Chinensis, Flos Lonicerae, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Forsythia suspensa.
back to menu ↑Chinese Herbs For Joints
If exercise leaves you achy and sore, extracts of the Triptergium wilfordi plant (Thunder god vine) may be good for you. This plant’s extracts have been shown to significantly reduce joint pain, inflammation, and swelling.
However, much better outcomes were realized when the extract was combined with methotrexate (MTX), a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
We’ve already highlighted the beneficial effects of ginger on inflammation. So, for best results, try taking ginger in pills/capsules or tea. You can also sprinkle the fresh ginger powder in your food during meal times.
Boswellia: another herb that may help with pain relief and inflammation. It works by preventing leukotrienes—the chemicals that trigger pain sensations— from forming. In India, this herb is thought to be more effective than conventional medicines for pain and inflammation.
Eucommia: commonly used in TCM to treat foot and joint pain. The leaves and bark of this herb are thought to promote collagen development, thereby helping to heal tissues after injury.
Chamomile: this herb has a long history in Asian culture as a treatment for inflammation and pain. It’s most effective when applied directly to painful joints. Soaking aching feet in chamomile tea is another way to derive its healing benefits.
back to menu ↑How To Add Chinese Herbs To Your Daily Running Routine
Commercial products are the most convenient way to add Chinese herbs to your daily running routine. Many companies now develop a variety of natural products, mainly with Chinese herbs, CBD, and native botanicals.
These products are formulated to address a broad range of health issues. They are available as tinctures, gummies, pills/capsules, and topicals. The advantage of these products is that the beneficial ingredients have all been brought together.
That leaves you only with the simple task of creating a routine that works for you. If you run in the morning, take the appropriate dose 30 minutes to an hour before activity.
back to menu ↑Where To Buy Energy Gummies For Running Online
We recommend buying energy gummies and other CBD products from online companies like Botany Farms. This has its inherent advantages. For starters, such companies are likely selling their own products. This means such products are likely high-quality, safe, and effective.
You are also able to get more information on the products. This is possible due to CoAs issued by independent third parties that test their products. CoAs are typically found on the companies’ websites where they sell their products.