CBD is everywhere, helping people to find peace, relaxation, pain relief, and more. Many people have discovered the benefits of using CBD products that contain no psychoactive properties because they don’t contain THC.
Professional soccer players are also jumping on the bandwagon and using CBD for their own physical and mental wellness. Let’s look at how this phenomenon has infiltrated the professional soccer realm.
It’s Legal in Many Leagues Now
Thanks to recent legislation, CBD that contains less than 0.3 percent THC can be legally purchased online and consumed throughout the United States, not just in states where cannabis is legal. Full-spectrum CBD may contain up to 0.3 percent THC, but most CBD products don’t contain any at all. Companies that sell broad-spectrum CBD products, such as this CBD brand, promise no THC in their products at all.
Additionally, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) just removed CBD from their list of prohibited substances. They stated that “all natural and synthetic cannabinoids are prohibited except cannabidiol,” which means that as long as the CBD has no traceable level of THC, professional soccer players are allowed to use it. CBD doesn’t show up on a drug test, so athletes can consume it without it affecting drug laws in the leagues.
As stated in WADA’s announcement, all other cannabinoids are banned, so marijuana, THC, and other cannabis products are not allowed. The leagues still run drug tests regularly to screen for illegal drugs, so soccer players should be very cautious about the CBD they use to make sure it doesn’t contain more THC than advertised.
That being said, WADA’s announcement does not change the rules for certain leagues or country governments. Governing bodies in any capacity still have the power to enforce laws against cannabidiol, so although many leagues and country governments have dropped their bans against CBD, not all have.
How CBD Works
It’s believed that CBD works by increasing the levels of cannabinoids that occur naturally in your body. These cannabinoids are part of your endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for hormonal and immune responses in the body.
The endocannabinoid system receives messages for the brain, and it’s believed that an increased level of cannabinoids could prevent some of the signals from being received and help hormonal levels reach homeostasis.
CBD is a non-psychoactive substance. It does not contain THC, which is the psychoactive element in marijuana that makes individuals high. It doesn’t contain any other agents that would make you high either, and it’s also non addictive. The distinction between CBD and other cannabis products like marijuana and THC is slowly becoming more apparent, and laws are changing as a result.
The Benefits of CBD for Soccer Players
Although it doesn’t involve the same impacts as American football, soccer is an intense sport that can be very hard on the body. In a single game, the average soccer player runs about 7 miles per game. That’s more than a 10k! Some players have been tracked running up to 9.5 miler per game.
During practices, many players run even more as they do warmups, drills, and extra long sessions. As you can imagine this kind of pressure takes a toll on those playing the sport, and it’s not long before symptoms of a tired body or even an injury begin to appear.
CBD has helped many soccer players to recover quickly and improve their games. Here are just a few of the key benefits in store for soccer-playing CBD users:
Relieves Pain
Pain relief is huge for soccer players who frequently have sore muscles and find themselves injured on the field. The body can only handle a certain amount of NSAIDs at a time, and opioid painkillers lead to dangerous consequences.
CBD is a promising tool for inhibiting pain and improving a person’s comfort and dexterity on the field. It is often used to supplement or replace common OTC and prescription pain medications, and it may help soccer players stay out of the throes of addiction. It could also prove useful in helping those addicted to opioid painkillers wean themselves off of it.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the most common immune responses soccer players experience. The intense daily workouts alone are enough to aggravate muscles, but when a player is injured, it’s 10 times worse.
Inflammation is a protective response, but it actually makes it more difficult for the body to heal. It can also increase pain and slow down recovery time, a very difficult thing for soccer players who live for the game.
CBD could have anti-inflammatory properties that reduces blood flow to the injury and allows it to heal faster. Players are often able to hit the field much faster when they use CBD to treat injuries.
Treats Anxiety
Performance anxiety is incredibly common among athletes who feel the stress and pressure to perform from every side. It can feel overwhelming at times, and performance can be compromised.
CBD is a very common treatment for anxiety and users report feeling almost instantly calmer after inhaling or swallowing some CBD. It’s believed that this is the result of the CBD interacting with the body’s hormonal responses, helping to balance out chemicals and prevent a surge of anxious hormones. Many athletes use CBD for this very purpose with success.
Improves Slee
Sleep is essential for both performance on the field and muscle recovery. A good night’s sleep leads to boosted focus and cognitive functioning. It will help players concentrate on the game, react quickly, and make intelligent decisions throughout the game.
CBD has helped many athletes to find sleep and stay there throughout the night. It can treat stress and anxiety that might keep them awake, or it might treat pain and stiffness from an injury that makes it difficult to fall asleep. In any case, many players report using CBD to sleep well without waking up groggy the next morning.
Could Improve Neurocognitive Properties
Soccer is rougher than many people realize, and it’s not uncommon for soccer players to suffer blows to the head that may result in a concussion. This type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is typically mild, but if it’s repeated, it can lead to severe neurocognitive decline. Some lifelong soccer players will experience concussions in the double digits, and the outcome is not always pretty.
There’s a growing body of research to show that CBD could have cell restorative properties. In some studies on rodents, cells began to regrow after the rodent was given CBD, which could indicate its ability to stave off neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s, dementia, psychosis, and more.