What is the Endocannabinoid System?
Before we talk about how cannabis affects your workouts, it's important to know what the endocannaboid system (ECS) is. The ECS is a chemical transmitter system that regulates many aspects of your health, including: mood, appetite, sleep, memory, inflammation and pain control, and more.
Why this is important Your ECS is supported by both the cannabinoids found in cannabis and endocannabinoids found in your own body. Exercise can naturally boost your body’s endocannabinoid levels, and with the addition of cannabis, you just may be able to max out the benefits of your next workout.
Benefits of THC
The most well-known cannabinoid is definitely THC as it's the psychoactive cannabinoid known to give consumers the “high” associated with cannabis consumption. That being said, THC has multiple other ways it could be of use during a workout.
The most commonly known cannabinoid is THC. It is the cannabinoid known to give consumers the “high” feeling that comes with it being psychoactive. THC has multiple ways it can benefit users during exercise. For example, the sense of euphoria and relaxation that you may feel from the THC can make anxiety over working out easier. It can both help ease your worry while also helping you ‘zone in’. Many consumers who exercise state that the THC effect helps them focus in completely on their workout. It can enhance your body mind connection. THC may also act as a bronchodilator, increasing air flow during your workouts.
The Benefits of CBD
One of the potential benefits of consuming CBD for working out is due to the cannabinoid's anti-inflammatory properties, which some claim may lead to reduced muscle fatigue and recovery and aid in healing muscular and skeletal injuries. Of course, with limited data and studies conducted, more research is needed before the medical community is ready to accept this as fact. Other studies have shown that CBD, while it does not directly stimulate your ECS receptors, may have a role in slowing down the breakdown of your own endocannabinoids. A study done in the British Journal of Medicine has found that moderate exercise increases levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This is important because anandamide is almost like your own body’s THC. It has been nicknamed the ‘bliss molecule’ and some researches have even theorized that is might be linked to the “runner’s high” effect many people have experience during physical exercise.Most importantly it may slow the breakdown of anandamide allowing your body to use these endocannabinoids better and more efficiently.
CBD also has been linked in many studies to possible anxiety reduction. Some new studies suggest that this might be thanks to CBD helped your body engage with serotonin. This lack of anxiety can help you get over the challenge of beginning a workout out. It can help quiet your mind so you many focus solely on your workout. It can help you get a deeper sense of how your body is moving and help you discover new exercises and activities to keep active. Another benefiting factor from CBD is its relation to helping with recovery. CBD has been linked to the reduction of inflammation and pain relief. Inflammation can inhibit your muscles recovery and CBD blocks off the inflammatory messengers to help your muscles recover. This process also happens to boost anandamide. This way you both are recovering better and in less pain.
Should I use THC or CBD?
You will often find many different suggestions for what ratio of CBD and THC is the best for a good gym sesh. The real answer is that there is no universal "best answer" for working out. The perfect ratio of THC to CBD is always going to depend on your own physiology, so you'll have to figure that out on your own. We recommend keeping a weed journal so you can try different strains and different ratios and figure out which ones worked best for you. One significant factor is keep in mind is in general a THC heavy ratio will be much more psychoactive, so if you're a little more of a lightweight with THC, we recommend a CBD heavier ratio.
Different Consumption Methods
Sublingual: (Tinctures, Infused Drinks)
Pros: Faster than an edible at around 15 minutes to feel the effect for most consumers. It is discreet and can be added to many different consumable items. Sublingual tinctures often come in many differing CBD to THC ratios as well. You also avoid the damage of smoking by using edible products.
Inhalant: (Vape, Flower, Dabs) Pros: The fasting acting method, typically between 1 and 3 minutes for consumers, this method is great if you want the strongest and quickest effect. You are risking damage to your lungs which can effect different types of exercise more (for example running).
Edible: (Infused Food and Candies) Pros: A safe method as far as damage to lungs. It is slower release than a sublingual so you can also stretch out the effect. Edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours to take full effect so be careful when trying to time for your workout.
Topical: (Lotion, Gel, Balm, Transdermal Patch)
Pros: This method is not necessarily going to give you a psychoactive effect, but to continue the benefits of THC and CBD in your recovery topicals are an amazing addition.