CBD for Building Muscle: Everything You Need to Know

You’ve been hitting the gym religiously, but you still aren’t seeing the gains you want. What’s going on? Chances are, your form isn’t incorrect and you’re not using the wrong machines. Your daily routine simply isn’t feeding your weightlifting efforts! While there are plenty of supplements that can help boost your workout performance, you may prefer to go a more natural route. If this is the case, you might be surprised to find that you can use CBD for building muscle!

Today, we’re breaking down how and why this is the case and sharing how you can incorporate CBD into your regular weightlifting regimen.

What Is CBD?

These days, there are plenty of trendy supplements that promise to deliver incredible physical and mental results. You’ve heard experts wax poetic about the benefits of taking fish oil, for instance. 

However, CBD isn’t always mentioned alongside health and wellness products such as whey protein and probiotics. That will soon change as people begin discovering the many ways that it can help you look and feel your best. 

Standing for cannabidiol, CBD is one of the hundreds of known compounds that grow naturally within the cannabis plant. Collectively, these compounds are called cannabinoids. In addition to CBD, you may have also heard of another cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

While THC delivers a trademark euphoric high upon consumption, CBD does not. For this reason, many people take it to improve their mental and physical health rather than to experience a feeling of euphoria. Today, you can find CBD-infused balms, lotions, tinctures, gummies, and more, all designed to ease physical aches and pains and keep mental strain at bay. 

CBD for Building Muscle: What’s the Connection?

If you’ve been considering incorporating CBD into your daily routine, you could soon see an uptick in your weightlifting efforts. While the supplement won’t get you buff overnight, it can help you work out for longer and go harder. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why this is the case. 

Deeper, More Restorative Sleep

Within your body, there is a certain class of hormones called catabolic hormones. These hormones help break down your muscle tissue. Cortisol, or the stress hormone, is an example of a catabolic hormone.

Excessive levels of cortisol do more than make you feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Most of the time, they’re also to blame when avid gymgoers work out with all of their might yet still fail to bulk up. 

To see results, any athlete looking to build muscle mass and improve their muscle tone needs to reduce the levels of catabolic hormones in their body. While this process sounds simple enough, it isn’t always straightforward.

Why? You can only do so much to control those levels.

The real work occurs in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During this time, your body is deeply at rest and your cortisol levels are at their absolute lowest. This catalyzes protein synthesis, which is a process that occurs when your body builds muscle tissue. 

What does this have to do with CBD?

Put simply, taking CBD before bed can help you sleep deeper, and more soundly. You aren’t tossing and turning and waking up every few hours. As a result, you can achieve longer spans of restorative REM sleep.

As you slumber, protein synthesis can take place to help build your muscles. You’ll also enjoy a more peaceful, balanced mood when you’re sleeping better! 

Easier Muscle Recovery

To some degree, soreness is a welcome feeling after you’ve pushed yourself through a tough workout. However, it shouldn’t be so severe that it interferes with your day-to-day life or makes it more difficult to hit the gym the next day. 

You might feel tense and sore after a workout because lifting can actually create a lot of microscopic tears in your muscles. When this happens, it can cause your muscles to become inflamed, which leads to the sensation of soreness. 

For many people, feeling sore is the reason why they find it difficult to stick to a workout routine. As a result, they only exert themselves sporadically, which can negatively affect their efforts. Then, there are those who choose to numb their post-workout distress with an over-the-counter pain reliever, which only delivers short-term support. 

Enter, CBD.

This cannabinoid is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its pain-relieving qualities. A dose of this supplement right after a workout can help you relax, with a sense of calm that lasts far longer than you’ll get from most other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). 

In addition, it can also help your muscles heal more quickly. This way, you can bounce back from even the most grueling session ready to tackle the workout again. 

Decrease Inflammation

As mentioned above, working out creates tiny tears in your muscles. When those tears occur, they can become inflamed and uncomfortable for a few days. 

While fish oil is most commonly associated with anti-inflammation, CBD is usually more effective. In fact, one recent study shows that a dose of CBD can decrease inflammation by up to 50%.

Whether your discomfort is new and resulting from a workout, or you’ve been grappling with chronic pain for years, you can find relief with this supplement. This way, you can get back to working out and spend less time recovering. 

Boost Basic Nutrition

As an athlete, you already know that your fitness journey doesn’t just rely on how hard you work at the gym. It also hinges on your diet. If you aren’t getting enough essential nutrients, then you might notice that you feel sluggish as you exercise. 

However, it can be hard to strike the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. In fact, one recent study shows that one in three Americans over the age of 50 isn’t getting enough protein on a regular basis. If you already know that you’re missing the mark here, you’ll be happy to learn that CBD can help. 

A few of the top essential nutrients contained in CBD include:

• Fiber
• Calcium
• Protein 
• B-complex vitamins

Once you get your diet back on track, you can also use CBD to keep your nutrition in check. When you consume this supplement, it shuts off certain receptors in your brain that encourage you to overeat. This helps you build muscle and maintain a lean body weight. 

Boost Your Nervous System

Do you suffer from anxiety, mood swings, or mood disorders? If so, you know that these conditions can hinder your performance at the gym. When your mind is anywhere but in the present, you have a greater tendency to slip up or become frustrated if something doesn’t go according to plan. 

To this end, CBD can also deliver a gentle boost to your nervous system.

When you consume a dose, the substance starts interacting with the adenosine and serotonin receptors located in your endocannabinoid system. These receptors play a pivotal role in helping you maintain your mental health, so regulating their levels can help soothe your symptoms, calm your mind, and give you the confidence to make this next workout your very best. 

Improve Your Energy

Finding it hard to make it all the way through a weightlifting session at the gym? If so, there are plenty of different reasons why this might be the case. These include:

• Insufficient diet
• Lack of sleep
• Exhaustion
• Fatigue
• Underlying medical issues

If your performance hasn’t been up to par lately, you don’t need to add a few more cups of coffee to your morning routine. Instead, you can start taking CBD.

In addition to clearing your mind and improving your mood, this supplement can also give you a small, sustainable energy boost. As a result, you’ll feel better and your mindset will also improve. When you’re able to sustain a workout while remaining focused and positive, you’ll be surprised at the results. 

Using CBD to Build Muscle

If you’re looking to see a major transformation in the gym, then you’ll need to commit to a healthy diet and a regular workout routine. While there are lots of different programs available today, take your time to find one that meets your needs and helps you feel your best. 

Then, look for a way to naturally and organically add CBD into the mix. This all-natural supplement is more effective than most standard pain relievers and delivers relief that lasts longer. While it won’t help you radically morph overnight, it can help improve your lean muscle mass. 

Looking for an easy way to get started? Begin by checking out our post on the many different types of CBD to discover and enjoy!