Rugby icon shares secret of success
Alternative healthcare in sport
Athletes and fitness fanatics can put considerable stress on their bodies and minds through intense training regimes – resulting in aching muscles, sore joints and inflammation. Along with living a healthy lifestyle, supplementing with CBD can support athletes, of any level, by helping with recovery, pain management, sleep and focus.
Wellness brand mellow – a one stop shop to buy the best global CBD products – has collaborated with ex-England and Saracens player, George Kruis on ‘how and why’ advice surrounding CBD and sport.
George recently appeared on mellow talks – an exciting new online series (live and downloadable) of alternative healthcare and wellness chats, featuring experts, celebrities and people from all walks of life, uncovering the potential of all types of wellness. The first in the mellow talks series kicked off with ‘Alternative Healthcare in Sport’. George, together with team mate Dom Day, founded fourfivecbd, following positive experiences using CBD as a natural sports recovery and repair alternative.
Here are some of the key take outs from the panel:
The whys
CBD for pain relief: One of the main ways that CBD can support your training is as a pain reliever. Whether you work out recreationally or professionally, pain (either from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or something more serious such as an injury) can get in the way of your personal goals. CBD can help with pain relief as it supports our body’s endocannabinoid system by ensuring that signals are sent to the brain correctly, this response creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management.
CBD for post workout recovery: CBD is fast becoming a popular post-workout supplement for good reason – its anti-inflammatory properties are associated with cannabidiol. Too much inflammation can cause pain. CBD can supress inflammation, meaning athletes can recover quicker and leave less time between training sessions.
CBD for stress management and sleep: CBD is known to help alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as make you feel calmer. This can only be a good thing if you get nervous before competing, or bad sleep is disrupting your fitness goals. Supplementing with CBD can help with homeostasis (balance) – boosting clarity, focus and better sleep – which in turn allows the body to function how it should, both physically and mentally.
The hows
Experiment with different ways of taking CBD: CBD can be used before, during or after your workout. Many professional athletes use multiple CBD products, either alternating or combining them as needed, day-to-day or week-to-week. You might start your day with a CBD tincture; use a topical cream (such as a muscle rub) after working out; and then take a capsule at night time to promote a restful sleep. Some days you might need a larger dose than others, depending on what is going on for you both physically and mentally. Experiment with different ways to take CBD and at different times of the day to find your perfect combination.
Find the right dosage: People all feel the effects of CBD differently due to different heights, weights and body compositions. It is important to consider the impact of your height and weight on dosing CBD – the more you weigh, the more CBD you will need to feel the effects. However, we all have different body chemistry – two people with similar bodies will still react differently. Make notes on how much CBD you have taken and how it affects you, so you can tweak your dosage and find the optimal amount. My motto is: start small, keep a track of how it feels and make small increases.
The full range of Fourfivecbd is available on mellow. Look out for future mellow talks by following @mellow_talk on Instagram.