Exercise and fitness are probably the last things that come to mind when thinking about cannabis. However, contrary to popular belief, cannabis can actually do a whole lot of good for your fitness routine. Beyond providing a much-needed push to actually make it to the gym in the first place, the right strain can also help you get your workout on once there, and even help with recovery once you finish.
While there’s still plenty of additional research to be done, preliminary studies offer promising reasons why turning to cannabis can help reinvigorate your fitness regimen and get you back to peak shape in no time.
1) Helps You Concentrate
Beyond making it to the gym, one of the biggest barriers to getting in shape is being able to actually work out once you’re there. Many people often find it difficult to maintain focus while exercising due to the many distractions around them. A great solution for this is cannabis, which helps ease the mind and let it focus on a specific task at hand, thereby allowing you to concentrate on the workout in front of you rather than the eye candy around you.
2) Invigorates Your Metabolism
The slower your metabolism, the harder it can be to stay in shape. A slow metabolism can lead to the accumulation of fats in the body and hamper the growth of your muscles. Cannabis actually helps jumpstart your metabolism thanks to its powerful cannabinoids that promote fat loss and reduce levels of unhealthy cholesterol, keeping the insides of your body churning while you focus on the outsides.
3) Tackles Anxiety and Increases Energy
It’s no secret that cannabis chills you out, but the right strain can also amp you up. As Keith Humphreys, a professor at Stanford Medical School, says, “We have cannabinoid receptors throughout our brains, and when the THC hits those receptors, it triggers a system that reduces anxiety. That you would feel more aggressive is a natural reaction to the drug.” In other words, consume the right strain and those feelings of anxiety and depression that often keep you from the gym might just push you to get there quicker, not to mention help you achieve a state of calm and confidence that will help you max out both your sets and your overall workout.
4) Improves Sleep
You won’t be able to reap many of the benefits of working out if your body isn’t well rested. In fact, exercising without sufficient rest won’t only prove to be difficult, but can even be dangerous. Lack of sleep causes your body and immune system to weaken, and exercising with little rest and a weakened immune system will simply overwork your body and lead to chronic illness. Cannabis is widely known to help with sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, and insomnia by relaxing the nervous system and freeing the mind from stress and anxiety, leading to a better sleep and a better workout.
5) Improves Muscle Recovery
Stiffness, pain, and inflammation in the muscles are all too common in the lives of those who engage in regular fitness. Cannabis is rich in compounds that are analgesic in nature, which helps alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with sport and fitness. In addition, the cannabinoids present in cannabis help flush out any accumulated lactic acid in the body, which in turn helps lead to quicker muscle recovery. Some great strains for post-workout aches and pains are Black Diamond, Blue Dream, and one of our personal favorites, Sour Diesel. Alternatively, you can also try incorporating powder-based cannabis products into your post-workout protein shake or a cannabis-infused bath soak like the ones from Unplugged Essentials.
