It’s no secret that pro-athletes live an on-the-go lifestyle. For most athletes, a normal day would be to get up at an early hour in the morning and do their first training session, followed by their breakfast, meeting with their coaches and then another training session, followed by lunch then more training and more food.

With this jam-packed schedule they find little-to-no time to take care of themselves. This is why pro-athletes rely on their coaches, trainers and medical staff of their organizations to take care of them, so they can put all their focus on their craft. 

But for small-injuries and general self-care, these athletes must rely on different health products to help them. This is where CBD products can come in. To learn more, we talked to three athletes about how they use CBD: a PGA tour champion, a pro cyclist and a retired Olympic alpine skier. 

Justin Williams (Pro Cyclist)

The first athlete we talked to is Justin Williams, a professional cyclist out of Los Angeles California.

Born from immigrant parents in south central LA, Williams had great success early on in his career, winning championships as a teen and securing a spot on the U.S national team. Since his early success, Williams has bounced from team to team, but Williams is experiencing a resurgence as of late. During this late bloom in his career, Williams is quickly becoming one of the most influential figures in the sport, championing the African American and Latino communities of his hometown and helping them get into the sport of cycling. 

After learning from all the ups and downs the sport has to offer, Williams is using his own experience to train and provide opportunities to children of color interested in cycling, opportunities in which he had to fight for in his teenage years. Justin has now founded his own cycling team, L39ion, out of LA which features him as the main sprinter and team manager. He uses his platform and his team to provide valuable experiences to cyclists of color. 

As a road racer, Williams is constantly training with his team and puts an enormous amount of strain on his joints and muscles and as a social advocate for POC in the sport of cycling, he exerts a lot of his mental and emotional energy. He quite literally gives all of himself for the sport that he loves and the people he is fighting for, which means he’s extremely busy and strained all the time. 

How a professional cyclist uses CBD

To counteract the strain he puts on himself, Williams uses topical CBD creams to keep inflammation down and soreness at a minimum. He believes that the recovery process is just as important as the races themselves, as your recovery dictates your performance and well-being. Through the use of CBD topicals, he can cut his recovery in half, while also making him a happier and more able human being. 

“CBD helped me get rid of a lot of aches and pains.”

Cyclist Justin Williams

Williams told us, “I’ve integrated Medterra Pain Cream into my everyday life and it’s truly a game changer.” 

He added, “This is a product that’s helped me get rid of a lot of the aches and pains that come along with the years of beating myself up.” 

As a brand ambassador for Medterra, he also supports their mission. He believes Medterra is helping make quality CBD products easier to access. Medterra is one of our Top CBD Brands, because the Ministry of Hemp review team also uses their products to feel better. 

“I am proud to be a part of a brand that is doing its best to take care of the world the same way they take care of me,” Williams concluded. “That kind of commitment to people is rare.”

Julia Mancuso (Pro Skier)

A four-time Olympic medal winning downhill skier, with a gold medal during the 2006 Winter Olympics, Julia Mancuso has been a winner all her life.

Skiing with the likes of Lindsey Vonn and the U.S ski team from the mid-2000’s to the early 2010’s, Mancuso has enjoyed a long and fruitful career. But now as she gets older, she faces a different challenge: maintaining her physical health as well as being a mother and business owner. 

Even after retirement, Julia still maintains an active lifestyle. In order to maintain this lifestyle, she has to mitigate all of the nagging injuries picked up from racing down mountains for over a decade. Not only does she have to deal with those pre-existing injuries, she also has to fight all the little physical pains of daily life. 

How a retired Olympic skier uses CBD

Mancuso uses CBD gummies to keep calm in order to power through her long days spent surfing, running a business, and being an awesome mom to her child Sonny.

“I’ve been focusing on my health a lot more this year, and Medterra is a big part of that,” she said. “I love that the gummies make me feel calm and have anti-inflammatory properties that are great for recovery.”

Lucas Glov (Pro Golfer)er

A 19-year PGA Tour vet, Lucas Glover has experienced a lot during his golfing career, having his fair share of ups and downs. A U.S. Open champion in 2009, almost having to leave the sport and now experiencing late success in his career. Suffice it to say, Glover has been an athlete at all levels for a very long time.

In order to sustain such a competitive level for such a long time, Glover states that you have to be constantly evolving yourself and your treatments as an athlete, as the difference between great golfers and champion golfers is miniscule. So, athletes have to try and experiment with anything to keep their competitiveness consistently higher than their competitors. 

How a professional golfer uses CBD

For Lucas Glover, he tried CBD to up his game and recovery in 2018 and has advocated for its usefulness ever since. 

“At our level everybody is really good and 1% of an edge makes a difference, Glover told us. “For me the recovery, after working out, after playing, after travel stems from regulating inflammation and sleeping well.” 

He maintains that in order to excel as an athlete, one must find an ideal mindset, one not too low-energy but also not too overly anxious as well. For him and our other athletes, CBD is a perfect catalyst to achieve that balanced mindset for peak performance. After incorporating CBD oil into his routine, Glover has had his best season in over a decade!

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Glover said of his improved play. “I’m sleeping better, and I feel like my recovery is better.

“As far as my overall health, I feel great,” he continued. 

“I can tell the difference when I wake up in the morning and that’s a big part of it. Medterra’s really given me a leg up.”

Final thoughts: How top professional athletes use CBD

These athletes maintain their bodies through the strenuous work of their training and competitions, and a little help from CBD. Not only are they able to increase their recovery time and increase their performance, keeps them active through retirement. It helps with mental clarity throughout their daily lives. 

“I’m sleeping better, and I think my recovery is better.”

Pro golfer Lucas Glover on using CBD

CBD helps Justin Williams properly balance his cycling career as well as his social activism within the sport. For Julia Mancuso, CBD products allow her to continue her active lifestyle, stay focused mentally in order to balance running her business and raising her son. Lucas Glover, uses CBD products to maintain that perfect mental balance on game days, while keeping his performance at a high level. 

For all of the athletes, using CBD products means they can happily live their lives while still enjoying their respective sports and active lifestyles!

Thanks to Medterra for sponsoring this post. Use coupon code “ministry” for 20% off Medterra products!

The post How Pro Athletes Use CBD For Recovery, Energy & Focus appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

If you do workouts consisting mainly of bending, jerking, and lifting movements, you are well aware of the joint pains that come with them. Specifically, lifting weights can affect the wrists, knees, elbows, and your back. So, when we heard of the chance to review the CBDMEDIC ointment that targets those sore areas, we jumped at the opportunity.

Our reviewer tried CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment for about a week and reported great results. While they didn’t completely eliminate his aches and pains, they reduced them so much he no longer had “any excuse” to skip going to the gym, even on the next day after a workout. This ointment even reduced the pain in our reviewer’s thumbs and hands after marathon “Red Dead Redemption 2” video game sessions.

In addition, we loved the light, non-greasy feel of CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment. It absorbed into our skin easily, and didn’t leave a residue behind unlike some other muscle ointments we’ve tried.

CBDMEDIC paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on for our full review of CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment and to learn more about what makes their topicals stand out in a crowded CBD marketplace.

CBDMEDIC combines CBD with specialized active ingredients

The CBDMEDIC brand focuses on top-quality topicals. Each of their products contain proven, active ingredients that take the benefits of these products to the next level.

CBDMEDIC recently joined the family of Charlotte’s Web, probably the best known CBD brand and one of our selected Top CBD Brands. It’s easy to see why these two are a good fit. Charlotte’s Web is famous as a leader in the industry, while CBDMEDIC creates unique FDA-registered over-the-counter products that add active pharmaceuticals. CBDMEDIC makes their topicals in “cGMP compliant” facilities insuring they maintain top industry standards for purity throughout the manufacturing process.

They designed each topical to target a different kind of pain. CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment is specially designed to increase blood-flow and get you moving again. In contains two special active ingredients: camphor and menthol. These ingredients provide advanced, temporary pain
relief for tired and aching muscles and joints while CBD helps soothe irritated skin.

FDA registration and proven active ingredients opens new doors to these products, letting them be sold in some pharmacies. Of course, you can order them online whenever you want.

CBDMEDIC Active Sport Pain Relief Ointment Official Review

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• Highlights: CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment provides joint & muscle pain relief in a long-lasting, natural, and effective fashion. It’s great to apply before, during, or after your workout.
• Strength: This ointment features about 200mg of CBD per 1.4oz tube.
• Price: $39.99
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Free shipping available.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Texture & Scent: This CBD topical has a light texture. It reminded us of  vapor rub by combining potent menthol smell with soothing CBD. It’s nongreasy and perfect for quick application.
• Key Ingredients: Broad spectrum hemp-extract plus Camphor & Menthol
• Full Ingredient List: CBD oil / Broad-spectrum Hemp extract with Menthol, Camphor, Ccottonseed oil, Beeswax, Frankincense oil, Jojoba seed oil, Myrrh oil, Honeysuckle oil, Sorbic acid
• Other: Also available as a “sport stick” for more portable application

CBDMEDIC products use hemp grown carefully in the U.S. along with other natural ingredients. They also make several other CBD topicals designed for arthritis pain, relieving back & neck pain, and more.

We love the quality of these topicals, and we noticed that CBDMEDIC’s product labeling improved since we first checked out these products in June 2019. It’s now even easier to see how much CBD and other ingredients you’re getting, and easier to find third-party lab results for these products. This is a good product that seems to be getting even better with time.

Kit O’Connell contributed to this review.

The post CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment Relieves Aches & Pains To Keep You Moving appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

If you’re a frequent gym-goer, you might experience muscle & joint pain as an after-effect of your workouts. The CBD topical from Vitagenne just might be the cool fix to your minor aches and pains. 

Made for the individual who lives an active lifestyle, Vitagenne CBD Cooling Cream stands out from the rest. Made via a C02 extraction method and consisting of 99% pure CBD isolate, this cream is perfect for cooling your joints and muscles after a hard workout. Added camphor and menthol, along with organic botanicals, help this product work fast.

Vitagenne paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Vitagenne and see our full product breakdown of this CBD cooling cream.

Built with empathy, Vitagenne wants to promote wellness for all

Vitagenne is a wellness company focused on promoting better living. They aim to do everything with empathy and compassion towards their customers and the world. They especially hope CBD products can help people reduce their dependence on opiates and other addictive pain relievers.

All Vitagenne products begin with Kentucky-grown hemp, closely following the state’s strict growing guidelines. This also takes advantage of Kentucky’s high quality soil and long growing season, allowing growers to create especially bountiful hemp plants. Their attention to detail and dedication to transparency continues through to the finished product. Vitagenne is certified through the U.S. Hemp Authority and provides third-party lab results for all products.

All in all, the Vitagenne CBD Cooling Cream is a great product to battle against the little aches & pains athletes or any active person experiences from constant activity. Our reviewer reported an immediate effect on joints & muscles after application. In comparison with other creams and rubs, the cooling effect is superior and this topical smells really good too! We especially found this topical to be a blessing for reducing knee and back strain when we applied it after a shower.

Vitagenne CBD Cooling Cream Official Review

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• Highlights: Vitagenne CBD Cooling Cream is a light-feeling formula that combines the instant relief of menthol and camphor with the healing power of CBD. It’s great for applying before, during and after workouts.
• Strength: 300mg per 100ml bottle (also available in 750mg strength)
• Price: $54.99 – $79.99
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Free shipping available.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Scent & Texture: The light texture is perfect for quick application. This CBD cooling cream has a noticeable menthol scent, mixed pleasantly with the other added botanical ingredients.
• Ingredients: Hemp-derived CBD isolate in Aqua, Methyl Salicylate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Menthol, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Bark Oil, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Organic Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Organic Arnica Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid.
• Other: A generous 30-day money back guarantee is available for unsatisfied customers.

On October 11, 2019, Ministry of Hemp performed our own lab test of this CBD supplement, using a third-party lab. Download test results here.

Vitagenne makes all their products from Kentucky-grown hemp. They also make CBD oil, CBD capsules, and a special sleep blend. A discount is available for subscribing to products. A CBD assistance program is available to veterans and first responders.

The post Vitagenne CBD Cooling Cream Relaxed Our Sore Muscles After Workouts appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

The potential benefits of CBD and its balancing properties are just beginning to gain recognition. CBD can help almost anyone who has general pain, anxiety, or other day-to-day physical and psychological issues. Many of us undergo a lot of physical and mental stress in our daily lives, and endurance athletes are no exception. Marathon runners, triathletes, cyclists, and other such athletes push their bodies and minds to the limits, and many of them find themselves in states of constant physical pain or mental exhaustion.

THE MANY WAYS ENDURANCE ATHLETES USE CBD

As CBD has become more prominent, it’s become more and more recognized in the world of athletics. The biggest potential benefits for endurance athletes are CBD’s potential to reduce inflammation and stress or anxiety, improve recovery time, and even control appetite.

Endurance Athletes Use CBD To Reduce Inflammation and Soreness

For athletes who put a lot of miles on their bodies, inflammation is one of the biggest concerns. Constant use of muscles and joints can cause inflammation and soreness. CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory that also can protect cells from oxidative damage. Studies have shown that CBD might be an alternative to over-the-counter pain medicines like Advil and Tylenol.

CBD Can Increase Energy

When taken in smaller doses, CBD actually activates the same adenosine receptors that caffeine does, providing a boost of energy. This can be great for training or race days that might seem like too much otherwise. The boost of energy is just one way that CBD might help improve recovery times.

CBD Will Reduce Stress and Anxiety

CBD has also shown potential in reducing stress and anxiety. This is due to its ability to regulate the endocannabinoid system. Essentially, CBD acts on the cannabinoid receptors that are responsible for responses to stress. Some athletes have found that CBD helps them recover from the stress of making time for training in their already busy schedules and from their workouts. It can also be helpful for race/event days to calm pre-race nerves or to help fall asleep the night before. Since our bodies don’t repair themselves as well when under stress, this benefit of CBD may help endurance athletes recover from heavy training or injuries more easily.

Control Appetite Your Appetite With CBD

Finally, CBD might help control your appetite. If you are on a strict training diet, CBD has been shown to not only slow appetite, but also help feel full for longer. This could be a great benefit for athletes who are trying to put the healthiest foods into their bodies without overeating. Some studies have even shown that CBD helps boost metabolism and increase the body’s ability to burn fat.

WHICH ENDURANCE ATHLETES USE CBD?

Athletes who are constantly training or competing may find that CBD provides relief from the stress of the endurance world. Triathletes, distance runners, cyclists, and athletes who do similar sports will likely appreciate CBD’s potential as a painkiller and anti-inflammatory.

While scientific studies on CBD’s potential athletic benefits are yet to be done. Anecdotally, many endurance athletes say that they have stopped using all painkillers in favor of CBD. Others say that CBD helps them focus and improves their stamina when taken before running or other forms of exercise.

And the benefits aren’t just there for endurance athletes: CBD might help athletes who participate in many other sports. Preliminary research suggests CBD is a neuroprotectant. That means CBD could help the brain recover from concussions. Soccer players, football players, and other athletes who might get hit in the head could find CBD useful.

BEFORE YOU BUY CBD

CBD is still being researched, so there are not a lot of regulations on how it is produced.

If you are interested in trying CBD, the most important thing to do is research whether CBD is legal where you live. If so, you can begin your search for a CBD company. You’ll probably find a few options online. Like with anything on the internet, do your research on these companies.

A reputable CBD company will have its products tested by third parties, who will check that the product is, in fact, what it claims to be. CBD companies should provide the results of the tests; and if they don’t, it’s best to look elsewhere. And, while there is evidence that CBD can help with a variety of ailments, there are no conclusive proofs about it yet. Make sure to avoid CBD companies who promise to cure every problem you are experiencing.

Otherwise, whether you are an athlete or not, we hope that if you try CBD, you are pleased with the outcome!

DISCOVER THE TOP CBD BRANDS

The market is getting saturated with many different CBD brands. We’ve compared the top brands to help you with your decision. Check it out.

The post How Endurance Athletes Use CBD: CBD Oil Helps You Go The Extra Mile appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

CBD is quickly becoming a vital part of many workout routines. In capsule or oil form, CBD is an important part of any holistic health and wellness routine. Whether you’re a professional athlete, amateur jogger or busy mom, this beneficial supplement made from hemp can help. Whatever style of fitness regimen you prefer, muscle development and muscle recovery play key roles in overall health and wellbeing.

Since the World Anti-Doping Agency lifted its ban on CBD, many fitness professionals and athletes use CBD as the staple for their high-performance fitness regimens to build muscle and boost stamina. CBD can do a lot of ‘good’ for the human body. That being said, it’s important to use the highest quality CBD from natural hemp oil, from a CBD supplier you can trust. Bargain priced “CBD” products frequently contain very little CBD content by volume. If you’re going to buy CBD oil, be sure it is 100% premium and pure from hemp with less than 0.3% THC content – which will ensure it is legal in all 50 states.

CATABOLIC HORMONES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN BUILDING MUSCLE

Catabolic hormones are those in the body which cause a breakdown of muscle tissue. For athletes and others with the goal of increasing muscle mass and improving muscle tone, reducing the levels of catabolic hormones, such as cortisol, is imperative.

Cortisol is a hormone that reduces protein synthesis and actively prevents tissue growth. Excessive cortisol levels are usually the culprit when those who work out diligently fail to achieve the muscle building results they expected from their rigorous fitness routines.

The key to understanding cortisol’s negative effect on muscle-building is to recognize that cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day. The hormone is secreted by the adrenal gland. Cortisol levels are usually higher in the morning, decreasing throughout the day, and at their lowest at night. This explains why muscle recovery happens most efficiently while we sleep.

Of course, cortisol does provide some important benefits, or the body wouldn’t produce it. Cortisol is instrumental in the liver, helping to remove toxins from the body. Cortisol has other roles in the immune system regulating blood sugar levels, and enhancing short-term memory. At natural levels, cortisol is quite beneficial and CBD oil can help maintain a healthy cortisol balance.

CBD’s ANTI-CATABOLIC PROPERTIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

From research done on the Endocannabinoid System, we know that CBD oil consumed engages CB2 receptors in the limbic and paralimbic regions of the brain, the control centers of the Endocannabinoid System responsible for regulating sleep and mood. Nearly 25 percent of Americans struggle to achievedeep REM sleep. However, with the support of CBD, regular deep REM sleep can be achieved to augment protein synthesis for building muscle tissue at the most optimum time when growth inhibiting cortisol levels are at a minimum. This is one indirect way CBD helps to manage cortisol levels.

A preliminary study published in September by the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research suggests CBD works directly with the Endocannabinoid System to interfere with cortisol secretion as reported by the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, where subjects experienced a significant decrease in cortisol levels in their blood. This means that CBD can slow the breakdown of muscle mass and help athletes to build more muscle.

We know about CBD’s calming anti-anxiety and mood-regulating effects when working in natural harmony with our Endocannabinoid Systems. It’s easy to see how CBD’s multiple and very beneficial therapeutic effects, and its direct anti-catabolic action all combine to keep cortisol at the properly balanced levels to benefit our systems.

WHY HIGH-STRESS WORKOUTS AND OTHER STIMULANTS MAY BOOST CORTISOL LEVELS

Increasing levels of the hormone testosterone with intense periods of weight lifting is the well-known mechanism for building muscle mass, but the level of cortisol which also increases during an intense workout has the exact opposite effect.

Cortisol levels rise significantly in response to stress no matter what time of day or what the situation. That’s why the fitness community calls cortisol “the stress hormone.” An intense heavy workout routine is a source of physical stress. That’s in addition to the unavoidable day-to-day environmental stresses everyone experiences.

When cortisol levels soar in response to extreme workout stress, the high amount of the catabolic hormone can cause high blood pressure, lower bone density, and eat up muscle tissue negating the positive benefits of the workout. In the worst-case scenario, unregulated cortisol can cause the physical condition to nosedive. That’s the exact opposite result of what your fitness regimen is trying to achieve.

This is (unfortunately) similar to the effect that caffeine causes. It has been demonstrated that as little as 2-3 cups of coffee per day can cause cortisol levels to rise. However, CBD oil’s natural stimulating effects provide all the energy-boosting benefits without the jitters while maintaining cortisol at beneficial levels.

Pre- and post-workout CBD oil supplements can balance cortisol levels to let you optimize results from your workout time. But, as always with CBD, there is good news and more good news.

CBD BOOSTS STAMINA AND HELPS YOU ‘FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS’

Stamina is something that each person desires for their workout or work day.

The most understood feeling of stamina is what we all know as the “runner’s high” that you can get from any long-form workout. For years, endorphins have gotten the credit for maintaining stamina through long, cardio-focused workouts. However, recent research has shown that the endocannabinoid system is the true generator of the legendary “runner’s high.” Findings show that it’s the rush of anandamide, the natural endocannabinoid compound regulated by CBD via the Endocannabinoid System, which deserves the credit for the sudden onset of the euphoric, pain-free, calm sensation.

Now within a CBD-optimized homeostasis where you are “firing on all cylinders,” stamina and energy levels are improved, breathing is well-regulated, and CBD’s anti-inflammatory action keeps muscles cramp-free while balancing dopamine at proper levels to promote smooth movement and balance. Some scientists refer to this homeostasis as “the Goldilocks Zone.” It’s that state in which mind, body, and spirit function together and everything is “just right.”

CBD BOOSTS STAMINA BY REGULATING BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

The last key to building muscle and boosting stamina is maintenance of our blood sugar levels. Contrary to common belief, we can do this through more ways than just a balanced diet.

Chronic inflammation has long been established as a cause of insulin resistance resulting in Type 2 diabetes. As reported by Diabetes.co.uk, the immune system, cell growth, sugar metabolism and heart function all also appear to prospectively benefit from CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.

When blood sugar is regulated, less insulin is present and therefore less fat is stored. When less fat is stored, your body works in an anti-catabolic mode to help produce more muscle.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE WORKING OUT WITH CBD

CBD oil’s anti-catabolic properties are making it the most recommended supplement in fitness regimens where increasing muscle mass is a primary goal. CBD’s additional benefits for runners, yoga enthusiasts, professional athletes and more in the health and wellness world strongly suggests that this is not a fad, but a supplement that is becoming the norm. More and more people are beginning to second-guess western medicine and are looking for a more natural way to help fight disease and pain – and CBD is increasingly the answer.

CBD can be ingested in capsule form, oil form or topically as a cream. CBD creams and salves also have a place in the fitness industry for topical inflammation, pain relief and flexibility – three things that are key to a safe and successful workout. It’s important for each fitness enthusiast to research the different ways to leverage CBD’s benefits and test dosages to see what works best for your body. The future is bright with CBD.

DISCOVER THE TOP CBD BRANDS

The market is getting saturated with many different CBD brands. We’ve compared the top brands to help you with your decision. Check it out.

The post Working Out With CBD: How CBD Supports Muscle Gain & Boosts Stamina appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.