We’ve seen cannabis infused drinks as an alternative to alcohol, for socializing and for fun, but what about cannabis-infused recovery drink to accelerate recovery after exercise?
WHAT IS AN EXERCISE RECOVERY DRINK?
- Have you ever wished that you wouldn’t feel as sore after a tough workout?
- Do your joints act up after a workout making recovery painful?
- Are you sometimes so sore from a workout that you have to postpone or reduce intensity at your next session?
A recovery drink is generally anything you consume post-workout to boost the body’s repair and restoration process.
They are recommended after intense exercise – especially anything over an hour- to quickly bring nutrients to the muscles to speed up the rebuilding process. They also efficiently replace electrolytes and salt lost during sweating to keep the body functioning optimally. In some cases it can ward off feelings of lightheadedness or queasiness that comes with intense exercise.
Recovery drinks are preferred by many because they:
- Fast track nutrition into the body post-workout
- Are easy to digest
- Are more convenient than a meal
- Assist hydration
While convenience is important, it’s also recommended to treat a recovery drink as a supplement to food. This means prioritizing a meal with protein and carbohydrates as soon as possible after intense exercise, even if you’ve had a recovery shake.
Current products on the market include drinks containing cannabis to expedite hydration and the repair process after endurance exercise, strength training or any intense activity.
Important components of recovery drinks include:
- Protein to stimulate muscle recovery
- Carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores
- Electrolytes to replenish those minerals lost via sweat during exercise. These keep muscles functioning optimally and prevent cramps.
- Fluids to maintain hydration for muscle function, digestion and help regulate body temperature
We can also create our own by using the increasingly popular cannabis drink enhancers (drops and powders) with our favorite sports recovery drink or shake.
HOW CANNABIS HELPS
Both THC and CBD, the main compounds found in the cannabis plant, have muscle-relaxing, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects to mitigate muscle soreness, muscle spasms, and arthritic joint pain. Fitness enthusiasts and athletes may be able to return to intense workouts sooner because they feel better faster.
Advantages of cannabinoids in your recovery drink:
- Reduced post workout inflammation
- Allows muscles to repair and rebuild more efficiently
- Reduced muscle soreness
- Faster recovery
- Promotes whole body relaxation
- Reduced anxiety
When we exercise and our muscles are working harder than usual, it creates microscopic tears, which then our body uses our food and water to repair stronger. The more intense the exercise, the greater this process. This is a natural process but can create the soreness and stiffness we suffer.
Unfortunately this can leave us feeling less energetic and less motivated to move. This can deter us from working, create an obstacle to healthy habits, and lengthen time needed to recover between training sessions.
Suppose you’re training for a 10k running race. You’re supposed to run every other day with a long run on the weekend. But if your long run leaves you so sore that you’re unable to complete your next training session, it’s going to hinder your efforts to prepare for the 10k on schedule.
Fitness enthusiasts and athletes may be able to return to intense workouts faster because they feel better faster.
Adding cannabis to a recovery drink could speed up your progress in the gym or with your training goal due to this enhanced recovery. You’ll be able to train more intensely more often with fewer restrictions.
CREATE YOUR OWN
Manufacturers are on to this and creating a variety of recovery drinks to appeal to active adults. These are widely available and primarily feature CBD so are able to be shipped nationwide.
Creating your own is simple at home with things you might already have:
- Combine a protein source like protein powder, yogurt or cottage cheese, with a carbohydrate source such as a banana or oatmeal.
- Add electrolytes in the form of a powdered or liquid recovery supplement, or a nutrient dense juice, water for hydration, or your favorite CBD oil
- Blend until smooth.
DO YOU NEED ONE?
Everyone needs to hydrate, replace sodium lost through sweat and provide fuel for the repair process after an intense workout.
Whether you need a supplemental beverage or can wait until your next meal depends on a few factors:
- Convenience: Will you be able to eat a meal within 60-90 minutes? If not then a supplemental beverage or shake makes sense.
- Intensity: How much stress are you putting on your body? Examples of intensity are workouts over an hour, heavy strength training, or exercising in a hot environment (heavy sweating). Not necessarily for a 20 min dog walk, for example.
Whether you choose a recovery drink or not, my advice is to hydrate, eat and get cannabis into your system as soon as possible to accelerate the recovery process and reduce pain and inflammation. By exploring the benefits of cannabis post workout you can unlock a new dimension of recovery and take your fitness journey to the next level!
If you’re interested in more personalized or want to explore further, feel free to reach out to me directly at Beth@Cannafitnessnutrition.com. You can discover more about my comprehensive 12 week program, CannaFit, which helps you integrate cannabis into your fitness and nutrition for optimal wellness at www.cannafitnessnutrition.com.