A lot of people have asked me about CBD oil. If you haven’t heard of it, CBD is a molecule that is found in cannabis and is derived from the hemp plant. Unlike marijuana, CBD is non-intoxicating, which is good news for anyone wanting to reap the many benefits of CBD. Since there are so many questions about CBD, I want to help answer a few questions, with help from my friends at Relyf, a CBD company based locally in Birmingham. Because there are so many questions and misconceptions regarding CBD, this will be Part 1 of 2 blog posts. 

How did I get interested in CBD? 
I recently learned how CBD can help with mental and physical recovery. As you train, you are breaking down tissue and causing stress to the body. Along with this physical stress, your body experiences mental stress. I heard that CBD oil can help with physical and mental recovery, especially in high performing individuals. This piqued my interest, so I reached out Relyf to try it out. 

Why did you choose Relyf? 
I chose this company to work with is because they have a quality vetted product and they are local. They also go through great lengths for quality control, and are open about the product’s growth, harvest, and distribution.

 How’d it go? 
I initially used the 500 Mg CBD drops as suggested to help with sleep quality, and I received great benefits from that. I am an avid believer that you have the greatest chance of recovery during the time you sleep, and since one benefit of CBD oil is that it helps you sleep, you are able to recover better. Now, I have been putting it in my Thorne Catalyte post-workout or sublingual before bed and when waking up. 

What makes a good CBD product? 
One of the first things to look for is a full-spectrum product. This means that the oil contains many different cannabinoids, which all work together with CBD to give the greatest benefits. Some CBD products include many other ingredients that can be bad for the body, especially for an athlete. Vape fluids often have additional ingredients, and edibles can be full of food color and high-fructose corn syrup. You also want to know where the product comes from, how it was tested, and how it was derived. 

Is CBD legal? 
It depends on where you live, and the type of CBD oil. In 2018, the Farm Bill was passed which allowed companies to begin producing CBD oil. But, some states still do not allow CBD oil that is produced from marijuana, and only allow CBD from hemp. You have to check with your state to see what their laws are. But as CBD becomes more popular and more studies are done on its benefits, expect this to change. 

Will CBD oil lead to a potential failed drug test? 
It depends. CBD will show up on a drug test, although it depends on which drug test you are taking. There is a small amount of THC in many CBD products that may give a positive reading on a drug test. High-quality CBD products have minimal THC (below the federal level of .3 percent), but since THC can be stored and released days later, it is possible that it could show up on a drug test even if you stopped taking it earlier in the week. But there are a few options. CBD can be used topically for muscle aches, and that of course doesn’t enter the bloodstream. There are also some CBD products that are THC-free and would not show up on a drug test. Relyf will have a THC-free oil available for use soon. 

Is it FDA approved?
Not yet. As such, companies can’t make claims on the labels on the health benefits of CBD oil. Smaller studies have been done and hopefully larger studies can be done soon.  

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Q & A, where we get into recommended dosages and usages, and more of the benefits of CBD. CBD can interact with other medications so it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits before taking it. If you have more questions about CBD and can’t wait for the next blog, check out the education page at Relyf’s website. They have posts that go into even more detail about questions just like these. 

*The health and fitness information on this page has been prepared by Coach DJ Taylor and is for educational AND informational purposes only.