How Cannabis-Infused Snacks and Supplements Can Enhance Your Workout Routine

Edibles

When people envision a great day with cannabis, they don’t usually picture working out as part of their plans. But did you know that some people enjoy pairing weed edibles and other types of marijuana products with their exercise routines?

This approach is becoming more popular as legalization spreads, making a wider range of cannabis strains available to people to pair with their workouts.

However, customizing your edibles and supplements to your workout routine takes time, and in the interim, you might not know what to expect.

Here’s how cannabis-infused snacks and supplements can enhance your workout routine — and some things to keep in mind as you decide which strains to try and how to incorporate them.

It’s All in the Cannabinoids

Studies have been murky on whether cannabis is useful for working out; in fact, it’s common for one study to show improvements in exercise performance after consuming weed, then another is published soon after that shows no effect at all. How can multiple studies have different results?

Researchers believe it’s the cannabinoids that matter. Some types of weed contain cannabinoids that can boost performance by impacting heart rate, respiration, and energy levels. Other cannabinoids negatively affect the body by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system’s relaxation pathways.

This means that you can successfully incorporate cannabis edibles or other types of weed into your workout — just make sure you pick the strain carefully. THC is associated with an increase in cardiovascular function, so opting for a THC-heavy strain rather than an edible high in CBD is a good place to start.

CBD for Post-Workout Recovery

Alternatively, the workout itself is not the only place you could consider implementing cannabis-infused snacks and supplements. If you prefer to keep your workout clean, try using marijuana in the post-workout recovery period instead.

Studies have tied better recovery to increased CBD consumption, and 93% of study participants noted that they felt better faster if they incorporated CBD into their post-workout routine.

CBD can function as an analgesic — it helps reduce pain and inflammation, which hastens workout recovery. This analgesic function is why medical marijuana strains are high in CBD!

Cognitive Effects vs. Physical Effects

One of the biggest things to keep in mind when incorporating cannabis products into your workout, either during the exercise portion or during recovery, is how the edible or supplement will affect you physically and mentally.

So far, we’ve discussed the physical outcomes of weed consumption on exercise: the potential for increased cardio and respiratory function, decreased inflammation, and other factors depending on the cannabinoids in the specific strain.

However, it is also essential to think about the mental effects. Some strains of cannabis contribute to an inspired, sharp, and energized mental outlook that can keep you attuned to your workout and how your body feels.

Other strains may produce a potent head high that can leave you uncoordinated and even dizzy. Needless to say, strains that produce a notable high can be dangerous when exercising.

If your mental sharpness is lacking, you have a greater chance of accidentally hurting yourself or others. Choose your strain carefully when pairing cannabis with a workout, whether you’re at home or the gym.

Beware: The Munchies

Most of the attention paid to cannabis products in the workout scene goes to which strains work for which people and how to align your schedule with consumption (it takes more time for edibles to work than smoking). But one thing that few people know is that cannabis can also sabotage your workouts if you’re not careful!

When people were put into two groups — one that used cannabis with exercise and one that didn’t — researchers found that the marijuana-using group increased its sodium intake absent any other factors (such as drinking electrolyte drinks during the workout). In other words, pairing workouts with weed edibles is a great way to get a powerful case of the munchies!

There’s no harm in having a snack now and then. However, if you’re exercising to lose weight, cannabis might interfere with your goals by spiking your cravings.

Explore Cannabis as a Workout Supplement

When used with care, cannabis-infused snacks and supplements can enhance your workout routine by improving cardiovascular performance, increasing respiration efficiency, and putting you into the proper mindset to succeed.

However, you should always know what strain you are consuming and how it will affect you before you begin. The team at Pure Oasis can help you choose an edible that suits your workout goals so you can stay safe during exercise.

Stop by Pure Oasis’ dispensaries to grab some cannabis-infused snacks for your gym routine.