Pot could be the answer to all your exercise woes
By Caleigh Rykiss
When you think of marijuana use – what’s the first thing that you think of? For many, visions of lazy and hungry teenagers come to mind; with bags of Cheetos and squinted eyes. Well – this “stoned adolescent” stereotype could not be further from the truth. In fact, new research shows that cannabis consumption can actually help make us more fit. Say whaaaat? From easier weight management to better focus in the gym and even increased speed and coordination, cannabis could be the answer to upping your gym-game in 2017.
Weight loss
Ya, you read that right. A study published in The American Journal of Medicine indicated that subjects who identified themselves as marijuana users had significantly smaller waist measurements than those who did not. According to Dr. Ira Price, “Our body produces the same type of cannabinoids found in the plant and act as master regulators of bodily function. It has been shown that those who use Cannabis, tend to be less obese then those who do not.” This affect, he says, all comes down to how it helps our bodies process insulin, “Cannabis helps control blood-glucose levels via cell specific signaling in the pancreas where insulin is controlled. In other words, Cannabis receptors in the pancreas help regulate insulin levels, a central figure in weight management and diabetes prevention.” And the study confirms this. In addition to their smaller waist circumference, participants who used marijuana also had 16 per cent lower fasting insulin levels and nearly 20 per cent lower insulin resistance levels than the others.
Gym focus
You know when you’re in the gym and you just can’t get focused? You fidget and wander and take longer breaks between sets and then just give up? Well, many athletes, like UFC fighter Nick Diaz and Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, credit marijuana use with helping break through these types of distractions and train more efficiently. Clifford Drusinsky, an elite triathlete, admits to consuming a marijuana energy bar before his five-plus hour training sessions to help with mental focus and training efficiency. Price, a Hamilton-based doctor who specializes in medical marijuana, explains, “Attention and focus are a function of multiple specific parts of the brain and dopamine and serotonin are key neurotransmitters responsible for these specific tasks. Cannabinoids act synergistically with these neurotransmitters and can potentially improve deficiencies in the neurotransmitters that cause attention and focus issues.”
Muscle recovery
One of the biggest causes of discomfort, post-workout, is due to inflammation in the body. Cannabis has long been proven to help alleviate and even prevent the body’s inflammatory response. But, it’s impact on our recovery goes much further, “Most people know that CBD (Cannabidiol) is a potent anti-inflammatory but what many people don’t know is that the CB2 receptor is also responsible for muscle healing,” Price explains. “For example, the basic science literature has shown that targeting this Cannabis specific receptor improves muscle regeneration. Aside from just muscle recovery, the research shows that cannabinoid receptors also play a role in bone formation and skeletal growth.” This recovery advantage seems appropriate since cannabis use can also help us push through harder workouts, as it can help increase our pain threshold. Andrea Giuffrida, an endocannabinoids expert and university professor out of Texas says, “The endocannabinoid system works like to endorphins.” She suggests that just as endorphins help us push through difficult training sessions, so too does cannabis. Her work also suggests that just as our endorphin levels increase as we exercise the same is true for endocannabinoids.
More energy; More speed
Finally – could marijuana be the answer for hitting your new personal best at your upcoming race? Could be! Studies done on mice indicate that consumption of THC could actually increase our athletic abilities. When the mice consumed low doses of THC, their motor activity increased, indicating a little extra speed could be gained. Another study out of Bordeaux, France, found that our brain produces more pregnenolone when we are exposed to cannabis. Pregnenolone is a chemical in our bodies that is a precursor to natural steroids and is often used to help fight fatigue and improve energy.
But, before you say “buh-bye coffee, hello cannabis,” Price reiterates the importance of responsible use. “Everything mentioned, applies to using cannabis correctly, in proper dosing, with proper guidance.” He reminds that despite the advances with the legalization and medical use of marijuana it’s not for everyone. “We need to be clear to youth, that Cannabis can be abused and shouldn’t be used by everyone, all the time. There is risk to using Cannabis at a young age, specifically on the brain that can be dangerous.”
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