How Marijuana Can Affect Fitness

Cannabis has its place in the world of fitness. Athletes of all types are leveraging the substance to benefit their overall exercise, and health, routines.

Here’s how San Francisco-based DaiKati trainer, Zach Scioli, teaches his clients to reap the benefits of cannabis:

Find the right strain. Scioli explained that he takes more than 483 components, and a spectrum of strains into consideration for his clients. Choosing the right strain comes down to asking “What am I missing in my workout?,” he said, “If it's a lack of motivation once you get in the gym, a sativa may provide that extra boost. If it's winding down at the end of the night, then an indica may help you get that needed sleep to really put you in a good place, both for muscle recovery and for tomorrow's session.”

CBD (psychoactive compound in cannabis), for example, is proven to help fight inflammation, and curb muscle soreness/stiffness.THC, on the other hand, is known to be just as effective at pain relief as opiates, helping athletes get back on their feet faster after injuries.

If you’re looking to bulk up, the munchies can be your friend. Simply put, you’ll need to eat more to put on muscle mass… and cannabis is a known appetite stimulator!

Lastly, Scioli explained that at the very least, cannabis should be the preferable substance for athletes in the future. Compared to alcohol, he said, “using cannabis as an alternative, getting some good sleep, and showing up for practice the next day I think will slowly become a more accepted alternative.”