Best CBD Supplements For Bodybuilders & Recovery (Updated 2021)
See which CBD products are kicking butt right now to help alleviate unwanted pain and aid in recovery.
The CBD (Cannabidiol) industry is hot right now and products like CBD oil are popping up literally everywhere! This new craze has hit everyone by storm but athletes especially are thrilled with this new product. As a safe and effective way to handle all pain and aid in recovery, it is no wonder why people are so drawn to CBD and the many benefits it provides. Without the fear of failing a test for competition or putting something harmful in their bodies, CBD has come to the rescue to ensure all of your health and wellness needs are taken care of to ensure a happy and healthier quality of life.
CBD comes in many forms which include oils, salves, capsules, gummies, lollipops, vapes, and topicals. But, many are not real CBD and you must be very cautious. A lot of companies are capitalizing on the new market for CBD products and selling bad products for a profit. That’s why it is more than important to make sure each label is accurate and honest before trying any new product. Any good company will be open about the labels and seek not a profit, but the opportunity to better their consumers’ lives.
We’ve put together a list of the Best CBD Supplements for 2021 so you can find the best products to help with you pain, recovery, overall health, and wellness. From tinctures, to topicals, gummies, and capsules, everything you want is right here and waiting for you try.
Best CBD Supplements For Bodybuilders 2021
Best Overall CBD Tincture: cbdMD 1,500mg CBD Oil Tincture
| Type Of Application | Tincture |
| CBD Dosage | 1,500mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Take 1 serving (1mL) and place it under your tongue. Let it sit for a moment before swallowing. |
cbdMD 750mg CBD Oil Tincture delivers a Superior Broad Spectrum CBD formula with natural MCT carrier oil that works to boost your health and wellness every time you take it. Packed with supporting cannabinoids and terpenes, this tincture offers a host of benefits like supporting calmness, enhancing recovery, managing stress, and allowing you to function on a day to day base at a high level. Made from USA-grown industrial hemp, this is third party tested, gluten-free, and vegan, making this a trusted and honest supplement.
Pros
- Superior Broad Spectrum CBD formula
- Great benefits and supporting cannabinoids
- USA-grown hemp and third party tested
- Gluten-free and vegan
Cons
- Premium priced option
Price: $59.99
Use the promo code GENIRON for 15% off!
Best CBD Tincture For Sleep Recovery: Just Live 300mg Broad Spectrum Natural Drops
| Type Of Application | Tincture |
| CBD Dosage | 300mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Take 1 full dropper every six hours or as needed. Place under your tongue and swallow. |
Just Live 300mg Broad Spectrum Natural Drops is an original strength Broad Spectrum blend of active cannabinoids in a concentrated, all-natural tincture. With many ways to take, this can help with fast acting relief from exercise and other activities and works to promote the best sleep recovery around. Using MCT oil, it helps the body absorb everything better so you can effectively tackle all of your body’s needs. With great benefits to promoting calmness, enhancing physical and mental wellbeing, relief from exercise, and increasing your chances for a better sleep, this is a great tincture to work for sleep and recovery.
Pros
- Original strength Broad Spectrum blend
- Concentrated and all-natural
- MCT oil works to absorb faster
- Great price
Cons
- Only available through their website
Price: $29.99
Best Overall CBD Topical: Just Live CBD 750mg Pain Relief Cream
| Type Of Application | Topical |
| CBD Dosage | 750mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Apply cream into affected areas and rub in. |
Just Live CBD 750mg Pain Relief Cream is a carefully formulated and balanced combination of THC-free, high quality broad spectrum CBD and pain fighting, anti-inflammatory botanicals. With advanced ingredients and a unique, richly moisturizing cream, you can start to tackle those unwanted muscle aches and joint pains. With great benefits towards relieving exercise pain, everyday activity, physical and mental well-being, and total wellness, this topical is the right addition to your routine to alleviate pain.
Pros
- Balanced THC-free and high quality broad spectrum CBD
- Anti-inflammatory botanical add advanced ingredients
- Rich moisturizing cream
- Great for relieving pain
Cons
- Premium-priced option
- Only available directly from their website
Price: $69.99
Best CBD Topical For Recovery: cbdMD Recover
| Type Of Application | Topical |
| CBD Dosage | 3,000mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Wash and dry the skin area and apply a generous amount of cream. Massage until it is fully absorbed. |
cbdMD Recover is a fantastic pain relief cream to help relieve minor aches and discomfort. It will work to warm the sore spot while also hydrating dry skin with the help of histamine dihydrochloride. A carefully crafted formula with Superior Broad Spectrum CBD uses high quality hemp extracts with only the best in manufacturing practices. Available in four CBD concentrations and three different applicators, this CBD cream with skin moisturizers is perfect for fighting pain and helping you recover.
Pros
- Great formula of CBD and histamine dihydrochloride
- Made from high quality hemp extracts
- Available in four concentrations
Cons
- Premium-priced option
Price: $129.99
Use the promo code GENIRON for 15% off!
Best Overall CBD Gummies: cbdMD 750mg Gummies
| Type Of Application | Edible |
| CBD Dosage | 750mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Take 1 or 2 gummies a day and gradually increase as needed. |
cbdMD 750mg Gummies provide a delicious way for you to get Superior Broad Spectrum CBD into your body for optimal effectiveness. This formula includes additional cannabinoids and plant terpenes to deliver a high quality and consistent supplement. Third party tested for quality and purity, while also being gluten-free and vegan, the many flavors and three different concentrations make these gummies extremely sought after.
Pros
- Superior Broad Spectrum CBD with additional cannabinoids and plant terpenes
- Third party tested
- Gluten-free and vegan
- Great flavors and three different concentrations
Cons
- Premium-priced option
Price: $59.99
Use the promo code GENIRON for 15% off!
Best Overall CBD For Weight Loss: PFX Labs ShredCBD
| Type Of Application | Capsule |
| CBD Dosage | 1,200mg |
| Best Way To Take/Use | Take 1 capsule by mouth 1-3 times daily. |
PFX Labs ShredCBD is a brand new design for CBD supplements used to help target body fat while also promoting energy, focus, sleep, performance, and overall wellbeing. With 20mg of premium pure CBD isolate in each capsule, this formula also includes 3 powerful fat burning ingredients to give you the best chance at weight loss. With zero unwanted side effects and a large number of benefits to more than just fat loss, ShredCBD is making waves as an innovative way to get rid of that unwanted fat to start seeing a shredded physique.
Pros
- CBD isolate and three powerful fat burning ingredients
- Great benefits towards fat loss, inflammation, performance, and more
- Made in the USA in a GMP certified facility
Cons
- Research is still in its infancy
- Only available in the USA
Price: $48.00
What Is CBD?
CBD (Cannabidiol) is a phytocannabinoid derived from cannabis. It’s often the second most prevalent ingredient to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in which the latter causes the “high” effect. But, most CBD is extracted from industrial hemp which contains fewer amounts of THC, and therefore it won’t make you “high” (1).
There are also many other cannabinoids alongside CBD and THC but these two have the notable effects alongside other types of CBD.
Benefits Of CBD
CBD has many benefits towards our physical and mental health and are absolutely worth knowing when looking to buy the right CBD supplement for you.
- Relieve pain: Helps by regulating the endocannabinoid system in which pain is a function. It can impact receptors and reduce inflammation and chronic pain (2).
- Reduce anxiety and depression: A more natural approach to treating mental health, it can act on the brain’s receptors to transmit serotonin, which makes you feel good.
- Promotes better sleep: Can help you sleep through the night and improve the overall quality of your sleep (3).
- Helps with skin issues: Since CBD acts an anti-inflammatory, skin issues like acne may be handled since different glands do not become as infected.
- Support immune system: Keeps your immune system alert and allows antibodies to react effectively to anything foreign (4).
How Does CBD Work
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is essential for bodily homeostasis and maintaining a healthy biological environment in response to internal and external factors (5).
Composed of cannabinoid signaling molecules, the eCB system plays a big role when it comes to mood, sleep, pain appetite, immune system functioning, and all functions at the cellular level and beyond. So, it acts as a bridge between the body and mind which helps to further explain neuro plasticity and external factors as an influence on our mental state of health (6).
CBD can bind to the endocannabinoid receptors to aid in the regulation of homeostasis and this is why many people use a supplement. But, its effects are pronounced in many cases, offering obvious positive changes.
Some Types Of CBD
Full-spectrum
Full-spectrum cannabidiol is extracted from the cannabis plant but the terpenes, cannabinoids, fatty acids, flavanoids, and other plant matter remain attached. Full spectrum CBD is a “full-spectrum” of compounds is what often causes the “entourage effect”. Cannabinoids have therapeutic and psychoactive effects and include both CBD and THC, while terpenes provide cannabis with its fragrance.
Flavonoids offer benefits like anti-inflammatory aids and neuroprotective properties. The entourage effect is when all of these work together to maximize the benefits for you and make up full spectrum CBD and full spectrum hemp from CBD oil products and the effects of CBD on health benefits like alleviating chronic pain.
Full-spectrum CBD does have 0.3% or less of THC but CBD isolate is purified through a process which makes it a THC-free substance (7).
Isolate
CBD isolate requires a purification process before it makes it to shelves. But, when it’s extracted from the plant, all of the plant matter is still intact. But, when this full-spectrum CBD is purified through an additional process, you’re left with 99% pure CBD.
This process creates a flavorless, odorless, pure white power containing zero THC. The benefits of CBD isolate are that it is in fact THC free and is cheaper than other forms of CBD. It is easy to take, less messy than other oils, and can be used to make your own products making this a very versatile form of CBD.
Are There Side Effects?
It’s always a good idea to consult with your primary care physician before introducing any new substances into your dietary regimen. This is especially important if you suffer with any health issues. Although CBD can be relatively safe as a whole, it is important to remember that everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to any supplement. Always be sure to read the instructions and labels to know exactly what you are getting and exactly what you are taking to ensure a quality product leads to a higher quality of life.
If you experience any undesirable side effects while taking CBD, stop use and seek a doctor’s advice to ensure you don’t worsen any symptoms. Don’t rely on the Internet to self diagnose especially when it comes to your health. Trust the experts and work to benefit yourself.
Interactions with certain medications and some side effects from use are always a possibility. So, taking the necessary precautions beforehand is always advised for your safety. If you do take other medications, check before hand to see if there is a history of them interacting with CBD in a negative way so you know what you are getting into.
Some of the side effects possible with CBD use include:
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Changes in appetite
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Mood changes
And that’s why it’s even more important to make sure you’re getting a pure product, which contains actual CBD. There’s no point in suffering through poor side effects because of a poorly made product. Top tier companies will work to give you the best chance at succeeding with all of your goals and offer products of nothing but the highest quality and test results.
How We Choose
When looking at the best CBD supplements, we wanted to offer a variety of different forms which is why this list contains tinctures, topicals, gummies, and capsules. Everyone has a preference on what they enjoy and this list reflects that. We looked at the reputation of each company to make sure each was high-quality and using top tier ingredients and CBD for each product. The effectiveness of each product was important to us as well, for you deserve to have the best supplements on your side. Price is always important because it is possible to get great supplements without totally breaking the bank.
FAQ Section
What is the best way to take CBD?
There isn’t one best way to take this supplement. It really is a personal preference which is why we included options for a variety of forms. From tinctures, to topicals, gummies, and capsules, you can decide which is the best form for you.
How do I properly dose CBD?
When it comes to dosing CBD, always look at the directions label on your product. The company will tell you amount and most likely the best time to take said supplement. If the recommended dose feels too low, then consider talking with an expert and find an appropriate amount that is over the serving size.
Is there such thing as taking too much CBD?
Taking too much CBD can increase the possibility of negative effects occurring. While CBD has minimal side effects, if any at all, taking too high of a dose only puts you in a position to spur some of those on and you just don’t need that.
How long does it take for CBD to kick in?
This all depends on the form you take it in and the potency of the product. Typically, smoking or vape form is the fastest approach with topicals occurring rather quickly as well. Oral ingestion tends to be the slowest but longest lasting.
Wrap Up
CBD is a promising health aid and as research continues, we’ll have even more information about its potential healing power. The use of CBD is increasing in popularity at lightning speed but it has helped so many people deal with their ailments and can help you with whatever you may be suffering from. Work to stop pain and alleviate stress with these great products to give yourself a better, more healthier quality of life.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
References
- MD, Peter Grinspoon (2018). “Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t.” (source).
- Boyaji, Shafik; Merkow, Justin; Elman, R. N.; Kaye, Alan D.; et al. (2020). “The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management: An Assessment of Current Evidence”. (source)
- Shannon, Scott; Lewis, Nicole; Lee, Heather; Hughes, Shannon (2019). “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”. (source)
- Nichols, James M.; Kaplan, Barbara L. F. (2020). “Immune Responses Regulated by Cannabidiol”. (source)
- “Human Endocannabinoid System – UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative – Los Angeles, CA.” (source)
- “Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System – NORML – Working to Reform Marijuana Laws.” norml.org.
- Marinotti, Osvaldo; Sarill, Miles (2020). “Differentiating Full-Spectrum Hemp Extracts from CBD Isolates: Implications for Policy, Safety and Science”. (source)
