Top Athletes Who Use CBD Oil And Why

There might still be a stigma surrounding the use of cannabis for medicinal and health purposes - along with the products derived from it - but that stigma is slowly being unraveled thanks to some of the world's tops athletes.

Studies have continually shown the myriad of benefits that CBD oil can provide to pain relief. People are using it to reduce their seizures, alleviate their anxiety, or even minimize chronic pain and inflammation. Others are using it to improve their sleep and mood, while others still are taking it to protect their heart health and also reduce the risk of diabetes.

But while there are plenty of demographics that make use of CBD hemp oil to alleviate whatever symptoms they may be suffering from, athletes are probably the best example of a group that's bringing CBD oil to the mainstream.

An increasing number of athletes are going public with their use of CBD hemp oil and their support of its use among other athletes and the general public as a whole. It's now becoming increasingly well-known that CBD can have a plethora of benefits on the mind and body, and every day more and more athletes are discovering these advantages for their bodies.

Considering the amount of stress the body of an athlete goes through, it's no surprise that athletes tend to be more at risk of injury or chronic overuse issues than the average individual. But many of them are becoming privy to the way that CBD oil can help them protect their bodies, increase recovery time, and keep them performing at their best as the cannabinoid works perfectly with the natural endocannabinoid system of the body.

The following athletes have come out to tout the benefits of CBD oil, thereby bringing this cannabis compound to the forefront and breaking down barriers.

NFL LINEBACKER DERRICK MORGAN

If there's one sport that puts its athletes through a great deal of physical stress and trauma, it's football. Players who participate in this sport - whether on an amateur or professional level - are putting themselves at risk for serious injury, considering the substantial contact between players on the field. It's not unusual for players to experience at least one major injury - or more - throughout their football careers.

And with such injuries typically comes some form of treatment, which typically includes pain relievers. Unfortunately, many of the anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers that athletes are prescribed are opioids, which have become the source of serious addictions and even overdose deaths.

Considering these serious side effects of painkillers, more and more athletes are turning to a safer, more natural pain-relieving substance that works just as well: CBD oil.

One top athlete in particular who claims to use CBD oil to effectively treat pain and inflammation that's commonly linked to football training and injuries is Derrick Morgan, an NFL linebacker for the Tennessee Titans. In fact, he's not the only football player in the NFL to support the use of CBD oil for athletes, and he likely won't be the last.

Morgan made news headlines not long ago when he announced that he regularly uses CBD oil. He continues to speak out about how he believes that CBD is highly effective and has encouraged other fellow football players to consider using it over addictive opioids.

NFL OFFENSIVE TACKLE EUGENE MONROE

Eugene Monroe was the first active NFL football player to come out about his use of CBD oil and his advocacy for the cannabinoid regarding his health and wellness. He has been an active supporter of the "The Bright Lights Campaign," which encourages continued studies on the effects of CBD and how it can potentially be a positive addition to a football player's repertoire.

The goal of Monroe and the Bright Lights Campaign is to continue with studies so that broader clinical trials on CBD oils may be conducted, and those professional athletes won't be penalized for using cannabis-related substances like CBD oil as part of their treatment protocols.

NFL DEFENSIVE END LEONARD MARSHALL

Another professional football player to tout the effects of CBD oil is former NFL player Leonard Marshall. Like many other professional football players in the NFL, Marshall started to show signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a traumatic brain injury that is the result of numerous concussions.

It's tough to say how many NFL players suffer from CTE, but it's estimated that the number can be as high as 40%. And Leonard Marshal was one of those statistics.

But rather than using traditional medications to help treat his CTE, Marshall decided to turn to CBD oil instead. His experience was incredible, as his symptoms were significantly lowered and or even disappeared completely.

MMA FIGHTER NATE DIAZ

Of course, injuries aren't only reserved for NFL football players, nor is the use of CBD oil to treat their symptoms. In 2016, Nate Diaz came out in the open about his use of CBD oil after training and fighting by sparking up his CBD oil vape pen at a press conference following his fight against fellow fighter Conor Mcgregor.

When reporters asked what he was smoking, he was upfront about the fact that he was consuming CBD oil. He quickly explained that CBD oil helped him with the healing process and inflammation following intense bouts of training and fighting. Diaz claims to use CBD oil before and after his fights, as well as after his training.

MMA FIGHTER CHRIS CAMOZZI

Another mixed-martial artist using CBD oil to help him deal with pain and inflammation associated with his fighting is professional UFC fighter, Chris Camozzi. The fighter claims that CBD has been highly effective in helping him continue with his sport of choice.

Camozzi began taking hemp-derived CBD oil supplements following a severe knee injury, and since then, CBD has become a routine component of his training. The fighter claims that CBD oil has drastically improved his overall health and wellness.

MARVIN WASHINGTON - FORMER NFL DEFENSIVE END

Retired NFLer Marvin Washington may never have used cannabis while playing football in the NFL, but he now uses CBD oil as part of his regular routine to deal with aches and pains he continues to suffer long after retiring from the league. Washington is actually taking his support to legal levels and is part of the plaintiff group challenging the 1970 Controlled Substance Act that classifies cannabis as a schedule one drug.

Washington claims to use CBD oil in tincture form every day and uses CBD-based cream to rub into muscles and joints to relieve aches and soreness.

YAIR RODRIGUEZ - UFC FIGHTER

Yair "Pantera" Rodriguez is a UFC fighter who has claimed that his use of CBD oil has helped him to speed up his recovery time between training sessions. He is a mixed martial artist and Taekwondo black belt who currently holds a 10-2-0 record and won the featherweight fight on the television show "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America."

Rodriguez regularly voices his support of CBD and its healing properties. The champion fighter strongly believes that CBD oil has been integral in his recoveries after particularly tough training sessions and improving his rest at night.