Is CBD good for the Human Body?
CBD is the new buzzword in the health & wellness industry. Everyone is going gaga over it, from top artists like Willie Nelson and Seth Rogan to your local yoga teacher. People are ditching their pain and anxiety meds for delicious CBD edibles.
Its lack of side effects even at high doses and clean formulation has made it a popular choice among people from all walks of life. But is it good for the human body?
Well, the answer is yes. Based on data from clinical studies and anecdotal reports from millions of users worldwide, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that CBD can do wonders for the human body.
So if you are searching for the best CBD oil but need a little info about its potential benefits, use cases, and safety profile, this article is all you need to read. Let’s dig in!!
What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabinol; it’s a natural plant compound that is found in cannabis sativa plants. In scientific terms, it belongs to the family of compounds known as cannabinoids. There are more than 110+ cannabinoids in cannabis sativa plants; however, CBD is the most studied and widely used one to date.
All cannabinoids have their own unique set of healing and therapeutic properties. CBD is mainly known for its nerve-calming and anti-inflammatory effects. Ever since its legalization through the 2018 farm bill, CBD has become one of the most sought-after product categories to deal with anxiety, stress, pain, and sleep issues.
CBD doesn’t have strong psychoactive effects, so there’s no risk of getting high on it even if you take it every day. In most countries, including America and European nations, legally CBD products are not allowed to have more than 0.3% of cannabinoid THC in them. Why?
Because THC is highly intoxicating in nature and mainly used for recreational purposes. CBD products are made from hemp specifically because hemp plants naturally have levels of CBD and only trace amounts of THC.
How Does CBD Work? What are its benefits?
CBD mainly works by improving the working efficiency of our body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is present in all mammals; that’s why you’ll notice that there’s also a surge in demand for pet CBD products. Anyways, ECS is a complex cell signaling network, which is spread throughout our body.
It’s made of endocannabinoid receptors CB1, CB2, and certain proteins to synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoids we are talking about here are called anandamide and 2AG, both of which are produced by our body internally. These endocannabinoids interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors to modulate our various biological and physiological processes.
This happens constantly and keeps a balance in our body. It manages our anxiety levels, stress response, appetite, sleep function, memory, metabolism, gut health, and more. So what’s the role of CBD here?
Well, it simply increases the amount of anandamide produced by our body. As a result, within a few minutes of taking CBD, we feel more relaxed, focused, and in better control of our body.
Other than ECS, CBD also affects serotonin receptors, TRPV1 receptors, GPR55, and nuclear PPARs. It modulates glycine receptors, and adenosine signaling, and shows immunomodulatory properties by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Neurologically, CBD supports neurogenesis, and neural plasticity, and provides neuroprotective effects. Its interactions with mitochondrial function may help to reduce oxidative stress and improve cellular energy metabolism.
What’s the Ideal way of incorporating CBD into your wellness routine?
There’s no one perfect way to take CBD, the ideal method will greatly differ from one person to another. All of us have different metabolisms, anatomy, body chemistry, and mental states, so the dosage and method that works best for your friend may not work the same for you. That’s why you should do your trial-and-error routine.
As a beginner, it’s suggested that one should start with a low dosage of 5-10mg per day. Keep a note of how it makes you feel, and write down what exactly it’s helping you with. Is your anxiety getting better? Is your sleep improving? Are you recovering faster after gym and workouts? Note everything down.
Compare notes weekly, and then think about increasing the dosage. Your body may get used to small doses initially and you’ll have to gradually increase it over time.
wn that when we take CBD with fatty foods, cannabinoid absorption in the body gets better. So try to take your daily dose with dinner, lunch, or breakfast. It’ll also save you from any risk of nausea, and also increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.
How long does CBD take to work?
Depending on what’s your method of consumption, CBD can take anywhere between 20 minutes to 2 hours to kick in. Those who need a quick dose of relief can opt for CBD oils or tinctures. When you put a few drops under your tongue, it gets dissolved right away and starts to work within 15-20 minutes.
But what if you don’t want to feel relaxed and calm immediately? In that case, gummies can be the best choice. They can take 40 minutes to 2 hours to kick in, as they first pass through your digestive system before getting metabolized. Many people prefer gummies over oil for a delayed calming experience. For example, before onboarding a flight, visiting a dentist, or getting cozy after dinner for movie night.
Our Final Take
To sum it up, Yes, CBD is good for the human body. When taken regularly in moderate doses, it can curb anxiety, bring down pain, reduce inflammation, and improve sleep quality. It’s also beneficial for dealing with nausea during chemotherapy.
CBD has strong neuroprotective properties, hence it has great potential in the treatment of epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s’ disease, Post-traumatic stress disorder, and other such neurological conditions.
Most people use it to wind down, and de-stress after a long and hectic day or before starting one the next day. Just make sure to get it only from reputed brands like Colorado Botanicals, and you’ll be just fine.
