Are You An Active Person?
Athletes, gym-rats, city commuters, hikers, swimmers, and even dogs should be interested in how CBD can help them on a daily basis. Anyone who leads an active lifestyle can benefit from the potent anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a cannabinoid which is a chemical messenger on the cells in our bodies. These messengers (neurotransmitters), send signals from cell to cell when a response is needed. The system that regulates our bodie’s many interconnected functions and responses is called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS has three (3) major components that work together to keep your body in a stable, balanced state. We have already talked about the first part, cannabinoids. The second part is the cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are activated by cannabinoids and begin a bodily response. Part three, metabolic enzymes, breaks down the cannabinoids.The response would continue forever if the cannabinoid is not broken down and the cannabinoid receptor deactivated.
How Does CBD Help With Inflammation?
It has been found that CBD can be a potent aid in the ECS’s response to inflammation. A paper from the National Center for Biotechnology Information states that “Manipulation of endocannabinoids [AEA and 2-AG] and/or use of exogenous cannabinoids [THC and CBD] . . . can constitute a potent treatment modality against inflammatory diseases”. T-regulatory cells (Tregs) work to suppress inflammation. Cannabinoids such as CBD have been found to upregulate Tregs. CBD also down regulates the production of cytokines. Cytokine is a signaling protein that can come in many varieties. When secreted by immune cells, cytokine promotes inflammation.
Conditions and diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and cancer can also be positively affected by manipulation of the ECS. One percent (1%) of people worldwide are afflicted with RA. Joint stiffness, tenderness, pain, and swelling can all be helped by adding CBD to your wellness routine. A recent study “ . . . showed that daily . . . administration of CBD inhibited disease progression” in inflammatory diseases. Tumor reduction is essential to treating all types of cancer. Increased levels of endocannabinoids AEA and 2-AG reduce tumor growth. CBD inhibits the metabolic enzyme (FAAH, fatty acid amide hydrolase) that breaks down AEA and 2-AG, allowing the endocannabinoids to keep the endocannabinoids receptors active for longer.
Inflammation occurs as a bodily response to injury or infection. Cytokines promote inflammation after being secreted by immune cells and Tregs reduce inflammation. When CBD is added to the system, Treg levels increase and cytokine levels decrease. CBD can also be an effective treatment for cancer patients. Upregulation of AEA and 2-AG reduces tumor growth. This combination of responses to CBD by the endocannabinoid system can be an extremely potent aid against inflammation and inflammatory diseases.
