CBD isn’t the only wellness trend that has been flooding your screens latest. You have probably scrolled by an article or post about the importance of probiotics, prebiotics, gut bacteria, fermented food. But why is gut health that important?
Because the majority of the approximately 38 trillion microorganisms in our body are located in the gut.
Our gut microbiome affects our immune system, weight, mental and emotional health – essentially who we are. So, all these microorganisms work together to transform nutrients from one form to another, influencing the overall health and balance of our bodies. And CBD can boost gut health.
The brain-gut connection
The brain and the gut are connected through the crucial highway of the vagus nerve. Recent studies discovered that they are also connected through the Endocannabinoid system. With the ECS’s receptors highly concentrated in the brain, gut, and pelvis, the ECS works as a major link between brain and gut. This is where CBD comes in.
How does CBD improve gut health and promote healthy digestion?
- Regulating Digestion: The ECS helps in the coordinated transit of food through the digestive tract, which means that every nutrient has the proper time to be absorbed. Cannabinoids stimulate the CB1 receptors which help with nausea, reduce stomach acid, and slow down tumor growth. (Fun fact: the strong stimulation of CB1 receptors, which happens with THC, causes the munchies.)
- Pain and inflammation relief: For many people with GI issues, like IBS, Crohn’s disease, and gastritis, their gut doesn’t regulate intestinal activity as it should. That causes inflammation, muscle spasms, cramping, and a lot of chronic pain in general. CBD helps our gut health in two ways. It alleviates the pain by diminishing the pain signals sent to the brain through neurotransmitters and CB1 receptors, and at the same time, it binds to CB2 receptors located throughout the immune system to reduce inflammation. Read more about CBD and pain here.
- Anxiety relief: As we mentioned before, the brain and gut communicate through the endocannabinoid system. So, whenever stress is registered in the brain, the ECS communicates it to the gut and affects gut function. CBD modulates the endocannabinoid system response to anxiety and your gut goes back to normal. In short, CBD promotes gut health by getting rid of anxiety. Read more about CBD and anxiety here.
Takeaway
Taking care of your gut health is important for your mental health. And vice versa, balanced mental health is linked to balanced gut health.
Those two are vitally connected through the Endocannabinoid system. So, feeding and supporting our ECS helps both the brain and body for greater homeostasis.
Try incorporating CBD in your healthcare routine today, it will help improve your gut heath. If you have a GI disease, consult your doctor and figure out together the right starting dosage for you.