CBD is a great natural product to promote digestive health as it has been proven to lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone which breaks down tissue in the body. It is quite destruction to the lining of the GI tract. Anything that breaks down this lining can increase the occurrence of an issue called leaky gut.
High Cortisol levels can also prevent you from absorbing the nutrients from your food. Essentially CBD works on the Endocannabinoid System to slow the bodies production of Cortisol.
Good gut health is essential to maintaining a healthy body and mind. The gut is often referred to as our 1st brain. The gut and brain communicate via the vagas nerve and also through the Endocannabioid System.
The Endocannabinoid System receives cannabinoids made by the human body. These are indirectly absorbed via the receptors. When the body is deficient in making these essential endocannabinoids the body will accept the cannabinoids in CBD instead. Thus fueling the body and regulating many of the systems within the body essential for maintaining digestion, helathy sleep, appetitie, pain threshold, hormone regulation.
How CBD promotes Gut Health
When gut health is poor, bacteria increases in the digestive tract. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol from hardened arteries and type 2 diabetes.
Bacteria leads to inflammation of the gut which prohibits the body from effective digestion, absorption of nutrients and energy levels. Many people who suffer from leaky gut and inflammation report weight gain, decreased mental clarity, lethargy, and changes in sleep patterns.
Surprisingly, many feelgood neurotransmitters such as serotonin, are produced in the gut. Unhealthy gut can result in depression. The small intestine produces an endocannabinoid called anandamide. Just like serotonin, anandamide has a powerful influence on mood and wellbeing.
There are several things you can do to ensure good gut health:
- Eat a healthy balanced diet, ensuring that fruit and vegetables make up at least 40% of your diet
- Take a probiotic each day. This is even better if you combine it with a prebiotic
- Eat good but foods like sauerkraut, kim chi and any other fermented vegetable
- Limit processed foods to 5% or less of your diet. Processed foods kill good guy flora and bacteria
- Exercise every day
- Avoid antibiotics
- Take a CBD supplement daily. This can help to reduce inflammation
Good gut health is easy to maintain with correct diet and exercise. Limit processed foods and sugars. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team. We are here to help.
Sarah Rutherford - Contributor
Sarah has been interested in plant medicine for over 20 years. She draws on her experience working in the health and wellness field and applies it to the CBD industry.
