CBD provisions have a fascinating relationship with the gut, and they should be included in any supplement regimen that promotes good gut health. However, you must first understand a few fundamentals, such as why is gut health so vital in the first place.
Understanding why gut health is so important
The gut, which includes the whole intestinal tract, is the body’s largest interface with the outside world. The gut’s single-celled wall of cells is the only line of protection against toxins and irritants that enter the bloodstream through the digestive tract. Its proper functioning is critical to practically every element of human health, including mental health.
The gut functions similarly to a second brain
Because of the direct channel of communication that exists between the brain and the gut, it has been dubbed “the second brain.” Most people are astonished to learn that the stomach produces 90% of the body’s serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter we’ve all heard so much about. The endocannabinoid system may have a role in the interaction between the two organs, which is known as the “gut-brain axis.” As a result, gut wall integrity is critical. A healthy gut lining resembles a layer of tightly woven mesh. It serves a crucial purpose: it keeps the riff-raff out of the bloodstream, such as undigested food particles and poisons.
Gut lining damage allows the bad guys to escape
However, when the gut is injured or inflamed, it’s like putting a hole in the cheesecloth. Things that don’t belong are now leaking into the bloodstream. The condition is known as a leaky gut syndrome or intestinal permeability. The immune system goes into overdrive when stray particles enter the circulation where they don’t belong. When it sees “foreigners,” it attacks. And you have a variety of symptoms.
Constipation and diarrhea are two common symptoms, as are disturbances in gut motility (the rate at which food travels through the digestive tract) and the onset of autoimmune symptoms. A vague, non-specific feeling of unwellness is common among the symptoms. That’s why so many experts recommend “treating the gut first” or “health begins in the stomach.”
CBD benefits that can help Gut health
CBD, in fact, plays a key role in the formation and function of the gut. Remember that CB-1 and CB-2 receptors are found throughout the gut, bolstering the evidence for the endocannabinoid system’s role in gut health. Here are some of the ways CBD benefits can help with gut health in particular.
TNF-alpha production is affected
TNF-alpha, one of the key inflammatory chemicals generated when the gut’s inflammatory response is out of whack, has been shown to be suppressed by CBD. It supports a healthy inflammatory response in the gut by reducing TNF-alpha production.
Gut motility is affected
The endocannabinoid system is also known to influence gastrointestinal motility. When motility is excessively high, diarrhea usually follows. Constipation occurs when digestion is too slow. CBD promotes healthy intestinal motility. When it comes to digestion, it can assist the body to attain the “Goldilocks effect”—not too quick, not too sluggish, but just right.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and the gut microbiome communicate with each other
There’s evidence of “cross-talk” between the endocannabinoid system and the billions of good and bad microorganisms that exist in your gut (the “microbiome”). CBD treatment has been found to provide gut-related health benefits in multiple animal investigations.
Finally, when CBD oil was added to the treatment routine of persons with gastrointestinal health difficulties, human studies indicated a favorable effect. Despite the fact that there was no significant difference in remission numbers between the CBD-supplemented and placebo groups, the non-supplemented group had more gastrointestinal pain.
According to physicians’ subjective views, the CBD-supplemented group experienced numerous considerably improved quality-of-life outcomes, including the patients’ own perception of the severity of their illnesses.
All of this is to suggest that I believe CBD is a crucial complement to a supplement regimen aimed at supporting the human gut health structure and function.