Many people who use CBD say they feel better than they have in years. They're stress-free, their skin is glowing, and they sleep like a baby.
How does CBD work to promote this feeling of well-being? Could it be that CBD is the key to unlocking “eternal” youth?
Humanity's search for the fabled fountain of youth has been going on for centuries. The quest for a way to stay young and healthy has driven people to do some pretty crazy things. But maybe, just maybe, the answer isn't some magical elixir or radical new treatment.
Maybe it's something a lot simpler: Cannabidiol.
CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Hemp-derived cannabidiol is non-psychoactive, meaning it won't get you high.
And it has some potentially powerful effects on the body — with people finding relief from a variety of ailments like anxiety, pain, inflammation, and more.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of receptors and chemicals that helps to regulate many vital functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, inflammation, and pain.
The ECS constantly works to maintain a state of balance, or homeostasis. When something happens to disrupt this balance, the ECS works to restore it.
CBD can interact with the ECS. When CBD is introduced into the body, it communicates with the ECS to work its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and neuroprotective properties. (1,2,3)
ECS dysfunction may be linked to a range of chronic health issues.(4) So, scientists are drawn to studying CBD because of its potential balance-restoring benefits.
Perhaps not, but cannabidiol does have some pretty incredible potential when it comes to promoting health, wellness, and potentially longevity.
Quantity of life isn’t the only aspect to consider, though. CBD’s also been shown to improve qualityof life, including health-related QOL.
After all, when your body and mind are balanced and working optimally, isn't that the recipe for a long and healthy life?
Everyone wants a miracle cure for aging. Unfortunately, there's no such thing.
While CBD can't turn back or stall time, it doesn't mean CBD can't help. Here’s how CBD might assist you in your efforts to live well and age gracefully.
Inflammation is a hallmark of many age-related diseases. CBD has been shown to help reduce inflammation.(1)
Some experts believe that targeting inflammation may be an effective anti-aging strategy.(5) So a regular CBD regimen might keep inflammation at bay and boost your overall wellness.
Research is underway to see if CBD could help prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Cannabinoids have shown neuroprotective properties and neurogenesis effects (the creation of new brain cells).(6)
And the antioxidant properties seen in CBD may help to protect the brain from damage caused by free radicals — the unstable molecules that are linked to aging and disease.(7)
Stress is a key culprit in many health issues, including cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, autoimmune disorders, and more.(8)
A 2021 study from Yale University has even found that chronic stress might accelerate one's biological clock — reducing lifespan.(9) The mind-body connection is not to be underestimated!
CBD oil can have a profound stress-reducing effect on the body. Scientists are looking at its therapeutic potential for treating anxiety.(10)
Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It's been shown to increase lifespan, improve mental health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. But it can be difficult to stay active as we age.
CBD might help you stay fit in a number of ways:
As we get older, our skin changes. It becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic. Fine lines and wrinkles appear. But a solid moisturizing routine plus a little CBD might help keep your skin looking its best.
One study found thattopical CBD may help improve skin hydration and elasticity.(12)
And the antioxidant properties of CBD might help to protect the skin from free radicals that can break down the skin's collagen. Thus, potentially reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
While there's no magic bullet for longevity, there are things you can do to encourage a long and healthy life.
Of course, eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly are essential. But so is managing stress. And addingCBD oil to your wellness routine may help facilitate balance in the body and mind.
CBD is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to living a long and healthy life. But as more and more research is done on CBD, it's becoming clear that cannabidiol may have a bigger role to play in our quest for enduring youthfulness.
SOURCES
Atalay, S, et al. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants.https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
Blessing, EM, et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
Iuvone, T, et al. (2004). Neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component from Cannabis sativa, on beta-amyloid-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Journal of neurochemistry.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2003.02327.x
Russo, EB. (2016). Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes. Cannabis and cannabinoid research.https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0009
Neves, J, et al. (2020). Regulation of inflammation as an anti-aging intervention. The FEBS journal.https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.15061
Mueller, A, et al. (2020). Use of Cannabis for Agitation in Patients With Dementia. The Senior care pharmacist.https://doi.org/10.4140/TCP.n.2020.312
Fernández-Ruiz, J, et al. (2013). Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid?. British journal of clinical pharmacology.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04341.x
Mariotti, A. (2015). The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication. Future science OA.https://doi.org/10.4155/fso.15.21
Harvanek, Z, et al. (2021). Psychological and biological resilience modulates the effects of stress on epigenetic aging. Translational Psychiatry.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-021-01735-7
Khan, R, et al. (2020). The therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health: a systematic review. Journal of Cannabis Research.https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-019-0012-y
Burgess, L. (2022). Can CBD Oil relieve arthritis pain? Medical News Today.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319796
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