Top 10 Benefits of Using CBD as Preventative Care
The world of CBD is continually growing in popularity, offering consumers new and interesting methods of application or ingestion. But trendiness aside, one of the strongest voices behind the din of CBD’s popularity is that of the medical community, all but solidifying its reputation as a safe substance. Although still very much in its infancy, the medical prospects of CBD are promising for what seems like many conditions.
CBD has been studied in terms of its potential abilities to treat the symptoms of ailments that already exist within the body, such as helping reduce the rate and severity of epileptic seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome, and has proven to help treat pain associated with arthritis. But what about using CBD as a preventative measure against developing certain conditions in the first place?
The importance of preventative care cannot be overstated. Taking every possible measure to reduce our risk of developing harmful or painful conditions later in life is something we can all echo the necessity for, if not for ourselves then our loved ones. And, at the forefront of the medical conversations around preventative care is that cannabinoid we’ve come to recognize so well: CBD. And, with no surprise, preliminary studies have been just as promising. Now, with the advent of products that have been tested to impeccable standards, CBD is showing an amazing amount of promise in this area.
You see, the endocannabinoid system in which CBD and a plethora of other compounds act upon, works like a bridge over usually troubled water, connecting the body and the mind. Of course, the most commonly known endocannabinoid is THC, and although CBD and THC share many similarities, they are also very distinct from one another. Endocannabinoids act upon our immune and nervous systems, along with the organs of the body, forging connections between the two. And the more that this is studied, the more the connection between brain activity and physical health will come to light.
But in the meantime, what has research already revealed about CBD as preventative and what are the top ten benefits of using CBD as preventative care? By answering these questions, we can see why this little compound so worth paying attention to.
Reduced Risk of Inflammation:
Inflammation, as many of us are aware, can be a symptom of many different ailments and diseases on its own, such as neurological disorders or food sensitivity. But when inflammation becomes chronic, or prolonged, inflammation can become a medical condition in its own right, leading to the body’s inability to regulate its inflammation system, and has been linked to muscle loss and obesity. As the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate this system, when an outer source of cannabinoids presents itself like CBD, it could help reduce these risks.
Reduced Risk of Obesity:
CBD has been shown to convert white, bad fat into weight-reducing brown fat. During this changing process, CBD is changing how these cells act within our bodies. As brown fat cells are a more ‘active’ form of fat, they burn off more energy as heat. In essence, brown fat cells burn calories, which is necessary for weight loss. And, moreover, CBD has been shown to reduce appetite as well! So, by taking CBD, you could be preventing your risk of obesity.
Reduced Risk of Diabetes:
There have been studies linking CBD and insulin regulation throughout the body and how this could potentially be used to help fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes. Excessive amounts of insulin promote sugars to be stored within our bodies as fat and this can cause weight gain, obesity, and eventually diabetes. As mentioned, CBD has been shown to convert bad fat into weight-reducing brown fat, which also helps with normal insulin production and healthy sugar metabolism.
Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular disease:
Due to its anti inflammatory and antioxidative effects, taking CBD preventatively may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure and potentially even strokes. One study found that current CBD users had higher blood levels of good cholesterol as compared with non users, and many more have identified that CBD can help reduce the inflammation and cell death linked to heart disease. CBD acts to increase blood flow to the heart by opening up arteries, potentially preventing blood clots and reducing blood pressure. Moreover, antioxidant-rich diets have been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well, and CBD is an excellent source of antioxidants.
Reduced Risk of Brain Degeneration:
Cannabinoids like CBD are neuroprotective and help protect, maintain, and regulate the nerves in our brain. Not only has CBD been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain, but also to remove damaged brain cells. Very simply, CBD helps keep our brains healthy on a day to day basis, preventing the damage that bombard it and eventually leads to further disease.
Reduced Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease:
Extra glutamate, or the compound that stimulates the nerves in our brains to fire, can cause cells to become over-stimulated. This overstimulation can eventually cause damage and cell death, and is a leading contributor to neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, MS, epilepsy, and ALS. Because of CBD’s neuroprotective properties, it could help reduce or prevent the damage done by these diseases, and even promote cells to heal and repair the damage that has already been done while stimulating new nerve cells.
Reduced Risk of Cancer:
This side of CBD’s preventative power comes back to the therapeutic potential of antioxidants. Antioxidants are recognized as a therapeutic measure that helps to prevent the types of free radical damage that have been linked to cancer, and the development of cancer. And, as CBD contains more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E, it is suffice to assume that using CBD in a supplementary form could help prevent cancer cells from forming in the body.
What’s more, the CBD market is riding this wave of cancer prevention in a subtle way by offering CBD dry vaping devices, or CBD concentrate vapes, designed in a way to circumvent the harmful effects of smoking, paving the way to a more medically oriented image of CBD overall.
Reduced risk of age related bone disease:
CBD has been shown to help protect the skeleton against age-related bone loss by inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation, as CBD and cannabinoids more generally can help in the process of bone metabolism. CBD shows promise in blocking an enzyme that destroys bone building compounds that are present in diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, where the body does not create new bone cells.
Reduced Risk of Skin Cancer:
Applied topically, CBD interacts with the skin (which has a high concentration of CB2 receptors) and its antioxidative powers help to repair damage caused by UV rays or pollution. If CBD can help repair the damage caused by UV rays and pollution, it can be used as a preventative measure against skin cancer and other diseases that could result from damaged skin.
Reduced Risk of Effects of Aging:
Again, if applied topically, CBD has antioxidant properties which can help to repair the visible signs of aging skin, like wrinkles and dullness. But, moreover, topically applied CBD can be used in a preventative way to lessen the impact of skin damage before it takes effect.
Now that we have explored some of the ways CBD can be used in a preventative manner, hopefully the possibilities of this compound have become apparent. As with any supplement, it is important to speak to a healthcare professional for their advice for what might be best for you. But, with further studies CBD’s preventative properties will only shine brighter, helping all of us become healthier, and happier.