If you care about wellness, you’ve been “listening to your gut” more these days. The news is humming with stories about how the colony of organisms in your gut plays a starring role in mind/body health.
People are stocking up on kombucha, drinking kefir, and tossing fiber rich salads with leafy greens.
That’s why people are stocking up on kombucha, drinking kefir, and tossing fiber-rich salads with leafy greens. The latest research shows that another key ingredient in gut health is CBD. CBD is like a conductor that orchestrates a healthy balance in the gut.
The Gut’s Role in a Healthy You
Why is the gut so important to body health? Scientists are learning more about the gut and the microorganisms in our bodies, although it’s still considered “as mysterious as the Milky Way” to some — and vast.
You have about 100 trillion bacteria in your digestive system. This rich colony of organisms is known as your microbiome.
Scientists are learning that your microbiome — as unique as a fingerprint — can affect health conditions ranging from heart disease to arthritis. And new research shows that mood and mental health are also greatly affected by the gut.
CBD and the Microbiome
That huge collection of microorganisms in your body is there for a reason. It protects against infection and helps the body absorb nutrients. But scientists are now realizing that gut health is a key player in preventing disease and boosting mental health.
The mind-body connection starts with the fact that 90% of serotonin, which regulates mood, is made in the digestive tract. Serotonin is the main hormone that keeps your mood stable and brings a glow of happiness and well-being.
It also has a huge impact on the entire body, helping cells to communicate and aiding in digestion, sleeping, and eating.
Because of this, gut microbes play a key role in shaping the entire nervous system. There is a strong connection between the body’s microbiome and other key systems, scientists have found.
So, what role does CBD play in this intricate dance?
The latest thinking is that the gut and brain communicate with each other, possibly through the vagus nerve, and through the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS regulates everything from sleep to mood. CBD binds to receptors in the ECS in a powerful way. CBD helps bring harmony to keep the ECS in balance.
That means CBD also helps your gut stay healthy.
CBD can play a helpful role in the so-called “gut-brain axis” that includes the digestive, immune, and central nervous systems. CBD is believed to keep hormones like serotonin in balance and reduce harmful inflammation. You can read studies about this here and here.
Care and Feeding of the Microbiome
Factors like your age, diet, and medications can affect your microbiome. It’s a wise investment to feed the good bacteria in your gut because a happy gut fosters a happy, healthy life.
Eating more fermented foods- Bacteria thrive on fiber and a varied diet. Our bodies have evolved to use fermented foods to strengthen good bacteria.
Not all fermented foods are created equal, however. Only those fermented using natural processes and containing probiotics do the trick. These include:
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+ Yogurt
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+ Kefir
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+ Kimchi
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+ Miso
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+ Sauerkraut
Foods pickled with vinegar don’t contain the needed probiotics. Look for the words “naturally fermented” on the label.
Using probiotic supplements- Probiotics can boost healthy bacteria in the gut. Supplements with a range of bacteria bring the best results. The highest quality probiotics contain live bacteria that need to be refrigerated.
Eating prebiotic foods- People often take probiotics but forget that these helpful bacteria need something to feed on. The goal is to have an ongoing colony of good bacteria in the gut. Try these prebiotic foods which keep the good bacteria thriving:
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+ Oats
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+ Asparagus
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+ Leeks
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+ Garlic
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+ Bananas
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+ Onions
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+ Apples
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+ Flaxseed
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+ Cocoa
CBD is an excellent addition to this health regimen. Our bodies are subjected to stressors in modern life, from poor diet to a sedentary lifestyle. CBD helps the gut do its job to maintain health and ward off disease.
An Ongoing Story
Scientists keep discovering new ways that gut health plays a role in overall health. For instance, a Caltech study found that altered levels of serotonin produced in the gut are linked to irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Two studies from the Mayo Clinic suggest that those with a helpful gut bacterium had less severe symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Another study produced some evidence that the bacterium Lactobacillus johnsonii may protect against some cancers.
Harmful bacteria in the gut might lead to plaque in the arteries, while good bacteria may boost the immune system to ward disease, scientists are finding.
At CBD Remedies, we care about the whole body. Take time to explore our many forms of CBD to help with gut health and overall wellness. And check out our blog on 14 Easy Ways to Be Healthy along the way. It’s an investment that will pay big health dividends for many years to come.
