CBD is known for its many different benefits for users who struggle with certain conditions and diseases, both physical and mental. While all-natural cannabidiol has shown promise when it comes to helping mitigate unwanted symptoms associated with certain problems like inflammation, joint pain, muscle tension, and so much more, does it show any promising signs when it comes to preventive health care?
The short answer to that is yes!
The future of CBD for preventive care is hopeful and bright. The use of cannabidiol has already demonstrated its usefulness in producing anti-anxiety effects, anti-seizure neuroprotective effects, and anti-inflammatory benefits. (Click to tweet)
These particular effects have paved the road for CBD to proceed as a preventive care option.
RELATED: How CBD Helps to Keep Your Immune System Strong
Let’s take a deeper look into what CBD does and how it can be used as preventive care for certain conditions and diseases.
Table of Contents:
1. Cannabidiol for Preventive Care
1.1 Anti-Inflammatory
1.2 Cardiac and Blood Pressure Health
1.3 Anxiety and Stress Relief
1.4 Physical Pain Reduction
1.5 Brain and Nervous System Benefits
2. CBD Disease Prevention Properties
2.1 Skin Disease and Deterioration
2.2 Obesity and Diabetes
2.3 Cardiovascular Disease
3. The Endocannabinoid System
3.1 What CBD Does to the ECS
4. How to Use CBD for Preventive Care
5. Final Thoughts on CBD for Preventive Health
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1. Cannabidiol for Preventive Care
There are five areas in which CBD can be used as a potential option for preventive care: CBD is anti-inflammatory, boosts cardiac and blood pressure health, reduces anxiety and stress, decreases physical pain, and helps maintain brain and nervous system health. (Click to tweet)
Let’s explore each of those in a bit more detail.
1.1 Anti-Inflammatory
First, CBD is favored for its anti-inflammatory benefits, even being effective in modest doses. Since CBD can reduce inflammation, it leads many individuals to believe it may also be good for inflammatory pain, which it can. Still, it’s important to note that it has much wider potential than inflammatory pain alone.
For example, CBD can improve digestive or gut health issues that possess an inflammatory component. The dreaded gastrointestinal bloating and discomfort after a meal is also a type of inflammation that CBD can help with.
Inflammation is also considered to be a factor in a compromised immune system, so experiencing colds and illness more often than usual might be another inflammatory area where CBD can help.
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1.2 Cardiac and Blood Pressure Health
Anti-inflammatory effects on the body's blood vessels and nerves may also have cardiac and nervous system benefits. CBD may prevent the cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels from becoming “sticky.” As a result, this allows your blood to flow more freely. Free-flowing blood has a major positive impact in preventing hypertension and atherosclerotic plaque.
One study suggested that a single dose of CBD reduced blood pressure in healthy individuals. Cannabidiol is also thought to be cardioprotective and may possess the potential to prevent tissue damage caused when blood supply returns to an area of tissue after lack of oxygen during a cardiac event, also called reperfusion. The bonus of CBD reducing symptoms of anxiety may also be somewhat helpful in preventing a heart attack. [1]
RELATED: Can CBD Boost Heart Health and Reduce Heart Disease?
1.3 Anxiety and Stress Relief
Another area in which CBD can be used as a preventative measure is reduced anxiety and stress. Trials have already proven CBD’s ability to reduce anxiety, and it is one of the most common reasons individuals use cannabidiol. [2]
It gets a little more complicated for people with stress, depending on whether you are just burned out and agitated or whether you are exhausted from lack of sleep. CBD produces a relaxing response in the body, but some users report that it can be very mildly sedating.
Finding the right dose for stress or exhaustion is key. Certain doses might be a little too relaxing for someone who is already fighting off fatigue and sluggishness. In this case, a user may find it necessary to take small doses throughout the day, or if they are struggling with poor sleep habits, before bed.
RELATED: This Is How CBD Helps You Manage Your Stress
1.4 Physical Pain Reduction
Another way CBD can be used as preventive care is by alleviating physical pain. If you have chronic pain or normal discomfort associated with your joints or muscles, cannabidiol can be used daily to help fight inflammation and decrease pain. This is a common reason people use CBD.
1.5 Brain and Nervous System Benefits
The last area out of the five is CBD’s ability to maintain brain and nervous system health. CBD is known for being an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for the nervous system. The effects of cannabidiol on brain trauma have only been conducted in animal studies; however, these studies do show that there is reason to believe that it may have some degree of a neuroprotective effect.
CBD has also shown promise in helping nervous issues such as psychosis in patients with Alzheimer's or Parkinson’s disease, but we do not know if it can also repair the brain. Clinical studies have yet to be done, although there are many reports of CBD’s effectiveness as a neuroprotectant.
RELATED: CBD & Alzheimer's: Is CBD a Better and Safer Option?
2. CBD Disease Prevention Properties
For many years now, researchers and physicians have been encouraging healthy individuals to consider CBD as a simple daily supplement. Even if they aren’t suffering from a medical ailment, they can use it to help improve their long-term health. (Click to tweet)
CBD has shown potential in the following:
- Controlling IBS symptoms
- Managing nausea
- Controlling pain
- Reducing anxiety
- Reducing hypertension
- Preventing hypertension
- Preventing seizure in epilepsy
- Controlling weight gain and weight loss
Now:
There are reasons to think the compound also has potential disease-prevention abilities. Let’s take a look at whether CBD can be used as a preventative remedy to help lower the risk of several diseases.
2.1 Skin Disease and Deterioration
Cannabidiol’s antioxidant properties are the reason some find success using it for long-term skin health. You can find high-quality CBD-infused skincare products for your face and body and other topicals such as balms, lotions, creams, serums, and salves.
The very top layer of our skin is a target for free-radical accumulation; powerful antioxidants may be able to help the skin cells function efficiently and healthily. CBD may be the perfect choice to boost your skincare routine. Some compare CBD’s potent antioxidant properties to be similar to those of vitamin C or E.
One study from 2019 suggests that cannabidiol may be useful for treating common symptoms of skin conditions, such as dryness and itching. The anti-inflammatory properties may also be particularly useful for mitigating symptoms of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. CBD also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties, which may be useful for treating infections on the skin. [3]
RELATED: Suffering from Eczema? CBD Oil Could Be Your New Best Friend
2.2 Obesity and Diabetes
BMI, or body mass index, is a number that represents a ratio of an individual's weight and height. A high BMI is typically associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and also the chance of developing cardiovascular disorders.
A study from 2011 showed that in two separate surveys, the rate of obesity is around 33% less common in hemp CBD users than non-hemp users. This leads us to believe that CBD may be able to produce those same results. [4]
RELATED: What Does CBD Do to the Body?
2.3 Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. It accounts for more than one in four deaths every single day. Studies suggest that frequent CBD users have significantly higher levels of good cholesterol and noticeably lower levels of bad cholesterol.
It’s no secret that the buildup of cholesterol, fat, and other substances in the arterial walls (atherosclerosis) is a result of lifestyle and is a condition that dramatically increases the risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play an important role in the development and prevention of atherosclerosis.
RELATED: The Promising Effects of Cannabidiol in Stroke Recovery
This leads us to our next topic, the endocannabinoid system. What happens when the ECS isn’t functioning properly? Let’s find out.
3. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) consists of cannabinoid receptors, cannabinoids, and enzymes that allow the whole system to function properly. This complex system is a part of the regulatory system in the body, and it is as important as your digestive and nervous systems.
While research is ongoing regarding the ECS and its precise functions, we know it regulates various bodily functions such as:
- Appetite
- Memory
- Mood
- Sleep
- Liver function
- Reproductive system function
- Skin and nerve function
- Stress levels
These functions as a whole contribute to the stability of your body's environment and well-being. If you feel pain due to an injury or a fever, it will throw off your body’s homeostasis or balance. Your ECS will then start working to help your body return to its ideal operating state.
The transmitters throughout your body can fluctuate in quantity, which means that the available receptors in your body would also fluctuate, either increasing or decreasing in quantity. This issue can limit your body’s natural ability to find balance, resulting in several possible problems, such as stress, insomnia, or illness.
3.1 What CBD Does to the ECS
What happens when the endocannabinoid system can’t seem to balance itself? Well, that’s where CBD comes in. The body doesn’t always produce enough cannabinoids, and as a result, our cells are not regulated and the body falls into unbalance, allowing diseases to occur.
This is where it gets more interesting:
Supplementing the body with cannabinoids such as CBD may prove to be effective in alleviating this deficiency. The ECS allows cannabidiol to help treat a wide range of symptoms.
Depending on which endocannabinoid binds to which receptor, that determines the effect it has on an individual. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t bind directly to CB1 or CB2 receptors. While some cannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors, CBD interacts indirectly with the receptors. When CBD interacts with nearby endocannabinoid receptors, it signals to the ECS that it needs to start working.
4. How to Use CBD for Preventive Care
There is a multitude of different options on the market when it comes to CBD products. The best advice would be to experiment and find out for yourself which product works best for your needs.
RELATED: How to Choose CBD Oil Products That Are Just Right for You
You’ll probably come across everything such as:
- Edibles like CBD-infused gummies,
- Oils,
- Tinctures,
- Capsules, and
- Topicals like balms and skincare products.
Even specialty products exist that claim they are ideal for certain ailments such as diabetes or insomnia and restlessness.
For example, our Advanced Sleep Formula with CBD was created to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Five powerful ingredients plus cannabidiol are blended to create this rest-promoting formula. (Click to tweet)
RELATED: Why New Liposomal Sleep Formula Is the Best Natural Sleep Aid
The first thing to keep in mind is that you want to purchase your CBD products from a reputable source, a company that cares about its customers' health and satisfaction. Not all CBD is created equally, and not all CBD companies are the same. Some put their products' quality and customers' happiness as a priority, while others may add unhealthy or even unsafe ingredients in their cannabidiol products.
Once you find a trusted CBD seller, try out a few different products and see what works best for you. Some people who don’t want to mess with dosage from a dropper from a tincture bottle will opt for capsules. Capsules are an easy, discreet, and simple way to take your dose of CBD. Our CBD capsules offer a precise dose of 15mg each. This option is also ideal for individuals who don’t like the taste of CBD oil or who need to take it on the go.
5. Final Thoughts on CBD for Preventive Health
CBD has the potential to be beneficial for several health conditions as a preventative measure. The abilities of CBD to improve overall health and well-being are numerous, and no matter the reason, CBD is an excellent addition to your daily preventive care routine. (Click to tweet)
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