Everyone’s talking about CBD, it’s the new trendy buzzword in the health & wellness Industry. If you type “buy CBD near me” in the browser, your screen will get flooded with
Product offerings like gummies, oils, salves, and more. The demand for CBD products
Is so high that there are now more than two thousand cannabinoid brands in the US alone.
All the hype around this naturally occurring plant compound has enough backing in terms
Of lab reports and anecdotal reports from users all across the globe. People mainly use it
as a short solution for their anxiety, pain, stress, appetite, and sleep troubles.
Some rub it on their skin to soothe itchy skin while others gulp it down in the form of gummies before bed to feel rejuvenated the next day. Lately, there’s been a growing interest in its potential for improving cardiovascular health and saving the heart from diseases.
Is it true though? What’s the science behind it? Or is it just another marketing gimmick? Let’s find out.
What is CBD? What is it used for?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s a plant compound found in cannabis plants. Just like CBD, there are more than 110+ compounds in cannabis plants, however, to date, CBD remains the most widely used and studied one. It’s non-psychoactive and has a very good safety profile when used in moderation.
CBD is mainly known for its strong anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective properties. In combination with terpenes and phytonutrients found in hemp extract, it restores the cannabinoid balance in the body and improves its overall functioning.
It works on the Endocannabinoid system, which is a complex cell signaling network found in all mammals. That’s why it’s also effective for cats and dogs, and you can easily shop for pet CBD products for your furry friends.
From the cannabis sativa plants, only industrial hemp plants are used to make commercially sold CBD products as hemp has only trace amounts of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC. CBD products can not have more than 0.3% THC in them. In some places you can buy high THC content CBD products but only with a medical marijuana card.
CBD has also shown potential in the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ADHD, PTSD, depression, insomnia, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and many other such severe health conditions. However, regular people just use it to wind down, relax, and manage their pain and anxiety.
The science behind CBD and Heart Health
Yes, some experts believe that due to its strong anti-inflammatory effects, CBD can be effective in keeping your heart safe from several diseases. Inflammation is a major cause of certain conditions like high blood pressure, strokes, and coronary heart diseases, and regular CBD use may help with it.
Some studies show that CBD has the potential to keep the heart safe from damage caused by diabetes and heart attacks. However, the test subjects for these studies were rats and mice, not humans. Since the working mechanism is almost similar, some experts find CBD promising for human heart health as well.
More research with a mix of both and humans is now happening on a large scale to understand CBD’s full potential in keeping the heart safe from diseases, but we’ll have to wait for some time to get the full picture.
The study mentioned above, was done in 2022 at the Institute of Obesity Research, and found that CBD use improved overall heart function, and decreased the risk of fibrosis and hypertrophy. So yeah, CBD does seem promising for heart health as of now, and soon more wide-scale studies may further solidify this.
What’s the best way to use CBD?
The best way can differ from one individual to another based on their body chemistry, tolerance, use case, expectations, and metabolism. If you want to experience CBD’s healing effects quickly, then oils and tinctures can be a good choice.
You can put a few drops under your tongue, hold it for 10 seconds, and voila it will dissolve in your blood streams. The calming effects will start kicking in after 15-20 minutes. But, the taste of CBD oil is a bit odd, and brands rarely give flavored options.
In that case, your CBD gummies can be a good choice. They come in delicious mouth-watering flavors and can be a good addition to your pre-bed wellness routine. Do note that gummies take an hour or two, so time your dosage accordingly.
If you want a more localized effect, like relief from sore leg muscles after a heavy squat session at the gym, then CBD topicals can be a good choice. Just rub some on painful muscle, rub around a little, and voila soon your pain and inflammation levels will dial down.
Is it safe to use CBD every day?
Yes, CBD is safe for daily use as long as you buy it from reputed sources and take it in moderation. As a beginner, you must not exceed 10-15mg CBD per day initially. Taking too much in one go can cause some slight complications like headaches, stomach issues, dehydration, and fatigue.
Though these effects usually go away in a few hours for most people, increasing water intake and timing your dosage with food also helps. Plus, there’s no addiction or cravings as it’s completely non-intoxicating. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid it because there are not enough studies yet to confirm how CBD affects a developing child.
The Final Note
To sum it up, CBD can be good for heart diseases which are caused by inflammation and cell damage. CBD has strong anti-inflammatory effects, and in some initial studies done on mice, it prevented the heart cells from expanding which led to better overall functioning.
Researchers found this promising, and more research is happening now in this involving both humans and animals. However, if you already have a heart disease, then it’s best to first get in touch with your doctor because CBD may interact with some of your ongoing medications.
If your use case is just relaxation and pain relief, then yes, CBD gummies can be the perfect thing for you. Just make sure to buy them only through reputed sites like Colorado Botanicals.
