Why is GUT Health Important?

The gut is responsible for several vital functions. Keeping it healthy also means maintaining balance throughout the entire body.

See, the gut is part of a larger environment called the microbiome. Think of it as a busy metropolis for the trillions of organisms that exist within our bodies. We’re talking about bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi.

Now, when you hear about these four types of microbes (otherwise known as the microbiota), you may automatically associate them with harmful diseases. That isn’t always the case.

In a healthy body, there is a harmonious relationship^[1] between the symbiotic (beneficial) and pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes. They can coexist with no issues whatsoever. But, as soon as a disturbance hits—whether in the form of a disease, poor diet, or certain medication—that’s when the body becomes more prone to illness.

We also mentioned a correlation between gut health and brain function. That’s because the two are connected by loads of neurons and nerves. The microbiome also controls the production of neurotransmitters^.

The link between your GUT and the Endocannabinoid System

Before we can adequately discuss CBD’s potential effect on gastrointestinal health, we need to examine the endocannabinoid system.

The ECS is made up of cell receptor sites that are scattered throughout the body. The system passes through several vital regions, including both the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as the immune system. And, given its wide reach, it deals with important functions like sleep, mood, memory, immune response, reproduction, appetite, and fertility.

The ECS has two primary receptors: CB1 and CB2. The former is largely situated on nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, whereas the latter are embedded mostly within immune tissues.

There’s also a potential bridge between the ECS and the microbiome concerning mood disorders.

Which products should I be using to Optimize my GUT Health?

Balancing GUT Health with the Help of CBD

As we’ve learned, gut health is essential to overall health. To keep illness at bay, and generally promote a healthy gut, the endocannabinoid system appears a viable target. While few direct conclusions can be made regarding CBD’s effects on gut health specifically, its good safety profile, accessibility, and non-toxic nature have made it a key part of numerous related studies.

Given the complexity of gastrointestinal health, it would be best to keep yourself in top shape, both physically and mentally, to keep things running smoothly. If you feel CBD helps you to achieve that, go ahead and use it to your advantage!