According to statistics, the USA’s CBD industry realized USD 1.6 billion in sales revenue in 2021. The cannabinoid’s apparent popularity is due to its therapeutics effects that improve various health aspects, including physical health.
Physical health is a wellness dimension focusing on optimum body processes and functioning. Having optimum physical health means performing your daily activities without hindrances like diseases and their symptoms and risk factors.
Your lifestyle affects your physical health substantially, necessitating adopting healthy lifestyle habits and remedies. CBD is one such remedy, and adding it to your daily routines can improve your physical health as follows:
1. CBD Provides Pain Relief
Physical pain is arguably the most disruptive factor to physical health, impairing movement and hampering productivity. According to one research study, chronic pain reduces productivity by 2.4 hours to 9.8 hours among adults.
Fortunately, CBD is a potent analgesic, helping alleviate different types of pain and improving individuals’ quality of life. CBD for pain relief is available in multiple forms but Delta-8 THC is fast-acting and has the highest bioavailability. You can learn more info on delta 10 and delta 8 so that you can know more about their uses for pain relief.
Regardless of the product you choose, the cannabinoid’s mechanism of action entails communicating with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is pivotal to physical health as it modulates almost all body systems, including the pain pathway.
The ECS features receptors (CB2 receptors) scattered throughout the peripheral nervous system, which is part of the pain signaling pathway. CBD’s analgesic effect entails communicating with CB2 receptors, causing the latter to suppress the production of cytokines that amplify pain signals.
2. Stress and Anxiety Relief
Although stress and anxiety disorders fall under the mental health dimension, they directly impact physical health. Stress is the body’s innate response to potentially harmful stimuli and the pressures of everyday life. While regulated stress helps keep individuals safe and motivated, chronic stress is detrimental to physical health.
Chronic stress compromises the immune system, causing frequent microbe infections that develop into various diseases., Elevated stress levels also trigger the overproduction of cortisol, which causes elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Consequently, stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, heart arrhythmia, and peripheral arterial disease.
CBD provides stress and anxiety relief, reducing the risk of the above physical health conditions. The ECS also regulates mood by modulating hormone production; hence, CBD activates the ECS’s CB1 receptors, increasing serotonin (happy hormone) production. An elevated serotonin concentration is inversely proportional to cortisol levels, and lower cortisol levels translate to lower stress levels.Image Source: Unsplash.com
3. Improves Sleep Quality
Besides pain and mood, the ECS also modulates sleep. Sleep is crucial to your physical health because it facilitates your body’s rejuvenation process.
During sleep, multiple body functions heighten to bring your body to a homeostatic state where all body functions are at optimum level. Your body releases proteins like growth hormones that facilitate muscle and tissue repair and healing, for starters.
The body also produces cytokines, helping your body recover from everyday trauma. The anti-inflammation cytokine activity also helps improve your immune system’s performance. Such interventions help lower your risk of health conditions like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which may occur due to sleep deprivation.
Fortunately, CBD interacts with ECS receptors, lowering cortisol levels and triggering a sedative effect. The cannabinoid tackles sleep issues around short sleep duration and restless sleep, helping you feel rejuvenated and stay healthy.
4. It has An Anti-inflammatory Effect
Inflammation is part of the body’s immune response in fighting disease, pathogens, foreign bodies and may even facilitate healing. While acute inflammation is short-term, occurring while the body fights infection, some people may experience chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is long-term and often alters the body’s function, leading to inflammatory diseases. These diseases may occur due to autoimmune factors whereby the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells, like cancer and type 1 diabetes. Such diseases may also occur due to lifestyle issues like poor diet and drug indulgence.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation symptoms. According to one study, CBD reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production, reducing inflammation severity. While the cannabinoid cannot reverse chronic inflammation, it can help manage chronic inflammation symptoms.
5. It Is An Antioxidant
Oxidative stress is pretty similar to inflammation in that it also causes cell and tissue damage. Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are crucial in human biology, facilitating energy production. But they release free radicals that attach to healthy cells, causing oxidative damage.
Fortunately, CBD complements antioxidant enzymes in preventing free radical accumulation. It binds to free radicals, neutralizing them to a stable, non-reactive form. Secondly, it also breaks radical chain reactions that are typically repetitive, causing free radical overproduction.
6. It Enhances Post-Workout Recovery
According to one observational research review, physical inactivity is a risk factor for heart disease and metabolic disorders like type II diabetes and obesity. However, while physical activity reduces inflammation biomarkers, factors like delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) can make exercising challenging.
Thankfully, CBD’s pain relief and sleep-inducing effects hasten post-workout recovery, making working out easier. Sleep and rest are vital components in realizing full physical exercise benefits.
7. It Enhances Skin Health
The skin may seem cosmetic, yet it plays a vital role in preserving the body’s health. It is the body’s first line of defense, resisting pathogen attacks. The skin’s role in vitamin D synthesis also helps enhance bone health.
CBD possesses antimicrobial properties that enhance the skin’s immune functions. Its anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects also soothe the skin, improving skin health.
Conclusion
Being proactive in preserving your physical health is essential because physical health affects all other wellness dimensions, including mental health. Adding CBD to your daily routine is one proactive step you can take.
References
https://www.statista.com/statistics/760498/total-us-cbd-sales/
https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-and-wellness/eight-dimensions-wellness
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28444208/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11164622/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00568/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1993964/
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/365/3/652
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00124/full
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.103879