Ep. 55: Cannabis for Gut Health

The human body is an amazing physiological machine. The old adage, “you are what you eat,” has proven time and again to be true, as our body takes what we ingest and turns it into energy and nutrients, while protecting us against harmful bacteria and supporting our nervous system.  

There is increasing evidence that our body’s gut microbiota - bacteria, fungus, and other intestinal microbes - have a beneficial symbiotic relationship to support our metabolism and regulate inflammation in not only the gut but in other organs such as the brain. When the human body undergoes alterations in gut health due to factors such as stress, nutrition, environmental factors, and pharmaceuticals, it responds through the gut by changing the body’s metabolism as it increases its inflammatory response. These changes also affect our immune health, as chronic inflammation can trigger depletion of immune cells, increasing the risk of infection. 

In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we consider the major role that the endocannabinoid system plays in not only digestive health but also in maintaining homeostasis by interacting with the gut microbiota. In other words, we need a healthy endocannabinoid system to maintain gut health, and research has indicated that cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, are major players in regulating the gut microbiome itself.  It seems that individuals who use cannabis are also supporting their gut health as it protects against both inflammatory and immune disorders as well as helping to repair damage done by these conditions. 

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