Using CBD as a Preventative Medicine

CBD hemp oil is gaining in popularity in the medical world thanks to its ability to alleviate negative symptoms associated with a myriad of medical conditions that patients experience. From treating seizures to reducing chronic pain to improving heart health, CBD is becoming a phenomenon due to its healing properties. 

Over recent years, researchers have been uncovering the potential for cannabidiol to treat a number of ailments with increasing popularity and support for continued research on the benefits of CBD to be discovered.

But in addition to CBD's ability to treat ailments, there is also mounting evidence to suggest that it might have preventative capabilities and may be able to stop disease from progressing in the first place. Not only can the effects of cannabidiol be implemented as treatment for a medical issue, it can also be incorporated into daily regimens as a preventative medicine. 

So, how can CBD be used as a preventative measure to impede the development of disease and medical ailments?

Reduce the Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases 

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease involve the breakdown or death of neurons in the brain. When this happens, the brain is no longer fully capable of properly communicating with the rest of the body. These ailments can be extremely debilitating and can shorten a patient's lifespan.

CBD has been shown to be a neuroprotectant by strengthening the protective tissues that impede degenerative attacks on neurons in the brain. Studies suggest that taking CBD oil on a daily basis can result in better neuron health and a reduction in the possibility of neuron degeneration.

Reduce the Risk of Diabetes  

Regular use of CBD oil products can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels as well as fasting insulin levels in the blood, which can reduce the onset of diabetes. Studies have shown that the use of CBD oil can not only lower fasting insulin levels, but also increase healthy cholesterol (HDL) and lower levels of insulin resistance, which can protect against the disease.

The ability for CBD oil to reduce the risk of diabetes also stems from its ability to help maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is directly linked to the onset of diabetes, so controlling body weight is typically seen as an important preventative measure.

A high Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the total percentage of fat in the body, has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing diabetes. Studies have shown that regular CBD use can help to reduce the risk of obesity and lower BMI. Regular CBD users tend to have a lower BMI and a smaller waist circumference, both of which are risk factors for diabetes.  

In fact, it has been estimated that obesity rates among cannabis users are approximately one-third lower compared to non-cannabis users. Other studies have shown that CBD can reduce the prevalence of diabetes in lab rats. Further, it has also been discovered that CBD can help the body convert white fat into fat-burning brown fat, which helps to stimulate the natural production of insulin and breakdown of sugar.

Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the US, causing approximately one-quarter of all deaths every year. CBD may be able to serve as a preventative medicine to curb the onset of cardiovascular disease and improve overall heart health.

For starters, CBD may help to the relax the arterial walls of the heart, which reduces tension in the blood vessels and can help reduce the work that the heart must do to pump blood. The cannabinoids also protect the heart against cardiomyopathy, which causes hardening and thickening of the arterial walls and limits blood flow.

CBD has also been shown to reduce plaque in the arterial walls, which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood properly. Studies have also shown that CBD is an effective agent against inflammation, which is linked to heart disease. CBD can stop the production of endotoxins, which are pro-inflammatory cytokines that can cause heart conditions to worsen.  

The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD and its antioxidant effects can protect the heart against tissue damage.

Reduce Risk of Cancer

Perhaps one of the most promising ways that CBD can be used as a preventative measure is in the hindrance of the development or growth of cancer. Recent studies suggest that CBD can slow the growth or even cause the death of specific types of cancer cells.

For instance, one study showed that animals given pure CBD had a much lower risk of developing colon cancer, while another study found that CBD was able to reduce the incidence of adenoma tumors. Yet another study found that cannabidiol users had a much lower rate of bladder cancer compared to those normal rates.

Prevents Bone Degeneration

Weakening bones is typically a symptom that is related to aging. In order to ensure adequate bone strength, new bone material must constantly replace old tissue over time. CBD has been shown to improve bone metabolism and therefore help to replace old tissue with new tissue at a healthy rate, which is important for maintaining strong bones.

Cannabinoid receptors are able to do this by blocking an enzyme that hinders bone-developing compounds, thereby lowering the risk of bone degeneration and disease such as osteoporosis.

Many people are already using the effects of CBD to treat a wide array of ailments to seek relief from their medical issues. Yet CBD can be much more than just a treatment. In addition to reducing the negative side effects of various ailments, CBD products can also be incorporated into a daily regimen in order to achieve and maintain overall health and well-being. By regularly using CBD on a daily basis, it can potentially ward off some of the most severe medical ailments affecting people today. 

Tagged under