A Gutsy Guide to CBD and Probiotics

Food, glorious fooooood!

Be it a dollop of yoghurt on your fruit and nut cereal, a refreshing glass of kombucha, or a kimchi summer salad bowl, these three foods are all natural and super healthy sources of probiotics, which promote a balance of good and bad bacteria in the body.

Did you think the only type of ‘bacteria’ that existed was the bad kind? You thought wrong.

Probiotics are one of the good guys and they give your health and wellbeing a major boost. Striking a balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria is absolutely pivotal for gut health, and CBD oil could drastically improve the level of probiotic absorption. That’s why probiotic and CBD-infused drinks, smoothies, supplements and more are a force to be reckoned with! Find out more about probiotics here.

How to restore balance in the gut

There’s no way to glamourise this bit – some signs of an unhealthy gut include: 

• Acid reflux
• GERD
• Bloated stomach
• Constipation and toilet troubles
• Upset stomach
• Itchy and irritated skin
• Fluctuating weight
• Autoimmune conditions

You can read more about ‘how to tell if your gut is healthy here.’

If you are suffering from any of the above, it might be time to turn and face the music – and stop your stomach turning for that matter.

Put simply – an unhealthy gut could mean that you are depriving your system of certain foods, vitamins or probiotics that it needs to gain strength and stay active. Deficiencies in anything can lead to poor digestion, fatigue and a weakened immune system and it’s first and foremost the responsibility of certain food groups to keep your internal engine running.

However, if you are going to grant food the responsibility of stocking up on and storing what your body is missing, you have to eat it! That’s why vegans and vegetarians are advised to monitor their intake of iron – because the meat that’s off the menu is an essential source of it. Think about what gives you that get-up-and-go in the morning – you wouldn’t deprive yourself of your lifestyle, so you need to make sure that you are not short of energy to go out there and keep experiencing it.

Where does the endocannabinoid system (ECS) come into all this?

Turns out that the gut and brain actually communicate with each other, mostly via the crucial highway of the vagus nerve, but also via the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which contains CB1 and CB2 receptors.

At this point we know that the ECS affects the digestive system in the following ways:

• Regulating Digestion
• Modulating Inflammation
• Bridging communication with the brain

So simultaneously giving your gut some TLC through incorporating probiotics into your diet and supporting your ECS through taking CBD could be a profound gateway to healing and finding more balance in body and mind.

Where does CBD come in?

When you take CBD, it works the ECS, and the cannabinoid receptors can assist us in mobility, hunger signalling, inflammation, and stomach permeability.

Clinical studies show that CBD and other cannabinoids seem to reduce temporary gut inflammation, overactive motility, bloating, abdominal discomfort, unsettled tummy, and poor appetite.^12,13,14

Natural plant-derived cannabinoids like CBD strengthen the gut barrier in vitro by reducing gut permeability associated with temporary inflammation.¹¹

 11. Alhamoruni, A., Wright, K., Larvin, M., & O’Sullivan, S. (2012). Cannabinoids mediate opposing effects on inflammation-induced intestinal permeability. British Journal of Pharmacology, 165(8), 2598-2610. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01589.

12. Pagano, E., Capasso, R., Piscitelli, F., Romano, B., Parisi, O. A., Finizio, S., … Borrelli, F. (2016). An Orally Active Cannabis Extract with High Content in Cannabidiol attenuates Chemically-induced Intestinal Inflammation and Hypermotility in the Mouse. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 7. doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00341.

13. Lal S., Prasad, N., Ryan, M., Tangri, S., Silverberg, M.S., Gordon, A., Steinhart, H. (2011). Cannabis use amongst patients with inflammatory bowel disease. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 23(10):891-6. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e328349bb4c.14. Ahmed, W., & Katz, S. (2016). Therapeutic Use of Cannabis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 12(11), 668-679.

What else can I be doing to reduce and prevent inflammation of my gut?

Some of your anti-inflammatory five-a-day fruits and vegetables include:

• Berries
• Cherries
• Apples
• Artichoke
• Avocados
• Dark leafy greens
• Olive oil
• Sweet potatoes
• Nuts
• Walnuts
• Beans
• Whole grains

So, the next time you reach for the grab-bag crisps, why not try crunchy walnuts as a healthier alternative? Or if you’re thinking of burger and chips for tea, why not instead serve sweet potato fries? 

It’s all about that sweet balance…

To sum up, the golden rules of positive gut health are:

1. Eat a balanced diet
2. Monitor your intake of of probiotics and anti-inflammatory ingredients
3. Combine the above with CUBID CBD Peppermint Oil Drops

And voilà! 

Your first brain and second brain should be in sync, your tummy should be flat as a pancake, and you should be ready to take on the week ahead!