CBD and metabolic syndrome: What are its benefits?
What are the benefits of using CBD oil for metabolic syndrome?
CBD can be used to defend against the changes that occur due to metabolic syndrome in three main ways: it protects the liver from fatty liver disease, promotes weight loss by reducing feelings of hunger, and addresses some of the most common side effects of the disease.
The benefits of using CBD oil for metabolic syndrome include:
- Promotes weight loss by reducing appetite
- Protects the liver from damage caused by fatty liver disease
- Improves insulin sensitivity to better regulate blood sugar levels
- Relieves neuropathic pain
- Protects insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas
- Reduces inflammation
1. Protects the liver
One of the driving factors of metabolic syndrome is the accumulation of fat in the liver (fatty liver disease - steatosis), which gradually damages the liver. If the problem persists for too long, scar tissue accumulates, eventually leading to liver failure. CBD can be used to protect against liver damage through its involvement in the endocannabinoid system. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system is involved in protecting the liver from damage. Unfortunately, in fatty liver disease, this system works against the liver instead. Studies suggest that CBD may suppress the effects of the endocannabinoid system in the liver, slowing the progression of the disease.
The benefits of supporting liver function through the endocannabinoid system include:
- Lowering cholesterol levels
- Lowering blood triglyceride levels
- Reducing inflammation
- Improving liver function
- Slowing the progression of the disease
2. May promote weight loss
One of the causes of metabolic syndrome is the intake of more energy than the body needs. This leads to increased weight gain in the form of fat. Reducing food intake is one of the main treatments for metabolic syndrome. CBD offers direct benefits for this by interacting with hormones associated with hunger. CBD can reduce appetite and reduce the number of calories we consume daily. By limiting appetite, we can slow the progression of metabolic syndrome. It reduces the burden on the liver, which is trying to remove excess sugar from the blood.
3. May alleviate common side effects of metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome also affects other organs in the body, especially in the later stages of the disease. Some of the side effects that occur can be mitigated by CBD supplementation.
Here are some examples of related conditions that can be improved with CBD:
- Neuropathic pain
- Diseases of the skin
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Diabetes
- Fatty liver disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Alzheimer's disease
- Arthritis
- Rheumatism
- Kidney disease
- Osteoporosis
What form of CBD to use?
CBD comes in many different forms. There are oils, capsules, edibles, and vaporizing liquids. Virtually all oral forms of CBD will work because they deliver CBD and related cannabinoids into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, they can interact with the brain, pancreas and liver, which is where most of the effects of metabolic syndrome occur. For this reason, we recommend staying away from edibles and using CBD oil, tincture or capsules. This is because most foods are high in sugar, which is the root cause of metabolic syndrome. So if you are taking CBD to improve a disease condition, the last thing you want to do is take CBD in a form that could make the condition worse.
What is the dose of CBD oil for metabolic syndrome?
Determining the dose of CBD can be difficult because the compound affects everyone differently. Some people need a high dose, others need a low dose to achieve the same results. In general, the dose of CBD needed in metabolic syndrome is rather higher. Most of the research on using CBD to control blood sugar and treat fatty liver disease has also used higher doses. We recommend starting with a low strength dose and gradually working up to a high strength dose over the course of a week or two. If no side effects occur, stay with the higher dose.
How long to take CBD for metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a chronic disease. This means that its development takes a long time and we get rid of it for a long time. CBD should therefore be taken on a long-term basis to make the most of the compound's protective effects. Of course, there are other fundamental changes that need to be made in the treatment of metabolic syndrome by adjusting diet and lifestyle. CBD alone will not correct the disease, it will only slow its progression. It is essential that you seek the advice of a doctor and nutritionist or dietician to make the changes necessary to stop metabolic syndrome
You should expect treatment for this condition to take a year or more. It requires a long-term shift in your lifestyle, not a short-term diet or exercise. CBD is simply one of the supplements to this change to make it even more effective.
What are the side effects of CBD?
Although CBD has been proven many times to be highly safe, it is important to know about its potential side effects. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not always work the same for another.
Some of the most common side effects of CBD:
- Appetite suppression
- Diarrhoea
- Sleepiness
- Dry mouth
- Head spinning
- Lower heart rate
- Seating
Tips for making the best use of CBD in metabolic syndrome
1. Be consistent in use
Metabolic syndrome did not appear overnight and will not leave overnight. Use CBD and other treatments consistently for several months.
2. Use only high quality CBD products
CBD is not regulated in most countries. Therefore, there are a lot of low quality products. It is important to avoid them as they may contain ineffective amounts of CBD or contaminants that can make the problem worse.
3. Consult your physician before using CBD
Some medications can interact negatively with CBD, so it's important to check with your doctor before using this supplement - especially if you're taking other medications.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a disease affecting homeostasis (balance). "Homoios" means the same and "stasis" means duration. Homeostasis is therefore a situation where the body works to maintain itself in the same state. This applies to almost all aspects of human functioning, including blood sugar, body temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate and hormone levels. All organ systems have ideal metrics that the body works very hard to maintain.
Our energy metabolism system also has an ideal range. We have specific concentrations of insulin and blood sugar that the body tries to keep at a level. If it gets too low, we faint and can even go into a coma. If it gets too high, it can cause irreversible damage to our heart, lungs, skin and kidneys. Metabolic syndrome is a disease causing an inability to maintain this balance. When this system becomes dysfunctional, we begin to store excess fat around internal organs, such as the liver, in an attempt to maintain stable blood sugar levels by converting it into fat. Metabolic syndrome is a set of related symptoms associated with our metabolic system. The metabolic system is a group of organs that together regulate the body's storage and production of energy. It involves the careful coordination of the digestive tract, pancreas and liver. Other organs (such as the thyroid, adrenal glands and fat cells) are also involved, but these play a minor role.
People with metabolic syndrome experience gradual weight gain in the middle of the body, decreasing energy levels and eventually changes in biochemistry such as blood sugar, blood lipid levels and cholesterol. If this disease lasts too long, it will eventually result in fatty liver and diabetes. To understand how metabolic syndrome works - and how CBD can help with it - we need to look at how energy homeostasis works in the body.
Step 1. Digestive system
The digestive system is the first step in the process of producing energy for the body. When we eat food, it is broken down into sugars, fats, proteins and other nutrients. These nutrients are then moved into the bloodstream.
Step 2. Pancreas
As sugar is absorbed by the digestive system, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Our body tries to maintain blood sugar levels between 4.0 and 5.4 mmol/L. Immediately after eating, blood sugar levels rise sharply as the sugar is absorbed into the blood. The job of insulin is to start moving large amounts of this sugar into the cells where it can be converted into energy. And this is where the problem arises for people with metabolic syndrome.
People with metabolic syndrome often have what is called hyperinsulinaemia - which means 'too much insulin'. This occurs when insulin stops working in the body as it should. The pancreas then has to secrete increasing amounts of insulin into the blood to do the same job. Once insulin stops working to move sugar into the cells, blood sugar levels begin to rise above the ideal range of 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L. When this happens, the liver must intervene. If blood sugar levels rise too high, it becomes toxic, destroying blood cells and damaging the skin, kidneys, cardiovascular system and lungs.
Step 3. Liver
Energy metabolism is also regulated by the liver. It is primarily responsible for controlling fat metabolism, but it also controls blood sugar levels by secreting hormones and storing excess sugar for when we start to run out. When the blood sugar level drops below 4.0 mmol / l, it releases the stored sugar to increase to the ideal range. It also works in converting stored fat into usable energy for the body. The liver is also responsible for lowering blood sugar levels when insulin cannot, for example in metabolic syndrome. The liver does this by converting sugar into fat, which is more stable.
Unfortunately, if this happens too often, fat begins to accumulate inside the liver, leading to a condition known as fatty liver disease. This condition is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome and leads to other problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. In addition, as more fat accumulates in the liver, the body is less able to keep blood sugar levels low, leading to the development of diabetes.
What causes metabolic syndrome?
The main cause of the disease is diet. Consuming a diet high in refined carbohydrates and low in other macronutrients and micronutrients for many years will eventually result in metabolic syndrome. Foods high in refined simple sugars are absorbed very quickly in the digestive tract. This causes a sharp rise in blood sugar levels immediately after eating. This makes us feel full of energy immediately.
The body responds to this increase in blood sugar by releasing large amounts of insulin into the blood. The insulin moves the sugar into the cells and the blood sugar level begins to drop. If there are no complex sugars in our digestive tract to release sugar into the blood, blood sugars drop too quickly and we feel tired. This is why we often feel tired about 30 minutes after eating. The body doesn't like its blood sugar levels to rise and fall so dramatically, preferring to keep a steady level for most of the day. Therefore, the body will make changes to keep blood sugar levels more stable. One way to do this is to hide the insulin receptors in the cells. This means that the insulin we release will have less effect at the next meal. If this situation persists for several years, the body becomes more resistant to insulin and eventually we reach a point where we can no longer rely on insulin to do its job effectively. That's when the symptoms of metabolic syndrome start to appear.
Symptoms of metabolic syndrome:
- Fatigue
- Fat deposition in the abdomen
- Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels)
- Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglyceride levels)
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
- Hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels)
- Insulin resistance
- Reduced immunity
- Flavours for sweet or salty
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Indigestion (diarrhea or constipation)
- Long-term health consequences of metabolic syndrome
- Liver damage (fatty liver disease)
- Obesity
- Inflammation
- Increased risk of diabetes
- High cholesterol and triglyceride levels
What does the research say?
An Australian study of around 1.5 million people aged 18 to 64 years examined the effects of cannabis on mental health. After the study was completed, researchers examined the correlation of the data with the incidence of metabolic syndrome. They found that people who used cannabis had a significantly lower chance of developing metabolic syndrome than non-users. After the study, the researchers concluded, "We found that frequent cannabis users are significantly less likely to meet each of the five criteria for metabolic syndrome than participants who do not use cannabis."
Diet and lifestyle recommendations for metabolic syndrome
As we mentioned earlier, the primary treatment for this disease should be diet and lifestyle modification.
The main dietary and lifestyle adjustments to consider include:
- Eliminate processed foods from your diet (prepared foods, sweets, white bread/pasta, etc.)
- Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days a week (walking, running, weight lifting, etc.)
- Reach your ideal weight (limit calorie intake, exercise, etc.)
- Measure your blood glucose levels regularly
Final verdict: CBD in metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a progressive dysfunction of the metabolic system. As sugar levels rise and fall uncontrollably, the liver struggles to balance it. This results in fat storage in the liver, leading to reduced function of this vital organ. The treatment of metabolic syndrome consists mainly of diet and lifestyle changes (high-fibre, low-sugar diet and regular exercise). CBD is an excellent supplement for fighting this disease, slowing the progression of the disease and repairing liver function. It is also helpful by reducing appetite to promote weight loss, which is another important step to take when treating metabolic syndrome.
We recommend using high quality CBD oils or capsules. With this disease, stay away from high-sugar CBD edibles. To figure out the best dose, start with a low dose and gradually increase it. If you don't experience any side effects at a high dose, you should stay with it. In conclusion, for best results, take CBD daily and make changes to your diet and lifestyle.
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