It is relatively easy to consume antioxidants daily through antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, dark chocolate, pecans, goji berries, kale, and beets. You can have strawberries or artichokes, raspberries, or red cabbage. The daily minimum of antioxidants per day should be 8,000-11,000 units. It can be tricky to reach that level of antioxidants per day, but an easy way to get there is to consume a diet rich in vegetables and fruit.
You can also find skincare products that contain this natural substance. From day creams to night creams and serums to cleansers, everyone seems to add that antioxidant touch to their products these days. More than these, antioxidant seekers can now choose a natural compound that has been around for thousands of years — CBD. And they make this decision without any regrets.
Why are antioxidants important?
The pursuit of antioxidant-rich foods and products is more than a trend. We need this natural substance to help us fight the harmful external factors our body encounters daily. These include pollution, processed food, smoke, and more.
Although our body produces antioxidants, the level is not enough to fight what is known as the free radicals that damage our cells. Accordingly, we need to consume food and use products rich in antioxidants. Only antioxidants can inhibit oxidation — the number of damaged cells in the body which leads to a higher risk of illness and chronic diseases.
What antioxidants do is give free radicals electrons to pair with their unpaired electrons. In doing so, they become a pair, and this leads to the stabilization of the molecule. Stabilization is essential as it stops the degradation of cellular functionality caused by the body’s stolen electrons. Food that contains vitamin C and E, lipoic acid, carotenes, coenzyme Q10, uric acid, and glutathione are all rich in antioxidants.
What is CBD?
Cannabinol (CBD) is a hemp-derived natural compound forming part of the cannabis family, but unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not have psychoactive effects. What this means is that you cannot get high, nor can you become addicted to it.
Research on CBD is limited and often done on animals. Still, from the research body collected so far, scientists have seen positive evidence of CBD being an excellent natural medication that can provide life-changing benefits to various mental and chronic health issues.
Some of these health issues include diabetes, postpartum depression, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and more. CBD is also famous for giving its users a sense of calm, and now that it is making a name for itself as an antioxidant-rich product, CBD is also sought-after by those seeking optimal health.
The CBD market has exploded over the last few years, and finding CBD products both in brick-and-mortar stores or online shops has never been more accessible. The quality is there too. CBD manufacturers such as NuLeaf Naturals CBD offer a wide range of high-quality CBD products in various forms. You can opt for CBD oil or CBD gummies. You can buy CBD creams, scents, candles, and more.
CBD and its Antioxidant Properties
In her book, Chronic Relief: A Guide to Cannabis for the Terminally and Chronically Ill, writer Nishi Whiteley writes how CBD (and THC) are “powerful antioxidants.” Indeed, they are more potent than vitamins C and E.
In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine, researchers also observe CBD’s potent antioxidant properties. They note how CBD affects the redox balance by altering the activity and the oxidants’ level and antioxidants in the body. In balancing the redox, CBD inhibits oxidation. As a result, the free radicals inside our body are captured or transformed into less harmful forms.
Another study, published in the National Institute of Mental Health, called the “Neuroprotective antioxidants from marijuana,” shows how CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids play a massive role as antioxidants battling hydroperoxide toxicity in neurons. CBD was named “superior” over other cannabinoids in its ability to be protective.
How does CBD help the body?
With such life-changing properties, it is natural to wonder how CBD affects the body in such a positive way. What researchers know so far is that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a system in our body that manages critical functions such as appetite, sleep, and mood. CBD interacts with the ECS’s receptors not by binding to them but by sending them signals to alter, block, or encourage specific processes.
Researchers have noted how CBD contains a free oxygen atom in its structure when it comes to antioxidants. This atom is the one that is given away to the free radicals by the CBD, leading to their neutralization. Moreover, CBD also contains neuro-protectant properties that shield the body from several neurodegenerative diseases.
As a neuroprotectant, CBD helps lower the brain’s damage and the nervous system while also enabling the growth and development of new neurons in the body. Oxidative trauma caused by autoimmune or genetic disorders, by ischemia or traumatic blows, can lead to temporary or permanent neural damage.
What researchers have observed is CBD’s ability to protect us against this damage. When the damage is already present, CBD proves to be useful in improving the recovery process. With its neuroprotectant properties, CBD can be of use when it comes to spinal cord injuries or disease, strokes, and traumatic brain injuries. It can also help neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, ALS, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Before taking CBD
Researchers have noted that CBD has no harmful side effects, making it a safer alternative to some medication. Moreover, only a few CBD users have reported side-effects, and they were usually in the form of nausea or diarrhea.
Still, CBD can have adverse effects when taken with specific medication. CBD may block the work of certain pills you could be taking, so you must speak to your doctor to ensure you can take CBD safely. When it comes to dosage, it is best to start small and increase dosage if necessary.
