We have all heard of antioxidants and that we need to get our daily amount of them. Antioxidants can prevent or slow the damage free radicals can cause the body. Antioxidants can play a role in potentially reducing the risks of heart disease, cancer or other diseases, which makes it essential to our daily nutrition.
So, how can you make sure you are getting enough antioxidants on a daily basis? There are a number of ways to be sure you are getting plenty of antioxidants every day, and CBD may be one of them.
What Exactly Are Antioxidants?
Although most everyone has all heard of them, many still don’t know what antioxidants are and what their function is. Antioxidants are natural or manufactured substances that can delay or prevent some forms of cell damage. Antioxidants play a large role in protecting cells against free radicals.
Free radicals can damage cells due to an unstable atom structure which can lead to illness. Your body is always working to create its own antioxidants in defense, but sometimes additions are useful and necessary. Antioxidants can be found in foods and drinks, especially in fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods. Vitamins like C and E are also known to be effective antioxidants in the right amounts.
A Closer Look at Free Radicals
Free radicals are molecules in the body that don’t have a paired electron. Electrons prefer to be in pairs, but our bodies are constantly splitting oxygen atoms. This means these unpaired electrons are searching the body to find another electron to pair with. This “scavenging” could end up causing damage to cells and even our DNA.
Having an excess of free radicals in the body can lead to serious illness, from cancers to Alzheimer’s. Free radicals can come from the foods we eat, the air we breathe, medications we are prescribed as well as exposure to other harmful elements or outside factors. Without antioxidants, free radicals could cause serious damage.
If free radicals in the body outnumber antioxidants, it could lead to oxidative stress which can damage cells and DNA even more. It is essential for our bodies to maintain a balance of antioxidant and free radicals, and CBD just may be able to help.
CBD As a Potential Antioxidant
Research regarding CBD is still underway, but there is some early evidence CBD could be an effective antioxidant. CBD is thought to have neuroprotective properties and anti-inflammatory abilities, which could be related to its antioxidant-related benefits.
CBD is a cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis plants naturally. Compounds like CBD are referred to as cannabinoids, and they share a similar structure with endocannabinoids which are naturally found in the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Because of this, CBD can work with the ECS in several ways.
One way CBD could function as an antioxidant supplement is through cannabinoid receptors in the ESC are triggered to help prevent oxidative damage when it enters the system. As early as 2000, the National Institute of Mental Health did a study centered on the neuroprotective antioxidants that can be found naturally in cannabis and hemp plants. The research pointed to both CBD and THC acting similar to antioxidants that reduce the hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage.
Another study by the Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Rome, suggested CBD could be a useful tool for aiding neural inflammatory responses like a powerful antioxidant.
There is even a US Government patent created by the Department of Health and Human Services that explains how cannabinoids could work in different ways to repair or prevent oxidative damage.
Using CBD As An Antioxidant
Though still limited, research is promising in the direction of CBD potentially working like an antioxidant. Adding CBD to your daily routine could have great health and wellness benefits, but finding a high-quality product is key to reaping the benefits of CBD.
One of the most reliable ways to shop for a great CBD product is to refer to third-party lab test results. Third-party lab tests give you a closer look at what exactly is in your CBD product, from all the cannabinoids, what level they are present and pass or fail on solvent and pesticide tests. Although there is still more research needed to know everything about CBD and its antioxidant properties, if you are looking for a high-quality CBD product to try for your daily wellness routine, try Tribe CBD oil!