Having a healthy gut is more than not suffering from constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, or other digestive issues. It means having a healthy body – as an unhealthy gut can cause other illnesses, including diabetes and autoimmune disorders, and avoiding future health issues. And one way to keep your gut healthy is with cannabis terpenes.
Before talking about terpenes – which are the natural compounds that give plants their scents, let’s talk about gut health first. If you want more details beyond ‘cause when your gut is having problems your tummy aches’, these are some reasons why gut health is important for you.
Firstly, a healthy gut enables your body to efficiently digest and absorb nutrients from food. This means on top of your body receiving nutrients which it needs to function properly, it also encounters no problem in disposing what it doesn’t need. (In case this is still not clear enough, it means no constipation, diarrhoea, or bloating).
Secondly, the microorganisms that reside in our gut play an important role in regulating the immune system and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome can help prevent infections, inflammation, and other health issues.
Thirdly, a healthy gut has been linked to improved mental health, with studies suggesting that the gut microbiome can influence the brain and mood.
Finally, poor gut health has been associated with several health problems, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, and autoimmune disorders.
Researchers suggest that some strains or variants of terpenes – the aromatic compounds found in plants, including cannabis – and cannabidiol (CBD) have properties which can benefit gut health.
The recommended variants of terpenes for gut health include A- and B-pinene, Eucalyptol, Camphene, B-Caryophyllene (BCP), and hemp seed oil (CBD).
A- and B-Pinene are terpenes which are naturally found in many plants, including pine nuts, rosemary, basil, and some strains of cannabis. They have antibiotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help restore and maintain a healthy gut.
Eucalyptol is also known as Cineole. As one of the most researched terpenes, you may already be familiar with it. It’s often found in the eucalyptus tree. It’s also found in other plants, including rosemary, bay leaves, tea tree, sage, sweet basil, cardamom, and of course – cannabis.
Eucalyptol has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress and chronic diseases in the gut. Moreover, eucalyptol has an analgesic effect, which means it can help reduce pain in the gut. As a result, it can help ease gut-related discomfort or pain.
Camphene is terpenes which is often found in coniferous trees, sage, rosemary, oranges, grapefruits, and cannabis. Since it has anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties, camphene can help reduce inflammation and discomfort in the gut.
Camphene also has a cooling and calming effect on the body, which can help alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety that can contribute to poor gut health.
Terpenes B-Caryophyllene is naturally found in black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and cannabis. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation in the gut.
B-Caryophyllene also has a positive effect on mental health and well-being, as it helps reduce stress and anxiety levels. Since stress and anxiety can contribute to poor gut function and health, this means consuming supplements which contain B-Caryophyllene can help maintain your gut health.
Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of a variety of cannabis called the hemp plant. It contains terpenes and cannabinoids (CBD), and can be found in various beauty and food products.
Hemp seed oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation in the gut. Additionally, hemp seed oil has analgesic properties, which means it can help reduce gut pain and discomfort.
Since hemp seed oil is also known to reduce stress and anxiety levels, supplements which contain this type of terpenes can be useful for stress and anxiety related gut health problems too.
If you are looking for pure botanical terpenes supplement for gut health, this might be helpful: click here to access our premium CB2 blend for gut-brain health.
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