Know Your Herbs

Month: January 2020

How Can Taking CBD Oil Increase Your Metabolism?

Herbs

The metabolic process plays a crucial role in the supply of energy in
our bodies. Scientists have extensively researched on how the food we eat
breaks down to help us carry out routine activities. The foods we consume,
lifestyle, genes, exercise, among others, are all found to contribute to the
functioning of the metabolic system actively.

CBD oil contains properties that can significantly help to adjust your body
metabolism and make it better. One way that CBD does this is by enhancing the
performance of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is critical in the
entire communication system of the body. The ECS is integral in enabling
communication, and it controls several functions related to metabolisms such as
transport of the nutrients to the various parts of the body and energy storage.

What Exactly is Metabolism?

Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy. It is a
complex biochemical process that involves various connected body organs,
glands, and nerves. Through this process, we get the energy that is important
for body functions such as breathing, hormonal balance, blood circulation,
among others.

Although several factors, such as sex, age, and body weight, determine
how this process works in each individual. According to experts, the use of CBD
products like CBD drops or tinctures from reliable sellers such as CBD oil UK can be instrumental in
enhancing metabolism, thus allowing your systems to perform optimally.

CBD Oil and Weight

A study by Korean researchers reported that CBD stimulates proteins that
assist in the breakdown of fats. This is an essential process in the conversion
of foods to the energy needed by the body.

The endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are widely spread among
people who are obese because these receptors thrive on fatty tissue. Researchers
believe that there is a connection between the activation of CB1 receptors and
obesity.

Although CBD doesn’t directly activate CB receptors, it influences the
natural cannabinoids found in the body to either block or activate the
receptors. In so doing, CBD oil can play a role in enhancing metabolism.

When purchasing CBD products, you need to see a range of products to
choose what best suits you.

CBD Can Stimulate Fat Browning

The human body stores fat in two forms: white fat and brown fat. White
fat or White Adipose Tissue abbreviated as WAT is the accumulation of large fat
droplets on various parts of the body. It helps to supply constant energy to
the body and helps to keep the body warm by insulating the organs.

Brown fat, also called Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT), is rich in iron,
hence its brown colour. “Fat browning” is the name given for this conversion
process that makes fat brown. This fat also helps to burn calories and can
produce heat without causing the body to shiver in a process known as
thermogenesis. Brown fat is “good fat” in the metabolism process.

Whereas too much white fat is not suitable for the body, brown fat is
essential for effective metabolic processes. Intake of CBD can stimulate genes
and proteins that help to break down fat, rather than store it up. It can also
increase both the number and activity of enzymes necessary in the fat-breakdown
process.

Primarily, by participating in the production of endocannabinoids, CBD
can decrease the production of proteins that facilitate fat cell growth. CBD
oil, therefore, can enhance and influence the way fats behave in your body.

CBD Can Help Control Your Appetite

Properly functioning metabolism should help your body to maintain the
right level of appetite. CBD can help balance your calorie intake, effectively
allowing your body to take in just as much fuel it can burn. The influence that
CBD oil has on receptors goes down to the control of various emotions. CBD can
help either trigger more vigorous activity or hamper some actions.

A 2012 study reported that CBD led to a significant reduction in appetite
on rats injected with cannabinoids. More human studies are, however, necessary
to affirm these effects. By inhibiting your appetite, CBD can help to keep the
body metabolism at a balanced state. Research into this subject is still
undergoing. Part of the focus is on how CBD triggers the brain to respond to
the emotional need for food and whether it can limit the instances of hunger.

CBD Helps to Turn Fat Into Waste

Excess or unused fat in the body is bad and unhealthy. It may lead to
diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart attack. Fortunately, CBD can
help to turn this unwanted fat into waste. This happens in a different process
from that of converting white fat into brown fat for storage purposes. It is a
necessary process as it can prevent the accumulation of unwanted fats in the
body effectively, thus avoiding obesity.

CBD Could Reduce Metabolic Disorders

Metabolism is an activity that involves several organs across the body.
A 2018 research highlighted a close link between obesity and some metabolic disorders
such as high cholesterol. These conditions have links to an overreaction of CB1
receptors in the fat tissue. These reactive tendencies lead to conditions such
as obesity.

Metabolic disorders occur when an enzyme involved in the food breakdown
process is missing. This ultimately translates to an unperformed task in the
entire process, consequently leading to the accumulation of toxins. CBD oil has
properties that can promote better functioning of enzymes, therefore allowing
the metabolism cycle to work effectively.

Conclusion

Without a properly functioning metabolism process, our bodies will
regularly experience unwanted cases of toxic accumulation. A lot of factors,
including what we consume, determine how best our bodies function. This is why
the recommendation for a balanced meal is necessary.

Failure in the metabolic
processes affects our wellbeing. CBD oil and its derivatives contain lots of
elements that are useful in supporting the proper functioning of the body. When
consumed in the right dosage, they can significantly supplement naturally
occurring enzymes in the metabolic process. Taking CBD products with foods or
enhancers can help in boosting metabolism.

The post How Can Taking CBD Oil Increase Your Metabolism? appeared first on FairCannaCare.

Source: fcc

The 5 High-THCV Strains You Should Know About

Herbs

As our scientific knowledge of cannabis grows, we’re gaining a better understanding of how the plant’s complex chemical makeup shapes how our bodies and minds respond to different strains. From cannabinoids to terpenes and flavonoids, we’re learning that even the smallest molecules can have a big impact on how a particular cannabis strain makes us feel, along with  the health benefits it can provide. A perfect example of this is the trace cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). 

THCV is a minor cannabinoid usually found in trace amounts in most cannabis strains, or “cultivars.” But its slim profile hasn’t prevented THCV from gaining the attention of researchers and recently, a foothold in the health and wellness segment of the cannabis market. 

What’s the skinny on high-THCV strains?

Over the last decade, studies involving human participants and animal models have identified THCV’s potential to suppress appetite in people struggling to lose weight, regulate blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes, reduce epilepsy-related seizures, delay neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease and ameliorate the symptoms of schizophrenia. 

Beyond the medical and therapeutic potential of THCV, consumers are increasingly turning to high-THCV strains for their energizing, stimulating and uplifting effects. And no wonder; cultivars with high levels of THCV tend to share a genetic lineage with landrace sativas known for their invigorating highs. 

But it’s important to note that THCV itself is not psychoactive. THCV appears to slightly reduce the psychoactive effects of THC. That alone makes THCV-rich strains an attractive choice for consumers seeking a high-functioning experience. And for those who use cannabis as part of their workouts and wellness regimes, THCV’s ability to quiet the pangs of problematic munchies make it a worthy companion to diet and exercise.  

5 high-THCV strains you should know about

With all the benefits this cannabinoid boasts, you’re probably wondering why there aren’t more high-THCV strains and cannabis products out there. THCV’s relative rarity makes it not only hard to find but difficult and costly to isolate and extract. 

Still, there are a handful of cannabis cultivars that are naturally high in THCV, and almost all of them stem from landrace sativas originating in Africa. They may be harder to track down, but they’re worth the extra effort. If the many benefits of tetrahydrocannabivarin appeal to you, here are five high-THCV strains you need to know about.

Durban Poison: legendary landrace African sativa

(Photo by Weedmaps)

Durban Poison originates from the port city of Durban, South Africa and was first imported to the U.S. in the late 1970s by one of America’s first international strain hunters, Ed Rosenthal. This award-winning medical sativa has been at the center of the newfound interest in high-THCV strains. With a naturally occurring THCV concentration of nearly 1%, Durban Poison excels at suppressing appetite while inducing energizing and focusing effects of a pure sativa. 

— Find Durban Poison on Weedmaps

Doug’s Varin: rare and rich in THCV

The cultivation of Doug’s Varin, likely the highest THC strain available today, appears to have been a happy accident. David Lampach, co-founder of Doug’s Varin (now owned by Oakland, California-based California Cannabinoids), said the original cultivar stemmed from a Harlequin parent. When the company identified the cultivar’s high THCV content, it began using it to develop a family of THCV-rich strains ranging from 3% to 6% THCV. 

Today, Doug’s Varin is the strain of choice for many concentrates and extract manufacturers producing products such as tinctures and vape pens with very high levels of THCV. 

— Find Doug’s Varin on Weedmaps

Pink Boost Goddess: the newest high-THCV strain

(Photo courtesy of Flow Kana)

Pink Boost Goddess, developed by California-based cannabis flower brand Flow Kana, is one of the specialized strains to emerge from the recent hype surrounding THCV. Unveiled in July 2019, Flow Kana says Pink Boost Goddess contains 4.24 percent THCV along with 18.7 percent THC, making it ideal for reducing anxiety and suppressing appetite. Flow Kana grows its high-THCV cultivar outdoors to increase sun exposure and stimulate THCV production. 

Unlike other high-THCV strains, which tend to be pure sativas, Pink Boost Goddess is an indica-dominant hybrid with a vanilla flavor and an intense floral terpene aroma. 

— Find Pink Boost Goddess on Weedmaps

Pineapple Purps: a “super sativa” with high THCV

Pineapple Purps is as rare as its genetics are esoteric. A cross between Pineapple, Skunk #1 (another high-THCV strain) and Cheese, Pineapple Purps has been dubbed a “super sativa” on account of its energetic, euphoric and low-anxiety effects. Those strong sativa genetics also mean Pineapple Purps has a very high THCV profile, with some lab results measuring the cannabinoid at 4 percent of the flower’s dry weight. 

Earthy and sweetly citrusy, this high-THCV strain is one you should definitely know about in case you’re lucky enough to come across it.

— Find Pineapple Purps on Weedmaps

Jack the Ripper: consistently high in THCV

(Photo by Weedmaps)

Jack the Ripper’s storied lineage is one breeders and growers love to recount, but producing a strain rich in THCV wasn’t the goal Subcool The Dank (formerly TGA Subcool) had in mind when the idea occurred to cross a Jack Cleaner female with a Space Queen male. Instead, the plan was to breed a fast-acting Haze strain with extreme THC content. But the results speak for themselves: Jack the Ripper consistently weighs in at 5% THCV or higher, with THC content that ranges from around 15-25%. 

Despite those wide variations in psychoactive potency, Jack the Ripper maintains one of the highest THCV profiles of any strain to date. Fortunately, Jack the Ripper has become so cherished among growers and recreational consumers that it’s one of the easiest high-THCV strains to find. 

— Find Jack the Ripper on Weedmaps

The post The 5 High-THCV Strains You Should Know About appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Tweets About Cannabis' Health Benefits are full of Mistruths

Herbs

There has been a lot of talk in the U.S. about legalizing recreational cannabis, and about cannabis’ potential to help with health issues.

Scientists working in medicine may have a lot to discover about cannabis’ ability to improve health. However, the medical community does know that short-term health consequences of cannabis use include impaired short-term memory, impaired attention, impaired coordination and sleep problems.

I study ways to inform public health and policy using data from social media. As part of my research, I monitor Twitter conversation topics pertaining to health-related attitudes and behaviors, including what social bots — automated accounts that use AI to steer discussions and promote specific ideas or products on social media — post on the platform.

In our recent study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, my colleagues and I wanted to describe topics of conversations pertaining to cannabis use. We also wanted to determine whether social bots were taking part in this conversation.

Tweets about the medical benefits of cannabis often exaggerate the medical benefits. (HQuality/Shutterstock.com)

Cannabis and health

While proponents of legalizing cannabis say that the drug is safer than alcohol, repeated cannabis use is associated with the potential for cannabis dependence, other substance use disorders and increased risk of schizophrenia, among individuals with a specific genetic makeup.

Heavy cannabis use during adolescence may lead to lower cognitive functioning in adulthood.

Right now, cannabis is only approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a small number of instances. These include easing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, providing appetite stimulation in conditions like AIDS or HIV that cause weight loss, and managing two forms of pediatric epilepsy.

Where social media comes in

In our study, my collaborators and I collected cannabis-related tweets posted each week between May and December 2018. Then, we sorted tweets posted by social bots versus those from nonbot accounts using a research tool called Botometer. Botometer analyzes tons of characteristics of a Twitter account and gives each account a score based on how likely it is to be a bot.

We coded the tweets into 12 categories, including mentions of first-time use, health and legalization. Other categories included underage use, processed products such as edibles and using cannabis along with alcohol, painkillers and psychedelics.

When we compared posts from nonbots with posts from social bots, we found that some topics received more promotion from bots than others. For example, posts indicating that cannabis could help with health concerns represented a larger proportion of posts by social bots compared with nonbots.

Posts from social bots suggested that cannabis could help with cancer, foot pain and Crohn’s disease, among other conditions. These findings are cause for concern.

Health-related information – including information about the health benefits and risks of nicotine, cannabis, and electronic cigarette use – is regularly sought out on Twitter.

The majority of U.S. adults look up, or discuss, a health-related concern over the internet. Previous research has demonstrated that health-related information posted online, including posts to social media platforms, can influence attitudes and behaviors.

Bots have a history of mistruths

Our study is not the first to demonstrate that social bots post health-related tweets full of mistruths. In 2018, researchers reported that bots disseminated anti-vaccine messages on Twitter. Before that, researchers found that bots touted the benefits of electronic cigarette use in smoking cessation.

Misleading messages are now pervasive online, and it is important for the public to understand the difference between a demonstrated, scientifically backed piece of health information and claims that are simply made up.

Our study only looked at Twitter, and results may not reflect what’s happening on Facebook or other social media platforms. The posts in our study were collected from an eight-month period and may not extend to other periods. Findings may not generalize to all Twitter users or to the U.S. population.

Nonetheless, findings like ours underscore the need for health education campaigns designed to correct misconceptions about the health benefits of cannabis use. Policies may also need to be implemented to identify and tag false health claims on social media platforms.

By Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant Professor of Research, University of Southern California

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

The post Tweets About Cannabis' Health Benefits are full of Mistruths appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

The Best Cannabis Strains for Your Favorite Workout

Herbs

Weed has come a long way since plastic baggies and secretive sessions of mystery tokes. The recent explosion of cannabis strains, products, and devices has rocketed the industry to near unlimited heights—and it only continues to grow.  And with weed coming out of the shadows of prohibition and the “War on Drugs,” it has been swiftly incorporated into other industries that benefit yourself and the community. 

Fitness enthusiasts and newbies alike have flocked to healing cannabinoids and motivational strains to recover from or fuel daunting workouts. But you can’t expect to smoke an energetic strain right before yoga and feel blissed out in savasana. Nor would vaping a body-heavy strain serve you on a 20-mile run. The key to combining weed and exercise is selecting the right strain for your favorite workout to enhance your focus, energy. and mental clarity.

Jonathan Borba/Unsplash
More fitness enthusiasts are turning to cannabis for its healing cannabinoids and motivational strains to recover from or fuel workouts.

Further, finding the perfect strain for your intended purposes requires quite a bit of experimentation—what works for us, your friends or family, may not work for you. Cannabinoids, the healing chemicals that make up the cannabis plant, are extremely individual and affect your unique endocannabinoid system in myriad ways, but these recommendations should help you narrow your options and get you started on the right foot.

Harlequin: the best strain for running

Weedmaps

Numerous unbiased studies have found CBD and THC to be beneficial for chronic pain, inflammation, and various health complications. And as your body changes through new workouts, it’s essential to recover torn muscles in the most soothing way possible. Not only will these cannabinoids calm the nervous system and boost recovery, but you may also feel less fatigued after a particularly grueling run. 

A high-CBD strain, like Harlequin, is a great place to start on your fitness journey. Due to its near equal (and sometimes CBD heavy) ratio of CBD to THC, this strain will make you feel weightless without imparting an intense psychoactive effect. Bonus: Harlequin is chock full of the terpene myrcene — a highly anti-inflammatory chemical commonly produced in CBD cannabis varieties. So it can help you push through those first few miles when everything hurts like hell. 

Compared to smoking, vaping is less harsh on the lungs, which need to be nice and healthy for all that aerobic activity. Look into shatter, dabs, vape pens or even make your own rosin with this superstar workout strain. 

— Find Harlequin on Weedmaps

Lavender and ACDC: the best strains for yoga practice

Weedmaps

Combining cannabis with vinyasa is a hotly debated topic in the yoga community. If you’re intrigued by the idea of using pot as a tool to explore your practice on a deeper level, consider indulging  before your next class. But what strains work best for which type of yoga? 

If you prefer a gentler yoga flow more suited before bedtime or after a particularly stressful day, consider the aptly named Lavender for a relaxing session that will ease you into comfort and stony bliss. This indica-leaning hybrid can aid in sleep and enhance a calmer state of mind. Note: Lavender is sometimes more suited for the experienced consumer due to its naturally high THC content. Approach this strain with intention before your practice to reach serenity without anxiety. 

Looking for a bright strain that will complement a morning flow or rigorous routine? Turn your attention to ACDC. Like Harlequin, ACDC is rich in CBD and contains healing myrcene, but it also boasts the terpene pinene. Pinene is an important heavy-hitter in the terpene world, it contains anti-inflammatory properties, but it also has neuroprotective tendencies, which is perfect for clearing out mental build-up and intensifying mental focus during yoga.  

— Find Lavender and AC/DC on Weedmaps

Pineapple Express and Blue Dream: the best strains for hiking

Weedmaps

Hybrids combine the best of both worlds in cannabis. They can help you relax while providing an invigorating mental effect perfect for exploring the outdoors. And if you’re new to cannabis, Pineapple Express and Blue Dream tend to be the most common picks for beginners; however, they shouldn’t be scoffed at for even the most dedicated of cannabis consumers — especially when venturing out into nature.

Pineapple Express combines the traits of parent strains Trainwreck and Hawaiian for a long-lasting, energetic buzz that can give you enough oomph to make it to the top of the mountain and back. It’s also swimming in the terpene limonene, which produces a fragrant anti-anxiety effect perfect for wandering legs with wandering minds. Many limonene lovers also point to its psychoactive and creative effects which may give you a heightened sense of closeness to the nature around you. 

Another sativa-heavy hybrid perfect for long hikes is Blue Dream. This strain tends to be a little more calming than Pineapple Express due to a touch of linalool terpenes, yet it’s bright enough to keep you going during more strenuous excursions.  Keep this stress-relieving strain on hand when you’re gearing up for a full day outside. 

— Find Pineapple Express and Blue Dream on Weedmaps

There’s so much to explore when it comes to fitness and cannabis — and the science keeps moving forward. It’s important to scrutinize which strains work with your system in a cohesive and healing manner, and never forget to search the terpene content for an added boost. Cannabis and your body should be symbiotic; explore and experiment for the best effects. 

Kate Kasbee contributed to this article. 

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

The post The Best Cannabis Strains for Your Favorite Workout appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm