Tuesday, October 29, 2019

What you need to know about the Endocannabinoid system, your diet, and marijuana.



What is the Endocannabinoid system?
The Endocannabinoid system is an ancient communication system within the human body
linking all other systems and tissues together. It dates back nearly 600 million years and is
far older than Cannabis the plant for which its named after. Endocannabinoids are a type of
cannabinoid produced by humans, animals, plants, and fungus and go by many names. The human body has two primary endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, however also
includes other GCP, TPRV, and PPAR receptors. Endocannabinoids typically either activate
or block these receptors. Extensive research suggests the ECS impacts processes such as the
microbiome, appetite, pain, mood, memory, sleep, fertility, motor control, and bone
growth to name a few. There are over 46 endocannabinoids produced in the human body
with multiple correlated enzymes such as FAAH, CYP450, or NAPE-PLD. These enzymes
synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids, which alter the endocannabinoid system as a
whole and is often referred to as the "Endocannabinoid Tone." Endocannabinoids are
created in our cell membranes from the fatty acids composing them and can be affected 
by the types of fats consumed. As the membrane fatty acid composition changes via diet 
so to will the endocannabinoids produced by them.


Omega Acids - Primary Precursor of Endocannabinoids

Omega 3 consumption is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the western diet. With a ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 being ideally within the 1:1 to 3:1 range, but it is closer to 20:1 in western diets because of the high amount of Omega 6 heavy foods in the food supply. Omega imbalances have been shown to be associated with numerous health conditions including cell membrane function. The omega composition of the cell membrane alters the structure of cannabinoid receptors influencing how phytocannabinoids interact. Its been shown not all omegas are created equal when it comes to endocannabinoid production. Omega 3 DHA the Synaptamide precursor was shown in studies to produce 9-10x more endocannabinoids than other fatty acid precursors such as omega 6 ARA the Anandamide precursor.

Broadly speaking, your diet affects your endocannabinoid system.
Deficiencies of particularly omega fatty acids and enzymes (gut bacteria)
can have great impact your "Endocannabinoid tone."

Endocannabinoid deficiency 

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD) is the recent medical condition proposed by
Dr. Ethan Russo suggesting that endocannabinoid levels "Endocannabinoid Tone" in the
human body can develop into ailments such as migraines, fibromyalgia and irritable
bowel system. Research has suggested that changes in diet combined with supplementing
cannabinoids may support the body's healthy response to this type of ECS dysregulation.

Endocannabinoids vs phytocannabinoids 

Generally speaking Endocannabinoids are produced endogenously in animals and
Phytocannabinoids are produced by plants. However endocannabinoids are also known 
by the name acylethanolamides which are commonly found it foods like eggs, soy, all nuts 
and can be found in plants as well such as cacao, black pepper, rhododendron and 
coneflower. The term Phytocannabinoids typically is reserved for Cannabis derived 
cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Currently there are over 113 known cannabinoids found in Cannabis with commercial access limited to the 6 most common THCa, THC, CBDa, CBD, CBG, and CBN.

The marijuana plant

Cannabis evolved to produce cannabinoids that mimic the ones produced endogenously
in animals. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two main types of
cannabinoids found in marijuana. These cannabinoids influence the ECS by receptor and/or
enzyme interaction and its their effects are also altered by the neighboring terpenes
produced in the plant. This has been deemed the "Entourage Effect"

Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these topics with Nutritionists, MD's, and PhDs in these fields.


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