Herbs and spices

Herbs and Spices for Health – The Terpene Connection

What are terpenes?

The study of the endocannabinoid system originated with the studying of the effects of cannabis on the body and the ongoing discovery of new receptors in the body. The main takeaway from studying the ECS is that it is our body main regulator of hormones, immunity, and neuronal functioning. Although the cannabis plant was crucial to the discovery of the ECS, cannabis is not the reason why we have an ECS! Nonetheless, studying the cannabis plant has brought to us knowledge that can be expanded in other

realms, specifically diet and health. Aside from the cannabinoids, cannabis among many other plants have terpenes, which are volatile substances that give various plants their unique smells. An example of terpenoids in action is when you smell a lavender flower and the strong smell it gives off, which in aromatherapy is associated with relaxation primarily due to the terpene linalool. This is primarily because of its effect on the ECS. Other terpenes which we are regularly exposed to are limonene which is found in high abundance in the peels of citrus fruits and pinene which we often smell in the forest where evergreens are present, both of these are slightly psychoactive and very healthy.

The several classes of terpenoids

There are several classes of terpenoids such as monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids and various saponins. Many of these terpenes are gaining great interest in the pharmaceutical industry for their anti-viral, antifungal properties and have an impact on the ECS and therefore overall human health. In this blog we will focus primarily on the terpenes and terpenoids that are found in herbs and spices and how they can improve our health.

Oregano herbs on the spoon

Monoterpenoids are found in plants, algae and even insects and have gathered considerable interest in the pharmaceutical companies because they often have expectorant effects, are antiseptic and can be used in agriculture to repel pests and even mosquitoes. These monoterpenes are often found in herbs like mint, oregano and thyme among many others. Other terpenes such as diterpenoids can be toxic with some exception such as Ginko Biloba’s terpenes, the sesquiterpenoids include some of the most bioactive such as beta-caryophyllene that is found in cinnamon,

cloves and other spices and is extremely good for immunity due to its effect on CB2 receptors, which modulate and regulate the immune system. For our purposes it is more important to understand the terpenes as a family and look at where we can absorb them from our diets.

Mint spieces

Interestingly the Mediterranean diet which we consider the best for the ECS is often very rich in these types of herbs and along with good fats can be very helpful. Some common examples of herb terpenes include menthol which is a known antimicrobial and found in various mint species. Beta-Caryophyllene is one of the most active terpenes which works to modulate the CB2 receptor and is found in large amounts in spices such as true cinnamon, cloves and one of the most common kitchen table ingredients, black pepper. Beta-caryophyllene is also found in abundant quantities in chili peppers and recent studies have found that it can inhibit tumor cell growth, along with modulating our immune system. Other findings from terpenes have found that some like pinene have mood enhancing effects and thus even a walk out in the forest will be a healthy routine not just because of the physical exercise but also due to breathing in very health terpene compounds.

Herbs spices in our diet

Although we are just scratching the surface when it comes to terpenes, the main takeaway is that terpenes are a key compound to a healthy diet and should be taken in as one of the pieces of healthy lifestyle in diet. We may add more herbs and spices to our diet and always remember that the key to health is a balanced ECS, which means good fats, moderate exercise, Vitamin D and the terpenes can be a great ingredient to our improving health.

I recommend each reader look into the topic of terpenes and which foods offer the most and add these whole food/herbs and spices to your diet. They are extremely tasty, too!

Intermittent fasting

Endocannabinoid System, Binge Eating and Intermittent Fasting

As many people are trying to get healthy and lose weight, it is important to point out that the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in our eating behavior, fat storage and fat burning mechanisms in our body. Recent studies looking at endocannabinoids and their role in eating have found that 2-AG and AEA are both associated with food cravings and even alcohol cravings for both normal weight individuals and overweight individuals and with alcohol they are associated with cravings in both the

People drinking and eating food

social drinkers and the heavy drinkers. It is important to note that getting hungry as a physiological response is something that happens to us each day and after eating a meal a feeling of satiety should ensue. In terms of obesity there are some genetic predisposition to the condition that directly affect the ECS. 

What happens when we're hungry?

Fat man eating junk food

When we are hungry the ECS is releasing higher levels of 2-AG and AEA in our body tissues that bind to the CB1 Receptors and this gets us to seek delicious and calorie rich foods, once eaten generally the 2-AG and AEA levels are lowered substantially as the body has received its energy. In the case of obese individuals this does not always happen due to genetic and epigenetic reasons. It is important to note that this can also become an addictive trait that is not due to genetic differences, if we eat a diet that is very rich in

bad fats and sugars or bad fats and salt this has a positive allostatic effect on our CB1 receptors and we find ourselves with elevated levels of 2-AG in our body that is making us crave more of these comfort and unhealthy foods.

What are some solutions?

The key is to listen to your body when it is hungry and start to introduce whole foods that are not processed such as vegetables, healthy proteins and start switching to good fats (SEE ARTICLE ON GOOD VS BAD FATS). In terms of endocannabinoids this trains your body to have higher levels of AEA which is associated with homeostatic rather than impulsive and hedonic eating that we generally see with higher rates of 2-AG in the body. It should also be noted that certain bad fats raise inflammation by elevating

Women cooking from healthy food

pro-inflammatory responses in our ECS and to seek further calorie rich foods that may not be healthy. Another recent trend has been intermittent fasting, meaning to have a minimum of 6 hours between each meal and to avoid snacks. This is a challenging task for many but it has been found to raise levels of Oleyloethanolamide (OEA) in the body substantially. This endocannabinoid like amide is associated with decreased appetite and increase in lipolysis (fat burning). 

Lying SLIM CAPS bottle with capsules

This substance can also be found in recently introduced supplements like Good Fats’ Slim Caps (SEE ARTICLE OEA). This OEA addition is especially helpful for those that are overweight and obese and want to lose weight in a natural and healthy way and should be part of a balanced lifestyle and healthy diet. As losing weight requires discipline, it is important to remember that once healthier routines and diets are implemented it generally becomes easier than when we are just starting.

It is important to make small steps and to understand that whether you are trying to lose weight or get in shape the endocannabinoid system is crucial to take a holistic and healthy approach, and this means you have the power to make the first step right now!

Hot couple

SEX, the ECS and Balance

Couple in swimwear by the pool

As we have explained in previous blogs the ECS is our master regulator and controls almost every single physiological function that is necessary for our survival, it is thus one of the most important keys to health. It comes to no surprise that it is also responsible for hormone regulation as well as the reward centers of the brain. The CB1 receptors in the body are directly responsible for neuronal activation and inhibition and are directly connected with seeking a calorie rich meal as well as seeing a potentially attractive sexual partner to pursue.

In the summertime people are more likely to be out on the beach and near nude and many try to work in the year for a ‘beach body’ to be as sexy as possible. For the health-conscious followers of this blog getting in shape or having a beach body is something that can be greatly done through lifestyle modifications such as better diet, including supplements such as OEA (SEE ARTICLE ON OEA) and making sure we eat good fats rather than bad fats.

Sexual attraction

The topic of sexual arousal is one that has been intriguing humanity since our earliest of days and one that has intrigued science for at least 150 years. Many of the groundbreaking study on human sexuality were conducted by Johnson and Johnson in the mid 20th Century as well as by Alfred Kinsey. Much of the studies focused on physiological responses to stimuli such as blood flow to the genitals of male and female participants as well as subjective questionnaires. 

Knowledge of the ECS at the time was almost entirely missing in science, thus the idea that we have a master regulator to bring us to balance was not known. The first study on female sexual arousal and the ECS was only conducted in 2012 where Carolin Klein and her colleagues measured the endocannabinoid concentrations in females before and after being exposed to sexually arousing stimuli, they also had a control group that viewed neutral material.

Exciting couple in embrace

What was found was that endocannabinoids such anandamide and 2-AG were reduced during the arousing event. This is an interesting study albeit, it is done in a lab setting and thus can have some significance in real life but the set up is greatly artificial. What we know about the ECS is that it is responsible for regulating the brain reward systems and thus through CB1 receptor activation is greatly responsible for making us seek out pleasurable food, sexual partners and or sexual attraction as well as propelling us to exercise. These are all example of healthy CB1 modulated activities, this can also be associated with pathologies such as food addiction, drug addiction and even sex addiction.

Living healthy and in balance

Women in balance on the beach

Thus it is important to remember that when we are eating well (eating organic and whole food) including good fats, exercising and getting enough sun exposure we are giving our body and more specifically the ECS what it needs. It is important to know that when we look at CB1 positive allostasis, most of what has been on this blog is to point out that our society has too much of this going on with highly accessible fast (unhealthy) food and stress inducing work schedules but in terms of the benefits there are two

activities that can be addictive but have more benefits to health than harms. One is exercise, which we recommend people engage in on a daily basis (from light to athletic level) and the second one is sex which is one of the joys of life. Both of these activities are intertwined with the ECS and can give health benefits, both of these have an addictive potential which should shed more light on the role of CB1 activity on health.

Vitamine D on sunny beach

The Importance of Vitamin D for Health

Vitamine D on the beach

Vitamin D has become a hot topic for health-conscious individuals in the last decade. It should be first noted that unlike Vitamin C, Vitamin D is technically not a vitamin but a class of steroids. In fact, Vitamin D is produced by the human body when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the Sun. This hormone works to help absorb fats and various other nutrients in the body and it is critical for the immune system to function properly. This is due to its effect on balancing the endocannabinoid system.

For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere of the world and especially Europe, the Sun does not provide enough during the autumn and winter months and only starts to be effective in the spring and summer months. This means that for some months in the year it is important to take Vitamin D3 as a supplement. The recommendation to get more sun exposure and supplement in the winter time cannot be emphasized enough as many people in Western countries are currently Vitamin D deficient and this can have many negative effects on one’s health, especially in terms of immune system functions.

Sun Exposure is Key

During the summer months it is critical for people to get some sun, this means being out in your swimming suits and basking in the Sun. To satisfy the daily dose of Vitamin D it is enough to be exposed to the Sun for 20 minutes or so per day, if you get more just make sure you don’t burn yourself if your skin tone is very light. Sun exposure and the Vitamin D provided along with a diet rich in good fats and whole foods along with exercise are part of the puzzle to optimizing health.

Vitamine D sunny day

In fact following the Sun schedules is also key to sleep health, for example getting up when the Sun rises and going to bed when the sun has set can help with your body’s circadian rhythm. For this it should be noted that avoiding screens a few hours before going to bed is also an important recommendation. Some foods also contain certain types of Vitamin D naturally such as a variety of mushrooms, which interestingly also contain melatonin which is key in the sleep wake cycle and is associated with light exposure.

Fats and Vitamin D

Vitamine D in food

In the winter time, when there is less possibilities for our body to produce Vitamin D due to less Sun exposure and the Sun rays being less strong in Northern countries it is important to supplement. Vitamin D is a fat soluble steroid and is thus crucial that it be taken with a an oil. The Good Fats oil provides all the necessary fatty acids for the endocannabinoid system to function along with the daily dose of Vitamin D3. In general, this oil is a strong addition to have for the winter time and should not be

seen as the only thing to implement in one’s lifestyle. The importance of exercise and whole foods is crucial. It can also be wise to add edible and medicinal mushrooms such as chaga and morel to your diet for optimal health. Always remember good fats and making the necessary lifestyle changes will greatly improve your quality of life and will likely keep the doctor away, at least for those pesky civilization diseases that are the number one killers in our society.

lose weight

The power of OEA – Good Fats SLIM CAPS

What is OEA?

lose weight

Oleoylethanolamide or OEA is a naturally occurring fatty acid amide that is found in a variety of different foods such as nuts and in cacao. This amide is integral in the regulation of hunger homeostasis and is a key endocannabinoid system modulator. Various studies have found OEA to be very effective in reducing hunger, inflammation and some even in lowering pain that is associated with inflammation. Other studies have found OEA to be beneficial in reducing damage to the brain that is associated with 

alcohol abuse and addiction. The amide is crucial for the endocannabinoid system and for homeostasis. Recently the company Good Fats introduced the Slim Caps which are targeted at individuals who are trying to lose weight through natural and health promoting ways rather than unhealthy diets and or stimulants to speed up the body’s metabolism. In animal studies OEA which is an endocannabinoid like molecule was found to reduce overeating as well as reduce fat in rats, in humans this substance has shown great potential for a variety of issues and is generally considered safe.

OEA and Bear Hibernation

Part of the inspiration of how OEA works in inducing lipolysis or the breakdown of triglycerides from stored fat to fatty acids and energy came from studying hibernating brown bears. The bears go into hibernation in the winter time and their endocannabinoid systems are set up to downregulate certain food finding behaviours as well as to break down their stored fat into energy. Thus, in studying bears it was found that they had higher levels of free flowing OEA which they absorb through their natural diet and thus this causes the bear to not seek out

food and for their bodies to rely on their stored fat for energy. This model can be very helpful for understanding how the molecule can work on humans and especially obese and overweight humans.

OEA for weight loss and improved health

lose weight

Aside from restricting food cravings OEA can also break down stored fat and thus helps individuals to lose weight. This is just one simple part of the beneficial processes that can occur. OEA has also been found to function as antioxidant and this is a big deal for those who are overweight and obese as having higher levels of fat can lead people to have higher rates of inflammation from the oxidation of the fat. One of the main issues in those that are obese and overweight is also the fact that many are eating processed foods with bad and unhealthy fats that are 

already creating inflammation per se (SEE ARTICLE GOOD VS. BAD FATS). Thus, OEA is much more than just a weight loss agent, it can help individuals feel much better due to decrease inflammation and its powerful endocannabinoid system modulating effect.

Slim Caps and Healthy Lifestyle

At Good Fats we encourage individuals to improve their lifestyles along with taking the product. The Slim Caps OEA product should not replace a healthy and balanced diet but should be an integral part of a journey to healthier living. Slim Caps should be integrated with an improved diet and some lifestyle changes. Although most people will feel better from the OEA and will need to take them sometime before lunch and before dinner to help to feel less hungry there should also be lifestyle changes so that the 

healthy food live style

person does nor rebound into obesity or being overweight. Thus we recommend that people interested in losing weight try the Slim Caps but also begin a process of switching to whole foods, avoiding process foods, integrate good fats in their diets and also integrate exercise into their lifestyle. This way Slim Caps are a good way to lose weight and prevent gaining more weight but they should always be a part of the Good Fats philosophy of balancing and working with the ECS for healthy and happier living.

Science, cannabinoids and covid-19

Cannabis, Healthy Fats and Covid 19

We enter into the third year of the Covid pandemic most of us have been impacted by it either directly
or indirectly.

Science, cannabinoids and covid-19

This once in a lifetime experience has shown us how important health is and prevention in the current age. As the science and research advances we have seen the introduction of vaccines in record time as well as pharmaceuticals to treat the condition coming out now. The science has also been investigating other preventative and curative agents in the past few years. Some include repurposed drugs but also herbs, natural extracts and most recently cannabinoids!

Cannabinoids and Covid 19

Most followers of our blog are familiar with the basic cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, CBG and many others, these all have medically active properties and work in synergy with each other along with the terpenes in the cannabis plant. What most don’t know is that these cannabinoids that are made by the cannabis plant require drying to become what they are, in other words CBD is CBDA when the plant is fresh and has different functions than CBD. One striking example is THC which is the main psychoactive cannabinoid, when it is THCA or the acid precursor to THC it is not psychoactive but has many anti-inflammatory properties.

Cannabinoids and covid-19

In a recent research conducted by van Breement and colleagues (2021) it was found that the fresh plant precursor to CBD, CBDA and to CBG called CBGA were effective in blocking cellular entry of the SARS-COV2 virus in cells by blocking the virus’ spike protein. Another research from March 2021 found that CBD itself is a very strong preventative agent for Covid 19 and can help with the infection especially if administered early on in the infection. Interestingly this research found that only CBD was helpful with preventing and curing Covid, other cannabinoids such as CBG and THC had no effect on the infection. Thus for this purpose it is important to use a CBD isolate rather than broad or full spectrum CBD.

Healthy (Good) Fats and cannabinoids

Good fats balance oils

As we have written in several other posts, the endocannabinoid system functions on fats and good fats are an absolute must for overall health. In terms of the previously mentioned studies on cannabinoids it is crucially important to remember that all these cannabinoids are lipophilic they are attracted to fats and therefore need to be absorbed with fats. That is why if one is to take a CBD extract the ideal is to take it with a very good oil such as a high quality hempseed oil. Aside from being crucial to the ECS the hempseed oil will also act as a vector for the CBD or other cannabinoid if needed. Another important point is that proper diet, exercises and adequate levels of vitamin D have also been found to be associated with lower mortality from Covid, thus prevention is key and if cannabis medicine is needed just remember that the base for its proper functioning are always good fats!

References

Nguyen, L. C., Yang, D., Nicolaescu, V., Best, T. J., Ohtsuki, T., Chen, S. N., Friesen, J. B., Drayman, N., Mohamed, A., Dann, C., Silva, D., Gula, H., Jones, K. A., Millis, J. M., Dickinson, B. C., Tay, S., Oakes, S. A., Pauli, G. F., Meltzer, D. O., Randall, G., … Rosner, M. R. (2021). Cannabidiol Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Promotes the Host Innate Immune Response. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2021.03.10.432967. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.10.432967

van Breemen, R. B., Muchiri, R. N., Bates, T. A., Weinstein, J. B., Leier, H. C., Farley, S., & Tafesse, F. G. (2022). Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants. Journal of natural products, acs.jnatprod.1c00946. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946

Covid-19, GoodFats and the ECS

Covid-19, Good Fats and the ECS

O no, not another article on Covid you may be thinking! What do good fats and CBD have to do with Covid?

Covid-19, GoodFats and the ECS

As we approach two years of the pandemic, most of the media space has been focused on our adjustment and handling of the disease. As you may have heard, one of the unfortunate potential effects of getting infected with this pathogen is what is known as long-Covid or long haul Covid symptoms. These range from difficulty breathing to mental fog and confusion along with chronic fatigue symptoms. Aside from getting vaccinated, keeping healthy is one of the most important prevention tools for this disease. This includes a healthy diet, getting adequate Vitamin D and having a regular exercise regimen.  Research in using cannabinoids such as CBD and THC for Covid are ongoing and the findings are overall mixed.

Theoretically CBD would help alleviate cytokine responses as well as reduce ACE2 expression both are associated with overactivation of the immune system that can have dire consequences on the body. Consequently, other cannabinoid substances have been found to have antimicrobial properties and could have potential future uses.

Good fats and inflammation

One of the most important aspects of consuming good fats is the reduced inflammatory response that is rampant due to Western diets and high stress. In long Covid, sustained inflammation of various body tissues is noted and this is what causes the highly unpleasant symptoms previously discussed. In fact certain aspects of the disease seem to trigger inflammatory responses more often in individuals who are obese, and/or have metabolic issues. Metabolic syndrome and obesity are often understood to be impacted by great imbalances in the endocannabinoid system among other issues such as genetic predispositions. 

Good fats and inflammation

Higher rates of inflammation is associated and correlated with depression and higher rates of disease as well. Adding good fats to our diet such as using Finola Hempseed oil can lead to reduced inflammation in general. Reducing inflammation producing foods such as pork, refined grains and too much Omega-6 unbalanced oils (sunflower, cottonseed, canola etc) as well as alcohol can lead to better health outcomes and may alleviate some of the long covid symptoms, especially if they are lighter symptoms.

CBD and Long Covid

CBD is now being actively investigated as a potential alleviator of long covid symptoms as it is also associated with anti-inflammatory effects and when taken with a good oil such as the Good Fats Omega D3 oil it can serve as a powerful endocannabinoid modulator and a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. We recommend to always keep in mind that with any supplement a healthy diet and lifestyle is the key base ingredient. CBD can serve as a powerful band aid to lower inflammation as well as lowering appetite as it has the opposite effect of THC which increases appetite. Long Covid is often noted for its highly inflammatory responses and thus we recommend speaking to your physician about supplementing with CBD and recommend for anyone and especially those who are not in their health prime to supplement with good fats such as the Good Fats Omega D3 oil. We are confident it will make you feel much better!

Good fats versus bad fats

Good Fats vs Bad Fats

Good fats versus bad fats

Good and Bad Fats or More Complicated?

In the last few years most health oriented individuals have been exposed to a wide range of information regarding implementing good fats in our diets. For many years there were fads about ‘low fat’ diets or using hydrogenated vegetable fats (i.e. margarine) for health. Today we know both of these approaches are completely erroneous. 

Fats are an important and necessary component of all healthy diets, and an unfortunate component of unhealthy diets as well. So where is the line drawn and what exactly are the differences between good and bad fats? There are a wide variety of fats that we ingest in our diet, some are oils that are either animal or plant derived and others are right inside the foods. Fats are always made up of fatty acids that are their building blocks and are also what the body then breaks down to absorb. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that there is no black and white answer regarding what a good and bad fat is. We must look at quantity, quality, ratios and how are the fats being used especially when we are speaking about cooking with oils.

Saturated and Animal Fats

Animal fats include things like butter, lard and other fats found in meats, fish and their derivatives. Plant based fats include oils such as olive, canola, hempseed, sunflower and a wide variety of other ones. When we look at animal based fats we are looking at fats that are generally very rich in saturated fats (with the exception of coconut oil). Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are made up of fatty acids such as palmitic acid, butyric acid, stearic acid and myristic acid. Other saturated fatty acids include caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acids. These are mostly found in coconut oil.

The key with saturated fats are moderation. In small amounts saturated fats especially coconut oil can have several benefits as caprylic acid can have antimicrobial benefits and generally the brain greatly likes these types of fats. The problem is when they are taken in higher amounts and this is often the case in meat heavy Western diets. Some fatty acids that are found in butter for example such as palmitic acid are associated with higher rates of heart disease and recent studies have also found possible links with cancer.

Source of saturated fats

It is therefore recommended to eat saturated fats in moderation and if possible stick to coconut rather than butter. In terms of lard (pig fat), this one is less harmful than thought especially due to high oxidation temperature, many have cooked in this fat and in general we could say that it is less harmful than butter but also has palmitic acid so use in moderation.

Plant Fats, Omegas and Health

Plant fats are the most widely used currently in processed food, restaurants and in homes. For many years plant based oils such as seed oils have been marketed as being more healthy than animal fats. This is a tricky subject as it is full of nuance. Most seed oils are made of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and have varying proportions of omega 3:6 ratios. 

Let’s start with the worst offenders for bad fats, these are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that are found primarily in margarines and processed foods. These have create fats that are fully man made called trans-fats, these fats are associated with high rates of inflammation, heart disease and a wide variety of ailments. These should be avoided at all costs. Monounsaturated fats are also very prevalent in vegetable oils such as olive oil, avocado oil and nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts. These are generally heart healthy and contain very beneficial fatty acids that reduce inflammation such as oleic acid and palmitoleic acid and linoleic acid.

vegan monosaturated fats

There a wide variety of benefits also associated with these various fatty acids including weight loss, lower inflammation and raising good cholesterol. It is important to look into the oxidation level and temperature in terms of cooking. For example olive oil is extremely healthy when used raw or cooked at low temperature but when fried becomes oxidized and loses all its benefits. Avocado oil is a better alternative for cooking. 

Polyunsaturated fats have become the celebrities of the recent interest in good fats and for good reason. The fatty acids that make up polyunsaturated fats include Omega 3s, 6 and 9s. These are found in hempseed oil, walnuts, flaxseed, and soybean.

When looking at the polyunsaturated fatty acids the key is the balance of these acids. High quality hempseed oil (Finola) has the perfect ratio for human health of fatty acids (Omega 6:3 2:1) but this should only be consumed raw and never cooked. Other oils tend to have highly unbalanced  Omega 6:3 ratios with too much omega 6 and not enough 3 in proportion.

Other interest in good fats come from EPA and DHA which most people think is only found in fish oils. This is incorrect as fish absorb it from algae and thus we can also absorb it through algae and in small amounts in oils such as hempseed and walnut. In general we recommend hempseed oil as the healthiest example of a good fat and wish to reiterate the importance of fats for human health and exorcise forever the myth that all fats are bad!

Endocannabinoid system and Cannabis – what is the connection?

Many people first hear about the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and associate it to cannabis. The name can be greatly misleading and has more to do with history than with actual science. The endocannabinoid system would not have been discovered if it wasn’t for researchers such as Raphael Mechoulam who wanted to figure out what psychoactive and non-psychoactive compounds in cannabis impact the body and how.

Discovery of the endocannabinoid system

This research led the scientists not only to isolate plant cannabinoids like THC, CBD and a wide variety of other ones but to see which physiological system they impact, as for most of history this was a great mystery. What the researchers eventually discovered is a highly complex and extremely important (possibly the most important) physiological system that we now know as the endocannabinoid system.

There are more and more researches in this field in the last few researchers for its importance in overall health. The ECS is spread out all over our body and is found in the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, the gut and more. It is comprised primarily of two main receptors named CB1 and CB2, along with vanilloid receptors and others.

CB1 and CB2 receptors

For our purposes we will focus only on CB1 and CB2.  CB1 is mostly responsible for neuronal functioning, cellular energy functioning, among many other things and it is important to understand that these always work in symbiosis with one another. CB2 is mostly connected to the immune system and is associated with inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes in the body, which are both crucial for a well-functioning immune system.

Endocannabinoid system discovered before the knowledge of cannabis

The interesting part of all this is that with the etymology of the words endo – within and cannabinoids – from cannabis, some may be misled to believe that cannabis is necessary for the endocannabinoid system to work. This is absolutely incorrect, as fascinatingly the endocannabinoid system is an extremely ancient physiological system that evolved hundreds of millions ago.

The cannabis plant evolved much later and although it is fascinating that the cannabis plant has the components to activate and inhibit our various receptors, the main fuel of the ECS are actually fats! That is right, to work with the endocannabinoid system we need fats from our food. Some fatty acids are already made in endogenously but others are absolutely needed to be taken from food.

Perfect recept for health and balance

Along with the wonders of cannabis producing all the cannabinoids, certain food grade cannabis seeds from the Finola plant have the perfect omega fatty acid ratio that are perfect for our endocannabinoid system.

When we add vitamin D-3 either endogenously synthesized by Sun exposure during the warmer months in the northern hemisphere or in a tropical climate all year round and we combine it with healthy fats and some physical exercise we have all that the ECS needs. We have the perfect recipe for health and balance.

What few people know is that in our fast paced society with poor diets, high stress and constant digital connection we are hyper-activating our CB1 receptor and with a poor diet we are activating CB2 because of higher rates of inflammation which can lower our immune system and overall health.

Today, meditation, improving diets and including good fats in our diet is important to bringing the ECS in a more harmonious and balance state. We are confident that the results will include better health and a higher level of well being.

Fish Oil, Omega 3 and Healthier Alternatives

Fish oil and omega 3 fatty acids

In the last decade fish oil and omega 3 supplements have been all the rage with many cardiologists, dietitians and nutritionists recommending them for their health properties. Most of the claims deal with omega 3 fatty acids being very scarce in modern Western diets and thus providing benefits such as lowering inflammation, lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol and raising good (HDL) cholesterol and improving cognition and heart health? What is the basis of these claims and are they accurate? Is fish oil the best source of omega 3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)?

Is it good to eat fish oil?

Although cold water sourced fish oil does indeed contain high omega 3 acid content, there are several issues with consuming it. One is that it often is contaminated with environmental toxins such as PCBs, dioxin and even traces of heavy metals like mercury. The other is that it is not ecologically sustainable for everyone to consume fish oil, when overfishing is already one of the greatest threats to marine biodiversity and the health of the oceans.

One may come to the question of, is the fish creating the Omega 3s and the answer to that is no. These are present in algae and many companies have formulated vegan Omega 3 supplements which are definitely a more ecological and as effective as fish oil.

What is missing from this?

One important factor missing is the ratio of omega 6:3 as well as Vitamin D3. We know that the best and most nutritious oil for having the perfect ratio for human health is Finola hempseed oil. When supplemented with Vitamin D3 it has a symbiotic effect on the endocannabinoid system, lowers inflammation and promotes overall health.

With hempseed oil such as GoodFats Omega D3 oil you get the full package. All the fatty acids that your body needs, vitamin D and a greener alternative to fish oil has a lesser environmental impact and is thus a healthy and ecological alternative.

With such a complete oil the absorption of the fatty acids will also be superior and you will feel the difference within a few weeks of taking the oils on a daily basis. Maximize your health now, with good fats!

Food supplements. These products are not be used as a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle.

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