The cannabis plant has always divided opinion. Those who partake either recreationally or medicinally tend to sing its praises, while those who don’t often have strong opinions against it – some warranted, others not. Psychoactive cannabis may come with mental health risks, but there is a new form of weed that is much, much different, and totally non-intoxicating: cannabidiol (CBD).

Cannabis is an herb containing more than 400 compounds, and one of those is CBD. Teeming with health benefits, CBD causes hardly any side effects and has been deemed safe and non-addictive by the World Health Organization. What’s more, the cannabinoid has unique and crucial value for our health, as it helps to regulate the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Without getting too technical, the ECS is implicated in our mental and physical wellbeing, influencing immune system function, pain sensitivity, cognition, reproductive health to name just a few.

CBD can be used as a medicine, but hemp-based CBD wholesale products are also marketed as food supplements, and can be effectively used as a recipe ingredient. While available in creams, vape juices and edibles, the most suitable product type for using CBD in this way is a tincture oil.

CBD oil can be added to pretty much any recipe at any time, and goes particularly well with salad dressings. However, do be aware that the powerful earthiness of the hemp extract can be somewhat overwhelming if it is not matched by other strong flavors. Furthermore, as CBD boils at around 160°C (or 320°F), be sure that you aren’t heating your recipe beyond that after mixing in the CBD, or you will miss out on the benefits.

Here is a closer look at the benefits of CBD.

CBD: packed with antioxidants

CBD has lots of beneficial antioxidants, as studies have consistently demonstrated. Believe it or not, the US government has an active patent on CBD being used as an antioxidant medicine. Antioxidants are essential for brain health as they help to decrease oxidative stress, which occurs when the body fails to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, uncharged molecules which can cause cell degradation. Antioxidants are, therefore, very important for protecting neurological health.

CBD: a unique anti-inflammatory

There are many foods that can cause inflammation, especially processed foods such as ready meals. Sugar is also known for triggering inflammation, which can lead to breakouts of skin conditions such as acne. This explains why anti-inflammatory diets have become more popular. CBD is a very effective anti-inflammatory, as the ECS has a direct passage to the immune system through CB2 receptors. Taking CBD doesn’t directly reduce inflammation, but the compound stops the breakdown of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This chemical is a CB2 receptor agonist, and can send immunomodulatory signals to the immune system to taper inflammation.

Improve mental wellbeing with CBD

When we eat great food, not only does our physical health improve, but our mental wellbeing does, too. With CBD, this comes once again from the promotion of anandamide, but this time the chemical has an effect on the CB1 receptor, which is found in abundance throughout the central nervous system. The CB1 receptor regulates mood, and anandamide is an endogenous antidepressant, an effect it initiates as a CB1 receptor agonist.

Moreover, when we feel good about ourselves, we often have more energy and motivation, which makes us more likely to want to exercise – a positive knock-on effect.

CBD helps to regrow the brain

The brain tends to deteriorate with old age, or because of inflammation. When areas like the hippocampus are affected, the result can be neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, new neurons and brain connections can be formed with compounds capable of neurogenesis. Surprise surprise, studies have found that CBD is capable of just that. If your memory needs a boost or you just want to protect your brain’s health, boost your next meal with some CBD.

CBD is great for bone health

Our bones are in a constant state of flux, as minerals and calcium are pulled in and removed. However, with age, bones get weaker due to bone resorption, where more vital minerals are taken than replaced. This brings about an increased risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. However, CBD helps to improve bone health as the ECS is implicated in bone growth. Those with broken bones can also enjoy quicker recovery times by adding CBD to their diet.

Final thought

Incorporating CBD oil wholesale into your meals is a clever way of enhancing your all-round health via regulation of your endocannabinoid system.

Everyone ages differently, but our lifestyle choices can make a huge difference in how well we do. And as we age, our bodies begin to lose the ability to produce some important minerals, nutrients, and essential chemicals our bodies desperately need. Thankfully, supplementation and a healthy and active lifestyle can help mitigate some of those changes and slow down the effects of aging. Here are some of the supplements everyone over the age of 50 should consider adding to their diet.

Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins at any age, but it is especially important for people over the age of 50. We already know what an important role calcium plays in bone health, but vitamin D actually improves the function of calcium and helps the body absorb it properly. In addition to that, vitamin D plays a central role in maintaining immune function, preventing heart disease, diabetes, and various types of cancer.

That’s why it would be wise to look for a supplement that combines both vitamin D and calcium if you want to get their full benefit. Bone Builder Prime, for example, contains calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus. It also contains MCHC, which is a crystalline compound that is highly absorbable and has been shown to have higher bone building and preserving effects than other forms of calcium. If you want to learn more about this supplement, you can find Bone Builder primer here.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is also very important and helps in maintaining our DNA structure. It’s also essential in the production of red blood cells and promotes nerve health. While you can get B12 from various sources such as fish, red meat, chicken, and milk products, our bodies slowly start to lose their ability to absorb B12 from food sources as we age. If you want to know if you’re getting enough B12, make sure that you consult your doctor. They might suggest that you take fortified foods or go for a supplement.

Fish Oil

Fish oil high in omega 3s can play an essential role in reducing inflammation, which is one of the main causes of many ailments as we age. Omega 3s can help reduce joint pain and swelling. Omega 3s can also help maintain cognitive functions. In addition to that, Omega 3s have been shown to reduce the total amount of triglycerides in the blood, which reduces the risks of clogged arteries.

Probiotics

Probiotics have been rising in popularity lately, for a variety of reasons. Probiotics are essential for proper bowel function. They have also been shown to help with excretory function issues like Crohn’s disease. There are products available that are fortified with probiotics such as yogurt, but if you are lactose intolerant, then you might consider taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotic supplements are also much stronger and have a higher concentration of the “good” bacteria found in yogurt so they are often more effective than trying to eat large quantities of yogurt or other probiotic rich foods.

Chromium

Our metabolism has a tendency to slow down with age and adding a chromium supplement to your diet might help. One of the benefits of chromium is that it can regulate blood sugar, which can help with the absorption of various nutrients found in our food. Chromium has also been shown to help maintain muscle mass and can also help with fat loss as well.

Glucosamine

The risk of getting arthritis becomes higher by the time we reach 50, and glucosamine can play an important role in preventing it from forming. Our bodies use glucosamine to produce various chemicals that are responsible for maintaining ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and important fluids that surround our joints. Supplementing with glucosamine can not only relieve pain caused by arthritis but could even reverse the damage that has already been done.

Boron

Very few people know about boron, but it can have many benefits, especially for older adults. Boron has been shown to boost immune function and bone health. Boron has also been shown to help prevent dementia and could help prevent Alzheimer’s as well.

Psyllium Fiber

Dietary fiber becomes increasingly important with age and is essential for maintaining proper bowel function. But adding psyllium fiber to your diet could have many other benefits as well. It has been shown to reduce blood sugar and reduce the chance of developing coronary artery disease. Other research has shown that psyllium fiber could help reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body by latching on to bile acid and fat and flushing them out through our digestive tract.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced by our pineal gland and it plays an essential role in maintaining our sleep cycles. Levels of the hormones decrease with age, which could affect your ability to get quality sleep. That’s why it would be wise to supplement your diet with melatonin if you suddenly start developing a sleeping disorder. A lack of sleep has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and diabetes, making melatonin that much more important for older adults.

Conclusion

While you can never completely reverse the effects of time, there are some things you can do to minimize them and continue living a healthy and active life. Make sure that you consider adding these supplements to your diet and consult your doctor for recommendations as well.