The Endocannabinoid System is an essential part of your body and is crucial to living a more stress-free and happy life. But what is the Endocannabinoid System, and what does it do? Let’s learn more about the complex system and explore four ways to enhance your Endocannabinoid System right in the comfort of your own home.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The Endocannabinoid System, or ECS, is a network of nerves and a complex cell-signaling system that is responsible for keeping your body in homeostasis. This system is made up of three main parts: endocannabinoids, metabolic enzymes, and cannabinoid receptors.
The ECS was identified in the early 1990s when researchers discovered THC, which is a well-known cannabinoid. Scientists later discovered that the body has the ability to produce its own cannabinoids, and history was made.
So far, experts have found that the ECS plays a part in regulating a range of functions in the body, including mood, sleep, appetite, memory, reproduction, and fertility.
In your brain, there are two primary receptors that interact and bind with cannabinoids, and when they do, there are several health effects that can occur.
By naturally supporting, stimulating, and supplementing your endocannabinoid system, this can lead to a number of brain and mental health benefits, including:
- Improved mood
- Less stress and tension
- Less hyperactivity
- Better focus and concentration
- Deeper Sleep
- Higher BDNF levels
- Less head and neck tension
These health benefits are critical to you leading a happy and healthy, everyday life. So, let’s dive into why you should keep your ECS healthy and discover some natural ways to do this.
How To Boost Your Endocannabinoid System
Keeping your ECS healthy is critical to getting a good night’s sleep and waking up with a positive mindset, as it contributes to an overall sense of well-being.
Your ECS is responsible for many functions throughout your body, including eating, sleeping, relaxation, forgetting, and protecting. Since these are all critical functions and play an active role in your daily life, it is beneficial to find ways to give your ECS an added boost every now and then.
Let’s explore several ways to enhance your endocannabinoid system and healthy habits to implement into your daily life.
1. Eating Healthy Fats and Foods
One of the best ways to naturally boost your endocannabinoid system through nutrition is eating healthy fats and implementing more Omega-3 Fatty Acids into your diet. Omega-3 helps increase cannabinoid production in the brain and is full of lipids that can boost your brain health.
If you want to take your ECS diet to the next level, here are some endocannabinoid-boosting foods to try:
- Hemp Seeds
- Walnuts
- Chia Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Sardines
- Eggs
- Anchovies
- Chocolate
- Herbs
- Herbal teas
Along with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, these foods will help to strengthen your brain, heart, cholesterol, and overall health. Want to try some more healthy foods to boost your ECS? Try starting your day by drinking a cup of coffee or tea.
Coffee and caffeine have been shown to enhance the activation of CB1 receptors by endocannabinoids and are a great way to stimulate your ECS. Tea is also a great ECS and body booster because tea contains catechins, antioxidant compounds with neuroprotective effects.
For a sweet treat, have a piece of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and is known to be a wonderful natural stress reliever. Dark chocolate also contains anandamide, which is a fatty acid neurotransmitter. Delicious dark chocolate also increases BDNF and reduces cortisol, which is why it’s a great healthy snack or dessert alternative if you’re looking to take care of your ECS.
2. Exercising on a Regular Basis
Exercise on a regular basis is a great way to boost your endocannabinoid system. Exercise can reduce stress, better your overall health, and help you to get a more restful night’s sleep. All of these things can then help your body in its natural cannabinoid production.
Running is a great way to help your body, even if it is just for 30 minutes in the morning or evening. Some believe that a “runner’s high” that many people experience while exercising may be attributed to your body’s cannabinoid uptake.
But not to worry, if you’re not fond of running, most types of exercise and physical activity can boost endocannabinoids. Yoga, breathing exercises, and elliptical workouts can also stimulate your ECS.
Here are some simple and effective workouts that you can do on a regular basis in order to help stimulate your ECS:
- Walk as much as you can -- aim for at least 30-60 minutes per day.
- Lift weights several times a week.
- Run for 20-30 minutes, every other day.
- Do a high-intensity workout, 1-2 times per week
These exercises will not only raise your heartbeat and boost your ECS, but they will also help to keep your whole body feeling strong and happy.
However, if working out isn't your thing, make sure you're not forcing yourself to exercise. The endocannabinoid system sees this type of forced behavior as a type of stress and, therefore, does not increase your endocannabinoid system.
So if you like to move and you’re up for a challenge, exercise can help many parts of your body, including muscle strength, endurance, and your cardiovascular system as well. Since many of your body’s systems and organs work together, exercise can be an easy and effective way to keep your body running smoothly.
3. Taking Hemp Supplements
Another way to naturally enhance your ECS is through taking Hemp supplements. The Hemp plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries all around the world.
Taking Hemp supplements, such as CBDa, can support your body by making endocannabinoids by assuring optimal focus and balance. CBDa has many neurological benefits, including promoting a healthy mood balance, preventing complications caused by metabolic imbalances, and promoting self-healing.
Taking natural supplements like CBDa can help your body heal and help you achieve a healthy mind, body, and soul.
4. Managing Your Stress in a Healthy Way
Stress is something that everyone deals with, whether it’s stress with work, finances, relationships, the list goes on and on. Chronic stress can put you at risk of several health problems, including stress and tension, which is why it’s so important to learn healthy ways to cope with all the stressors in your life.
Learning to manage your stress in a healthy way will make you feel better and strengthen your ECS and lead to the development of new endocannabinoid receptors in your body.
When you feel heavy amounts of stress, this leads to increased cortisol, the stress hormone released in your body. This can directly interfere with the proper function of the ECS and its CB1 receptors, which is why you should aim to reduce stress.
Remember to steer clear of unhealthy ways to manage stress, such as using alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or eating excessive amounts of food. These things may provide a temporary fix but will cause your body more harm in the long run. Instead, focus on healthy ways to reduce stress.
Several different activities can help you to lower stress levels and to naturally boost your body’s health, including:
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- CBD
- Osteopathy
- Massages
Effective stress management is crucial to having a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Final Remarks
Enhancing your ECS can do wonders for your mental health and provide excellent boosts to your body and brain function. Remember to eat those healthy fats, add more exercise into your routine, and take natural CBDa supplements to help enhance your endocannabinoid system.
Consider all of the above factors carefully when you are ready to take charge of your mental health and bring positivity to your body, mind, and soul!
Want to Learn More?
- What is a Certificate of Analysis for CBD products?
- Why CBDa is Rare?
- How Organic Hemp Oil Benefits Skin
