Make CBD a Part of Your January Detox

As health and careful lifestyle choices remain front and centre for 2021, many are kicking off their new year with a detox. In South Africa, the lockdown related alcohol ban is helping many people go slow on the booze but taking an active interest in preparing your body and mind for the challenges of another year starts with better eating, sticking to an exercise routine and taking time out for self-care.

If you’re planning a detox you may be tempted to try some of the detox products on the market but it is a good idea to do your research first because some of them can cause quite a severe reaction and are potentially even harmful. The herbs suggested for detox may produce a severe laxative effect, along with considerable abdominal cramping and could be taxing the liver even more. Another thing to consider is that drinking too much water is not actually good for you, stick to no more than 8 glasses a day. All of this news may be confusing. Experts suggest that we rather work with the body’s natural detoxification system by adding less – less alcohol, caffeine and saturated fats – to allow your liver a chance to reboot. 

CBD can be an excellent partner in giving your body a chance to do it’s own detox work. CBD works as a corrector, bringing balance and harmony to the body by interacting with the body’s own endocannabinoid receptors. The cannabinoid in CBD works with body to correct imbalances and, because each person is different, there will be different adjustments. So where some people may find CBD increases focus, others may find it makes them very relaxed. CBD works to reduce inflammation and boost mood which is also a good way to get your 2021 on!

Medical News Today reports that the reason why CBD has this effect is linked to the way  cannabinoid interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid (ECD) receptors CB1 and CB2. People with obesity have more CB1 receptors, often spread out in the fatty tissue and introducing CBD as an antagonist may in fact promote better functioning of the CB2 ECD, as well as serotonin, which could in turn help people lose weight and metabolise better.  Studies also show that stimulating the CB2 receptors will assist in reducing inflammation. A 2012 study showed that CBD reduced appetite in rats.

But perhaps the best reason to choose CBD for your healthy detox partner, is that it calms your mind. Anxiety is one of the biggest culprits for bingeing and over-eating. Many people reach for food, especially those high in sugar and carbohydrates, to help them manage stress. This often sets up a negative cycle of eating to buffer out the very fears and worries that the anxiety is signalling. Rooting out anxiety in the long term requires a good look at why it is presenting and what the triggers are and then reprogramming our behaviour to find healthier ways to cope with life’s challenges.

Many people have found themselves to be eating more during the pandemic too. Fear of the unknown, worries about the disease itself, our vulnerable loved ones and the boredom of hours at home drives many people into the kitchen cupboards or to ‘treat’ themselves with a sweet something as a form of reward or pleasure. Unfortunately, overdoing the treats means that people soon pick up weight so the long term impact is that people feel even worse both physically and mentally. CBD is widely touted as a safe and effective way to minimise anxiety and stress, calming the mind and helping people cope enough to work their way through their issues. So partner with CBD for mind and body and make this detox a gentle one with results that last far beyond January.