Clearing the Air about CBD

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CBD is everywhere and in everything. From beauty products to food and beverages such as lattes and candies, it is predicted that the CBD market could become a $16 billion industry by 2025.

Some research has shown CBD to benefit in pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and seizure management,  however, marketers are taking advantage of this message to go as far as stating CBD combats aging and chronic diseases.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of the compounds in the cannabinoid family which, in nature, is found only in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD mimics endocannabinoids produced by the body without the intoxicating “high.” CBD is not addictive and some studies have shown it to have some anti-addictive effects against compounds like opioids.

Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in regulating mood, memory, appetite, stress, sleep, metabolism, immune function, pain sensation, and reproduction.

Most studies have only focused on the effects of THC, therefore there are very few human studies that look at CBD and its effects. The strongest evidence we have is that CBD can reduce the frequency of seizures in certain rare pediatric disorders. Preliminary human data from small clinical trials suggest CBD may have the potential to be used for conditions like anxiety, schizophrenia, opioid addiction, and Parkinson’s disease. Note: Participants in these studies generally received several hundreds of milligrams of CBD a day; most commercial products contain an inadequate amount of ~5mg to 25mg of CBD/serving to produce significant results.

Although evidence remains inconclusive about CBD’s effects,

there is hope.

Like any substance, CBD can have side effects. CBD can interact with other foods, drugs or medications. It is metabolized in the liver which means it can elevate the blood levels of other prescription medications. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid using cannabidiol products because they can be contaminated with other ingredients, such as THC, that may be harmful to the fetus or infant.

If you are using or considering CBD for therapeutic treatment, please:

  • Be aware cannabis and its derivatives are considered a Schedule 1 Controlled Substances and remain federally illegal
  • Research products and talk to your doctor and/or dietitian so they can monitor you for side effects and interactions with foods and other medications you take

KD

Sources

Ellis, E. (2020, January 03). Clearing the Air: Food & Nutrition Magazine: Volume 9, Issue 1. Retrieved from https://foodandnutrition.org/from-the-magazine/clearing-the-air

Klotz, K. A., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Antonio-Arce, V. S., & Jacobs, J. (2018, September 07). Cannabidiol for Treatment of Childhood Epilepsy-A Cross-Sectional Survey. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143823

Kyle, E. (2020, February 11). Emily Kyle Nutrition. Retrieved from https://emilykylenutrition.com/

Newell-Bissex, J. (2018, September 13). Clearing Up Cannabis Confusion: Food & Nutrition: From the Magazine. Retrieved from https://foodandnutrition.org/from-the-magazine/clearing-up-cannabis-confusion

https://www.forbes.com/sites/irisdorbian/2019/03/12/cbd-market-could-pull-in-16-bln-by-2025-says-study

Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is not a disease; it is a group of symptoms that occur together that affect the large intestine. One in five Americans and twice as many women as men experience symptoms of IBS. Though no specific cause is known, several factors may contribute to IBS, including heredity, lifestyle, allergies, an infection or an abnormally large number of bacteria growing in the intestine.
The best way to manage IBS is to understand what may cause episodes of discomfort and then work to eliminate or minimize them. While medication, stress management and supplements can help, the focus should be on diet and eating habits.
  • Establish Regular Eating Habits. Eating at regular times helps regulate your bowels.
  • Eat Small, Frequent Meals Instead of Large Ones. This will ease the amount of food moving through your intestinal tract.
  • Eat Fiber-Rich Foods. Try whole fruits, vegetables (including beans) and whole grains like rolled oats, brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Make changes slowly. Fiber helps move food through your intestine, but it takes time for your body to adjust to eating more. Adding too much fiber too quickly may result in gas, bloating and cramping.
  • Drink Enough Fluids. Fiber draws water from your body to move foods through your intestine. Without enough water and fluids you may become constipated.
  • Watch What You Drink. Alcohol and caffeine can stimulate your intestines and cause diarrhea. Artificial sweeteners that contain sugar alcohols like sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol may cause diarrhea too. Carbonated drinks can produce gas.
  • Identify Problem Foods and Eating Habits. Keeping a food diary during flare-ups can help you figure out what you may be eating that’s causing a problem.
Although the focus should be on diet, many people with IBS turn to complementary health practices to help relieve their symptoms, and there is emerging evidence that some of these practices may have modest benefits.
If you are thinking about a complementary health practice for IBS, here’s what you need to know:
  • Herbal remedies. Herbal remedies are commonly used for IBS symptoms; however, much of the research on these remedies has been done in China. A review of clinical trials for 71 herbal remedies found limited evidence suggesting that a few of these herbal remedies might help improve IBS symptoms including abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. However, the review emphasizes that the studies were generally of poor quality.
  • Peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is one herbal remedy often used to treat IBS for which there are mixed results. There is some evidence that enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules may be modestly effective in reducing several common symptoms of IBS—especially abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. Non-enteric coated forms of peppermint oil may cause or worsen heartburn symptoms, but otherwise appear to be generally safe.
  • Probiotics. Probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are live microorganisms that are similar to microorganisms normally found in the human digestive tract, and they have been associated with an improvement in IBS symptoms compared with placebo. Results of studies suggest probiotics may decrease some patients’ abdominal pain, bloating, and gas.
  • Acupuncture. While a few small studies have indicated that acupuncture has some positive effect on quality of life in people with IBS, reviews of the scientific literature have concluded that there is no convincing evidence to support the use of acupuncture for the treatment of IBS symptoms.
Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
To learn more about managing symptoms of IBS, consult your doctor and a registered dietitian. sls