Gut Health, Sleep and CBD are all interconnected. Gastroenterologist, Dr. Will Bulsiewics, in his book ´Fiber Fueled Cookbook´ (2022) notes that ¨Research has shown that sleep and your gut microbiota are intertwined. A damaged gut negatively affects sleep. Sleep deprivation negatively affects your gut. It can either work for us or against us. Either way, it’s important to keep track of the correlation between sleep and digestive symptoms because just two nights of poor sleep have been connected to alterations in the gut microbiota.¨
Scientists are still trying to understand the details. But evidence is accumulating that the endocannabinoid system interacts directly and bidirectionally with bacteria in the gut, influencing the activity and makeup of the microbiome while simultaneously helping to transmit its messages to the body and brain. What’s more, microbiome health may be modified and even improved through plant cannabinoids, including both THC and cannabidiol (CBD), as well as through the body’s own endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG, whose production is stimulated through exercise and the consumption of certain foods.
We also know that a dysregulated endocannabinoid system has a negative impact on our gut flora. And that certain foods improve the endocannabinoid function. The endocannabinoid system is being overwhelmed and overloaded with constant signals of stress, pain, inflammation. It’s very difficult under those conditions for it to properly make these endocannabinoids. We need to eat Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to even make these cannabinoids. A lot of us are deficient in the foods that are essential to even create these endocannabinoids.
At Secret Garden Inspirations, one of our most common first experiences from clients taking a full spectrum CBD dominant herb is their improved sleep patterns. And in a CBD use survey conducted by Projectcbd.org, participants reported that CBD helped people get to sleep more quickly, reducing the average time from about an hour to 20 minutes. Perhaps more importantly, participants reported waking up less often when using CBD for sleep.
So we can see that there is a distinct interconnectedness between a healthy endocannabinoid system, our gut health and our sleep patterns.
