How to Slow Down the Aging Process: Could CBD be the Answer We’ve All Been Looking for?
In recent years, CBD has become a must-have in many people’s medicine cabinets. While CBD is a naturally occurring component derived from cannabis, it’s not to be confused with THC, which is the psychoactive component of marijuana, causing the high many associate with the infamous plant. While CBD won’t cause the high that THC will, there are plenty of benefits for the human body that shouldn’t be ignored.
Taking CBD
In case you don’t already know, CBD is often used to help calm anxiety and reduce symptoms of insomnia, amongst other ailments. It comes in a variety of forms and can be digested, applied topically or taken through inhalation.
“When using a supplemental oil, it is absorbed through the mouth, so it will have a pretty quick reaction time — about 30 minutes. You might also notice that it has a more medicinal feel than some other forms,” says Sydney Torabi, owner of the local CBD shop, Restart CBD.
Torabi, who has a background in nutrition, says that there are a variety of ways to utilize the supplement, and these different methods can have different effects.
For example, ingesting CBD can cause gastrointestinal benefits, such as decreasing inflammation in the intestines, she adds.
CBD and Skin Aging
CBD has been known to help with psoriasis, enhancing sleep quality and reducing pain and inflammation — but what about aging?
CBD has actually been found to have strong antioxidant properties that can help slow down the process of aging skin. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in CBD are actually more powerful than vitamins E and C.
CBD can also reduce the number of free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can damage the cells in the body. Free radicals damage cell proteins and DNA by altering their chemical structure, which can lead to premature aging. CBD can not only reduce free radicals, but also slow down the loss of collagen, which promotes healthier skin and cells.
If you want to use CBD for its anti-aging properties, then smoking the substance may not be the best option. Smoking can actually speed up the aging process and therefore would be counter-intuitive. Instead, opt for topical products such as lotions, oils and creams.
Aside from the reverse skin-aging benefits, CBD can help with growing older in other ways. As the years pile on, so can issues with joints, bones and general pain. CBD could potentially be a useful aid for these symptoms.
CBD and Quality of Life
Chase Hobby, co-founder of VRB Labs, says that although CBD is best known for its anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory characteristics, studies have also shown CBD to possess neuroprotective characteristics.
“At the end of the day, I think about longevity both in terms of length and quality of life. CBD naturally and effectively addresses some of the key drivers that shorten life and make it harder to live,” Hobby says. “Though continued research needs to be done, the latest science is pointing to CBD as a very real intervention for improving both the length and quality of life.”
Final Thoughts
Hobby mentions that, because CBD is new and generally unregulated, it is incredibly important for consumers to do their own research to find the brands that are doing it right.
When on the hunt for a quality CBD product, Hobby recommends:
- Ask to see the Certificate of Analysis (COA) for any CBD product you buy.
- Test their customer service. You don’t want to buy CBD from an absent/ghost team. See if they are responsive.
- Check to see if they offer 30-day, risk-free returns.
Another good way to tell if your CBD is high quality is by looking at the ingredients. If they are not listed, it’s probably a good sign not to buy it.
With benefits ranging from reducing skin conditions to enhancing sleep quality, CBD could potentially be another key to a longer, happier and healthier lifestyle. However, while CBD does house many benefits for the aging process, be sure to consult your primary care doctor before taking the supplement.
