The gut microbiome represents a fundamental part of us—a sizable six pounds of your body weight can be attributed to trillions of bacteria, viruses, and microbes living deep within your gut.
The gut is another name for the gastrointestinal tract, which begins at the esophagus and ends at the anus.
When in balance, these microbes generally exist in symbiosis with us and help to stimulate and regulate the immune system, break down potentially toxic food, synthesize essential vitamins and amino acids, and strengthen the gut barrier.
A range of factors can set this in motion: diets that are high in fat or sugar, or low in fiber, drinking alcohol on a daily basis, or eating produce with pesticide residue.
Gut microbiota also play a role in the development of obesity, with people who are overweight or obese showing a reduced microbial diversity.
“When looking more deeply at the gut environment, you begin to see that there’s more than this vast array of bacteria and other organisms,” said Jason Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of HempFusion Wellness, and CEO of Probulin Probiotics.
Gut-brain communication plays a fundamental role in gastrointestinal health, thinking and decision-making, and emotions.
The endocannabinoid system is a major system within the body that helps to regulate mood, emotions, pain, appetite, and responses to stress.
The endocannabinoid system plays a central role in maintaining a balanced gut microbiome and also regulates vital gut functions.
Dustin Sulak, medical cannabis expert and founder of Healer.com, said there’s evidence that poor gut microbial health can detrimentally affect the endocannabinoid system: A 2020 mouse study found that a dysbiotic gut microbiome threw the endocannabinoid system out of balance, triggering depressive behaviors in mice.
THC also helped reduce certain symptoms associated with obesity, including low-grade inflammation and gut permeability, which results when toxins or bacteria leak from the gut into the bloodstream.
“As for human evidence, one study found that the cannabis users’ microbiome had fewer bacteria associated with obesity,” said Sulak.
Other fascinating research suggests that cannabis may also help treat alcohol-use disorders that detrimentally affect the gut microbiome.
The combined effects of this damage can also lead to a “leaky gut,” or gut permeability, where food particles, bacteria, and waste products seep directly into the bloodstream.
In one 2019 preclinical mouse study, a combination of THC and CBD was found to promote healthy gut microbiota and high levels of certain short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine, which promote immune function and boost metabolism.
Cannabis can contribute to gut and brain health in other ways, too: Cannabinoids have been found to stabilize the blood-brain barrier and reduce both gut inflammation and neuroinflammation.
“There are several cannabinoids and terpenes that are of particular interest to me because they have profound effects on the gut and the ECS in supporting balance in the area of stress, inflammatory response, and immune support,” he said.
in sociology and has worked as a researcher and lecturer, but loves being a writer most of all.