Greater Carmel, IN

(317) 777 8712

Schedule a consult

health, Nutrition

Exploring the Link Between Cannabis Use and Gut Health

by Valerie Polley | Dec 14, 2023 | 0 comments

Cannabis is gaining increased attention for its potential health benefits. However, there is still a lot we don’t know about cannabis, so it can be hard to make specific recommendations for its use.

One area of growing interest is the effect of cannabis on gut health. More specifically, studies are starting to investigate the effect cannabis has on gut motility, or how food moves through the digestive tract.

In this blog post, we’ll review the science behind the use of cannabis for gut health, as well as how cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system.

Understanding Gut Motility

To understand the relationship between cannabis and gut health, it’s important to understand what gut motility is.

Gut motility refers to the coordinated contraction and relaxation of muscles in the digestive tract. This is what propels food through the digestive system and is crucial for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.

Gut motility is a finely tuned process influenced by many factors, such as neuronal control, hormonal regulation, and dietary factors.

Disruptions in any of these areas can lead to digestive issues, which emphasizes the importance of keeping these factors in balance for optimal gut health. 

The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is often referred to as the “bridge between the body and the mind.” It plays an important role in maintaining balance within the human body. The system has three key components:

  • Receptors: There are two main receptors in the endocannabinoid system – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system (particularly in the brain), while CB2 receptors are typically found in the peripheral nervous system, immune cells, and organs.
  • Endocannabinoids: Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids produced naturally within the body. They bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors to initiate various physiological responses.
  • Enzymes: Enzymes break down endocannabinoids once they’ve fulfilled their purpose.

Functions of the Endocannabinoid System

Some of the primary functions of the endocannabinoid system include:

  • Homeostasis: The endocannabinoid system helps maintain internal balance, ensuring that our body functions within optimal ranges despite external changes.
  • Mood Regulation: CB1 receptors in the brain play a significant role in regulating mood, stress responses, and emotional well-being.
  • Immune Function: CB2 receptors are prevalent in immune cells and are involved in regulating immune responses and inflammation.
  • Neuroprotection: The endocannabinoid system is involved in protecting the nervous system, with potential implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

The Endocannabinoid System and Cannabis

While the endocannabinoid system was discovered through the study of cannabis, its existence predates our understanding of the effects cannabis has on the body.

Cannabis compounds, known as cannabinoids, interact with the endocannabinoid system, mimicking the action of the endocannabinoids. The most well-known cannabinoids include THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

Connection Between the Endocannabinoid System and Gut Function

There are several connections between the endocannabinoid system and gut function. They include:

  • Regulation of Gut Motility: The endocannabinoid system plays a pivotal role in regulating gut motility. CB1 receptors are abundant in the enteric nervous system (the gut’s nervous system), which influences the movement of food through the digestive system. This ensures digestion proceeds smoothly.
  • Inflammation and Immune Function: CB2 receptors, found primarily in immune cells, are crucial for modulating inflammatory responses in the gut. Activating CB2 receptors helps regulate immune function, preventing the excessive inflammation that can contribute to certain bowel conditions.
  • Intestinal Barrier Integrity: The endocannabinoid system is involved in maintaining the integrity of the gut wall, an important defense mechanism that prevents harmful substances from entering the gut. A well-functioning endocannabinoid system contributes to a healthy gut barrier.

Cannabis and Gut Health: The Science

Since the cannabinoids found in cannabis interact with the endocannabinoid system, it’s thought that cannabis influences gut function.

Cannabis and Gut Motility

Animal studies suggest that substances that bind to CB1 receptors (like the cannabinoids found in cannabis) reduce the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. In other words? They slow down digestion. This could cause constipation to become worse. However, it may be beneficial for people with diarrhea, where gut transit is too fast.

Overall, there is a lack of human studies that look at the effects of cannabis on gut motility. While some animal studies suggest that cannabinoids reduce gut motility and therefore help with diarrhea, more studies in humans are needed before we can recommend cannabinoids such as THC and CBD as treatments for diarrhea.

Cannabis and Gastroparesis

There is also some evidence that cannabinoids can help with gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying). Studies have shown that inhaled cannabis and oral extracts led to significant improvements in gastroparesis. Another study looking at the effects of CBD on gastroparesis found that CBD provided symptom relief in people with gastroparesis, improving their tolerance of liquid nutrition.

Cannabis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

There is emerging evidence that cannabis can be beneficial for people with Crohn’s Disease. One study showed that medical cannabis use was associated with an improvement in disease activity and a reduction in use of other medications.

Another study found that people in the group receiving cannabis achieved complete remission more frequently than the placebo group. However, a different study looking at the effects of low-dose CBD found that it did not have any effect on Crohn’s Disease activity. This highlights the need for more studies to determine which cannabinoids are effective, and at what dose.

Considerations and Caveats

While the science behind cannabis and gut health is promising, it’s important to understand that there are individual variations in how a person responds to cannabis.

Plus, factors like dosage, frequency of use, and a person’s unique physiology can impact how cannabis affects them. Moreover, cannabis use is not without risk, including potential side effects and legal considerations.

Anyone considering cannabis for gut health should do so under the guidance of a licensed healthcare professional.

Final Thoughts

The relationship between cannabis use and gut health is a complex and evolving field of study. While initial research is promising, it’s important to approach cannabis use for digestive health cautiously, as more research is needed to determine which cannabinoids and which doses are effective.

As we await further scientific exploration on the relationship between cannabis use and gut health, people interested in exploring cannabis use as part of their gut health strategy should consult with a healthcare provider first. 

If you’re interested in improving your gut health, it’s important to work with a healthcare provider like a dietitian who has experience with helping people manage their gut symptoms. Click here to get in touch with Blue Tree Nutrition and get support with your gut health.

With summer here, many people are getting excited about upcoming vacations. But for people with digestive issues, symptoms like constipation and bloating are often unwelcome travel companions. Traveling disrupts our body's natural rhythms and daily habits, which can lead to digestive chaos.

This article will help you understand how sudden changes in hydration, diet, and airplane cabin pressure impact the gut, as well as provide practical, evidence-based tips for keeping your gut happy on the road.

The Perfect Storm for Constipation: Fluid and Fiber Drops

One of the biggest contributors to digestive issues like constipation when you're traveling is a change in your normal hydration and fiber intake patterns. Here's how each affects your gut.

Inconsistent Hydration

Disrupted routines often lead to forgetting to drink water. Plus, strict airport security rules mean you can't carry a full water bottle through security checkpoints. Travelers often intentionally avoid drinking to skip using tiny airplane toilets or unfamiliar public restrooms. Finally, plane cabins are incredibly dry, which can quickly lead to dehydration.

The result: When the body is dehydrated, the colon absorbs more water from food waste, leading to hard, dry, and difficult-to-pass stools.

Reduced Fiber Intake

Most people in the United States don't get enough fiber at the best of times, and traveling only makes this worse. Convenience foods at airports, gas stations, and roadside stops are typically highly processed, high in sodium, and low in fiber. Experiencing local cuisines often means prioritizing rich restaurant meals over fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Not getting enough fiber quickly contributes to constipation because fiber is essential for adding bulk to stool and keeps things moving through the digestive tract. A sudden drop in fiber stalls peristalsis (the wave-like muscle contractions in the gut), leading to less frequent bowel movements. 

The Combined Effect

The simultaneous drop in both fluid and fiber creates a "logjam" effect in the intestines. Not having enough fluid and fiber slows the movement of waste through your gut. This leads to more water being absorbed from the stool, resulting in hard, difficult-to-pass stool. The traffic jam effect makes acute constipation one of the most common (yet preventable) gut-related travel complaints.

Cabin Pressure and Bloating

Have you ever noticed that you get more bloated during air travel than other forms of travel? No, you're not imagining things. This is due to a law of physics called Boyle's Law. Simply put, this law of physics states that as atmospheric pressure decreases, the volume of a gas naturally increases.

Here's how that works with your gut and air travel. Airplane cabins are pressurized to simulate an altitude of around 6,000 to 8,000 feet. Because of this shift, the gas that's already present in your gut expands during flight. This rapid gas expansion stretches your intestinal walls, leading to pain, cramping, and bloating often referred to as "airplane belly."

Additionally, several common travel habits can aggravate this trapped gas. Drinking carbonated beverages before or during the flight, chewing gum (which leads to swallowing excess air), and remaining stationary for hours on end all trap and intensify the expanding gas.

Tips for a Happy Travel Gut

Fortunately, a few small tweaks to your travel routine can make a huge difference in whether you end up constipated and bloated while traveling.

Pre-Flight and In-Transit Tactics

  • Hydrate on the go: Bring an empty, reusable water bottle through airport security and fill it once you reach the departure lounge (most airports now have water bottle filling stations). Aim for consistent sipping throughout your journey to keep hydrated.
  • Be mindful of foods that can worsen bloating: Avoid fizzy drinks, heavy or fried foods, and gas-producing foods like beans, broccoli, and cabbage, for at least 24 hours before your flight. This can reduce the amount of gas present in your gut, which can reduce the bloating associated with a drop in cabin pressure.
  • Pack smart snacks: Since airport snacks are typically high in sodium and low in fiber, bringing your own high-fiber, travel-friendly snacks can help boost your fiber intake. Consider packing dried chickpeas, almonds, dried fruit, or on-the-go fiber supplements to bridge the gap.

On-Arrival Habits

  • Prioritize fiber: While there's nothing wrong with enjoying the local cuisine wherever you're traveling, try to prioritize fiber at your destination whenever possible. I recommend starting your day with a high-fiber breakfast, such as oatmeal with fruit, nuts, and seeds.
  • Get moving: Try to avoid being sedentary on arrival. Going for a leisurely walk helps stimulate intestinal motility and releases trapped gas (there's a reason a short walk after meals is commonly called a "fart walk"!).
  • Keep a regular sleep schedule: Vacation can throw a serious wrench into your routine, but wherever possible, try to maintain it. Gut issues can be worsened by poor sleep, so sticking to your routine can help support gut comfort on vacation.

Final Thoughts

Travel naturally changes our dietary habits and challenges our digestive system through abrupt changes in cabin pressure, but digestive discomfort doesn't need to ruin your vacation. By being mindful of your fluid and fiber intake, staying active, and making strategic changes in pre-flight eating habits to minimize the effects of cabin pressure changes, you can keep your digestion on track and enjoy every minute of your vacation.

If you're worried about an upcoming trip and need personalized strategies for managing your digestion on vacation, I'd love to help. You can get in touch with me at Blue Tree Nutrition to book your appointment with a registered dietitian.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello, I am

Valerie

My name is Valerie Polley. I am a Indianapolis-based registered dietitian and owner of Blue Tree Nutrition. I consult with clients both local and far away.
I have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Purdue University and I have been practicing for 20 years.
I thoroughly enjoy helping clients through their gut health journey. I see a range of GI issues including, but not limited to celiac disease, IBS and SIBO. I also specialize in the FODMAP elimination diet.

CONTACT ME