Anandamide - The Natural Cannabinoid Your Body Produces

Anandamide – The Natural Cannabinoid Your Body Produces

endocannabinoids - anandamide - 2-ag- phytocannabinoids - cbd supplements

Anandamide – The “Bliss” Molecule!

Everyone loves chocolate. Ever wondered why it is known to be good for cheering you up? It’s Anandamide.

This article looks at the link between Anandamide and CBD.

Named after Ananda (the Sanskrit word for “joy, bliss, or happiness”) the neurotransmitter produced in the brain has been hailed as the ‘Bliss Molecule’.

Moreover, it is said to be responsible for the temporary happy feeling you get after your favorite bar of chocolate.

What exactly is Anandamide?

During research in the 1980s receptors were found in the brain for THC the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. This puzzled scientist as our bodies don’t naturally produce THC. It wasn’t until a few years later that they discovered Arachidonyl Ethanolamide , Anandamide for short.

Anandamide is an endocannabinoid.

An endocannabinoid is a substance produced in the body that binds to cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant reacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors within our own Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

Anandamide is among many compounds that aid the body in a variety of physiological processes. This includes appetite, pain-sensation, mood, memory and is naturally produced within our bodies.

Increasing Anandamide intake

Our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids such as anandamide in low volumes thus needs ‘topped-up’. In addition living a balanced, healthy lifestyle, eating green vegetables, doing exercise, and getting plenty of sleep all help to keep your ECS ticking over. However, there are other ways in which to boost the ‘Bliss Molecule’.

Truffles

Until recently, chocolate was believed to be the only food that contained anandamide. Then scientists found that black truffles did also. Although the fungus produces the chemical, it has no internal receptors that interact with it. So why does it produce it?

Have you ever seen a pig or dog frantically sniff out a truffle? Certain animals are majorly attracted to the sought after fungus.

It is believed that truffles develop anandamide for this purpose. Animals will eat truffles and in turn boost reproduction by releasing the fungus spores. Similar to the impact on humans, the ‘bliss’ producing anandamide is what makes it so attractive!

Exercise

Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are the main components in the feel-good factor of a good run or gym session. It should be noted however that studies are now suggesting that it is, in fact, a surge in endocannabinoids (such as Anandamide) that is responsible. We know this because endorphin molecules are too large to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Source British Medical Journal of Sports Medicine. – http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/38/5/536

Anandamide and CBD

Anandamide and CBD are both “cannabinoids”. As well as producing these naturally within our own bodies, they are found in abundance in the cannabis plant.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the medical use and healing properties of marijuana. Investigations into the benefits of CBD suggests that supplementing your own ECS can help regulate many of the body’s processes, such as :