You may have heard the delightful news that that on occasion, a glass of wine is beneficial to our health. Well, there’s more good news to come.
Cannabis is good for the heart.
According to studies from the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania, cannabis users were found to have lower cholesterol levels.
“Our review found insufficient evidence to draw meaningful conclusions that marijuana use is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes,” says head writer Dr. Divya Ravi, an intern for the school.
The research was done by assessing medical studies relating to cannabis use and cardiovascular effects. The results concluded that cannabis use minimized the risk of diabetes while increasing higher levels of good HDL cholesterol.
While cholesterol isn’t much of a concern for the younger generations, the CDC reports that nearly 610,000 Americans each year because of heart disease with poor cholesterol being the main contributor. This can be attributed to poor food choices and lack of exercise.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) can clog up arteries and lead to heart disease. Smoking, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and diabetes could eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. The CDC also reports that over 102 million Americans aged 20 and above have high cholesterol levels. However, not all cholesterol is bad. High-density lipoproteins are good for cardiovascular function because it absorbs the HDLs and flushes them out of the body.
According to a 2007 study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience exposed that the THC in marijuana works with the CB1 receptors in the brain and increased levels of HDL.
Another study published by BMJ Open tested the cannabis for cardiovascular function theory by examining blood serum in cannabis users. The results clarified that marijuana creates more of serum HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, which is very good for heart health.
Similar research published in The American Journal of Medicine concluded that marijuana users are 50% less likely to develop metabolic syndrome in comparison to those who do not use the drug. Metabolic syndrome can be described as a group of ailments contributing to poor health such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. All these conditions can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Though there is still much more research to be done regarding the interesting correlation between cholesterol and cannabis, using marijuana cannot take the place of a healthy lifestyle. However, incorporating a responsible amount of THC and the occasional glass of wine could make your heart a little bit more happy and healthy.
