When cold weather rolls in, you want to bundle up in your coziest sweats, crank up the heater, and sip your favorite tea until spring arrives. Unfortunately, your immune system seems to take a similar approach to hibernation as you may suddenly find yourself susceptible to every cough and sniffle around you.
However, this doesn’t have to be the case. You can take steps to strengthen your immune system and keep winter sickness at bay with CBD. Though it isn’t formulated to cure autoimmune disease, gut virus, or other sicknesses, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties do have the potential to help protect your immune health.
Instead of curling into a ball on the couch until winter ends, the best way to stay healthy is by actively engaging in immune system-boosting behaviors. Plus, products containing CBD, such as CBD softgels and CBD oils, may help promote full-body wellness to help support your immune system function properly and healthily.
Key Takeaways
- Strengthening your immune system by supporting healthy cell function is the best way to protect your body from unwanted invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
- Your immune system and endocannabinoid system work together to promote full-body wellness. Since CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, taking CBD may help bolster your immune system.
- While CBD can help, following proven methods to boost your immune system is the most effective way to keep yourself healthy during cold and flu season.
Immune System 101
Your immune system is your body’s first line of defense against infection. Like many other parts of your body, immune cells can be weakened or strengthened by your actions and lifestyle. The components that make up this very complex system include:
- White blood cells
- Thymus
- Spleen
- Tonsils
- Lymph nodes
- Bone marrow
- Lymph vessels
These parts work together to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins that enter your body. Additionally, your immune system is broken up into two main parts:
- Innate immune system – You’re born with an innate immune system that’s considered a first responder to any invasive organisms.
- Adaptive immune system – The adaptive immune system is acquired as your body develops antibodies after exposure to a specific agent. Exposure stimulates your body’s immune response and instructs it to build antibodies to protect you the next time you’re exposed to that agent.
How Does CBD Support the Immune System?
Can CBD help your immune system? Possibly. A compound known as a cannabinoid is found within CBD, and cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates and balances your body’s many systems, including the immune system.
The endocannabinoid system acts as a control center within your body and is made up of three parts, including:
- Endocannabinoids
- Enzymes
- Receptors
Endocannabinoids are molecules that your body produces naturally. These molecules help keep your body running smoothly. However, they must pair with a receptor to trigger the desired response.
For example, when your body has an inflammatory response to an outside stimulus, such as a virus, the endocannabinoids will seek out the receptors they need to bind to in order to tell your immune system that it needs to attack the outside invader.
When you consume CBD, the cannabinoids act as endocannabinoids to interact with these receptors to promote full-body vitality. To that end, there are two types of known receptors within the endocannabinoid system:
- CB1 – CB1 receptors are primarily confined to the central nervous system and are located within the brain and spinal cord.
- CB2 – These receptors are believed to be connected to the peripheral nervous system, and are found in small quantities in the brain, as well as the immune and gastrointestinal systems.
When cannabinoids within CBD interact with CB2 receptors, CBD may be able to influence or promote the immune system’s bodily functions, such as fighting off germs and neutralizing toxins. Regularly taking CBD may also lead to:
- Elevated moods
- Increased relaxation
- Alleviated discomfort
- Improved sleep
How to Nurture Your Immune System Properly
While the CBD oil benefits are vast and may help to improve your immune system, there are also a few practices that are a sure-fire way to keep your immune system healthy and strong.
Tip 1: Get Plenty of Restful Sleep
One of the simplest actions you can take to fortify your immune system is to do nothing at all. That’s right, sleep is one of your best weapons in the fight against infection. However, CDC research has shown that nearly 35% of American adults don’t get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
The CDC also warns of the dangers of poor or insufficient sleep. Skimping on rest can have a detrimental effect on your immune system by:
- Decreasing your body’s antibody production
- Increasing the production of inflammatory cytokines
- Impairing overall immune function
Many of these effects were seen after just one night of reduced sleep. To ensure you get a restful night’s sleep:
- Limit caffeine at least 8 hours before bed
- Avoid blue light exposure in the evenings
- Stick to a sleep schedule
- Keep your bedroom cool and comfortable
Also, consider taking CBD for immune system health. Eating one or two CBD gummies before bed may help promote a night of healthy, restful sleep. The better rested you are, the stronger your immune system will be.
Tip 2: Remain Calm and Relaxed
You’ve probably experienced that run-down, drained feeling that comes after an overwhelming and busy day. We’ve all been there—life’s tasks pile up and become an insurmountable hurdle.
Feelings of unease or fatigue can lead to significant amounts of stress, which can lead to:
- Poor sleep
- Unhealthy diets
- Limited energy
- Lack of motivation
An inability to relax and let go of the things that are bothering you can negatively impact your sleep. This wrecks havoc on your immune system and, before you know it, you’re stuck in bed, miserable and sick.
But, even when you’re overwhelmed, it’s possible to re-center your mind and body and learn how to live a balanced life. Some of our favorite activities to achieve comfort and relaxation include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Exercise
A few drops of a Full Spectrum CBD Oil under your tongue may also help you feel more relaxed throughout the day—no matter what you encounter. Determining the best way to use CBD oil is a matter of trial and error, however, if you are new to CBD, be sure to start with a low dose and gradually increase your intake to best fit your needs.
Tip 3: Exercise Regularly
All athletes know the importance of regular exercise when it comes to maintaining their body’s health. However, moving your body can also help get your immune system into gear.
It’s important to note that too much exercise or very intense efforts might actually suppress your immune system for a period of time after completing a workout. However, moderate exercise can increase your blood flow and may reduce inflammation, which can help your immune cells function.
A review in the Journal of Sport and Health Science analyzed several different studies related to exercise’s impact on immunity. The findings demonstrated a link between moderate, consistent exercise and fewer reported days of illness among several groups, including:
- Women who walked for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 15 weeks had 50% fewer illnesses
- Men and women who exercised at least 5 days a week for 12 weeks had 43% fewer illnesses
- Women and men in a 12-month study who exercised regularly had 26% fewer illnesses
As you can see, the exact decrease in the number of days of reported illness varied depending on the study, but each of the groups that performed moderate exercise regularly experienced fewer sniffles and aches.
However, even when your mind wants to exercise, your body can protest with sore muscles that can make a workout at the gym grueling and uncomfortable. Whether you’re recovering from an extra-long run or healing from a sprain, there are several practices that can ease discomfort, including:
- Rolling sore muscles out on foam rollers
- Using a massage gun to target a sore muscle
- Taking an ice bath
If an icy bath isn’t your style, you can also try a warm bath filled with a CBD bath bomb to help ease soreness.
Tip #4: Reduce Inflammation Throughout Your Body
Inflammation is the enemy of a functioning, healthy immune system. A little inflammation is necessary to stimulate your body’s natural immune response. However, when your immune system can’t resolve the inflammation, it goes into overdrive and continues to fight.
Your diet can play a vital part in reducing inflammation. To that end, make sure your meals are nutrient-packed with:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Nuts
- Fish
- Healthy fats such as olive oil and avocados
- Green tea
These are just some of the tasty foods that can reduce inflammation and regulate your immune system. Chewing a few CBD gummies may also help promote a healthy gut and ease swelling.
Stay on Top of Healthy Behaviors with Resilience CBD
Your immune cells are your first line of defense against foreign cells, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins, and your lifestyle will heavily influence the viability of your immunity against invaders. By taking action to get healthy sleep, remain calm, exercise regularly, and reduce inflammation, you can fortify your defenses and promote healthy cell function.
Support your immune system with Resilience CBD.
We offer a lineup of premium CBD products that help restore your mind and body so you can stay healthy no matter what life throws at you. Plus, we only use the best ingredients, so you can trust that your body is only getting the best. Whether you’re looking for a product to help provide pain relief, boost, immune activity support,or deliver anti-inflammatory benefits, we can help you stay resilient with Resilience CBD.
Get all your CBD questions answered at Resilience CBD. With questions ranging from “What are CBD terpenes?” and “Is CBD extracted from the cannabis plant?” to “What are phytocannabinoids?” and “What are the different forms of CBD?”, we’ve got your covered.
Sources:
National Cancer Institute. Immune System. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/immune-system
NIH. Endocannabinoids and Immune Regulation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044336/
NIH. Cannabis, the Endocannabinoid System and Immunity – the Journey from the Bedside to the Bench and Back. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352399/
CDC. Table 1. Short Sleep Duration Among US Adults. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html
CDC. Sleep and the Immune System. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/work-hour-training-for-nurses/longhours/mod2/05.html
NIH. The Effects of Moderate Exercise Training on Immune Response. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1997814/
NIH. The Compelling Link Between Physical Activity and the Body’s Defense System. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523821/
NIH. Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated DIseases in Organs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805548/#:~:text=Inflammation%20is%20the%20immune%20system’s,vital%20to%20health%20%5B3%5D.
