VALO'S ARCHIVE

Marijuana is not the only way to activate your  cannabinoid  system.  There are more fundamental and gentle ways that help activate your  cannabinoid  system and bring you similar benefits. Top 13 Ways to Increase Cannabinoids Without Smoking Pot I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I respond well to every treatment that increases cannabinoid receptors. 1) Stress Reduction Emotional stress  decreases CB1 receptors ( R ), including social defeat stress ( R ). Prolonged exposure to elevated glucocorticoids (cortisol), such as those induced by chronic stress conditions, significantly reduces hippocampal CB1 receptors ( R ), leading to lower cannabinoid function. In fact, a recent study suggests that CB1 receptor deficiency may mimic the effects of chronic stress on emotional behavior ( R ). 2) Omega 6’s Anandamide, 2-AG, 2-AGE, and other endogenous cannabinoids are derived fr...

Most of us associate  too much cortisol  with the loss of muscle and gain of more belly fat. Yuck! But too little cortisol leaves us feeling “chronically fatigued.” Neither of those things sound very appealing, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  Let’s talk about some cortisol basics and then briefly discuss what can go wrong when our levels get funky. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, also known as hydrocortisone.  It’s produced in the adrenal cortex in response to stress (physical or emotional) and according to natural cycles that tend to correlate to circadian rhythms.  It is made from cholesterol and its synthesis and release is controlled by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cortisol helps us get our butts out of bed in the morning and function day to day. In the morning, cortisol rises until it peaks around 8:00am. This helps us feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. As the day wears on, it falls gradually, reaching its lowest levels around 3:00-4:00a...