How Cannabis Can Lower Your Cholesterol

By Sofia Missiato

In Brazil, millions of people live with high cholesterol, a number that means 40% of the population, according to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology. This fact also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases that can be fatal if the arteries become blocked. Some research has been conducted to determine if cannabis benefits people with high cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in food and is also produced by the body. The vast majority of cholesterol comes from the body itself. In fact, it is an important component for the proper functioning of all cell membranes. For example, it is not possible to produce vitamin D without cholesterol.

It is composed of various substances, and if all are present in the correct proportion, there is nothing to worry about. It only becomes a problem if the proportion of substances in cholesterol is unbalanced. In particular, the relationship between HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

HDL is known as the good cholesterol because it acts as a cleaning agent that can cleanse the bloodstream. There is also bad cholesterol, LDL, a substance that can accumulate and cause blockages, causing arteries to harden and narrow. Over time, a vein can become blocked and stop functioning, preventing blood from reaching organs and tissues, thus causing a stroke or heart attack.

Claudinelli Alvarenga Aguilar, a cardiologist and nutritionist, emphasizes that dyslipidemia (increased cholesterol) can be acquired through an unbalanced diet rich in saturated fats, processed foods, and fried foods in general, as well as being of genetic, familial origin. Since CBD has immunomodulatory action, it is inferred that it may regulate cholesterol levels in familial dyslipidemias. “The edible fibers from hemp also promise to help reduce fat absorption and promote satiety. “When the endocannabinoid system is modulated, there is a decrease in anxiety and eventually, appetite, which can facilitate adherence to cholesterol-reducing diets,” comments Claudinelli.

How Does Marijuana Help?

The chemical elements of Cannabis are capable of protecting the vascular endothelium from conditions such as increased cholesterol and increased glycemia. As they are vasodilatory substances, cannabinoids also help control blood pressure levels.

According to a 2012 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the direct application of CBD would cause a reduction in vascular blood pressure. This is because cannabidiol has direct actions on isolated arteries, causing vasorelaxation and, consequently, protecting against vascular damage caused by a high glucose and inflammation environment.

The consumption of hemp oil may have a positive impact on cholesterol levels, depending on the body's response, but in any case, marijuana and CBD have a long way to go.

Foods That Can Help with Cholesterol

Foods rich in fiber, such as oats and bran cereals;
Omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds);
Fish (mackerel, herring, tuna, salmon, trout) almonds;
Avocados.