CBD: More Antioxidant than Vitamin C and E
The marker of good health is how well our body manages free radicals, which can come from stress and toxins in the environment, including UV rays, pollution, and tobacco smoke. Free radicals are also generated as natural byproducts from our cells’ natural processes. For example, when our immune system fights off viruses and bacteria, it creates a oxidative burst of free radicals in an attempt to kill the invaders and any damaged cells.
The more free radicals roaming about our body on a regular basis, the more damage they can do to our healthy cells and DNA. Free radicals are missing electrons and steal electrons from other cells in order to stabilize themselves in pairs. If free radicals begin to take particles from our DNA, then the body is more vulnerable to a variety of degenerative diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries), heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzhiemer’s, asthma, diabetes, and degenerative eye disease. This damaging process is called oxidation, akin to what rusts metal or browns fruit.
Antioxidants to the Rescue!
The antidote to free radicals is antioxidants. Antioxidants disable the free radicals’ abilities to steal electrons by donating their own electrons, thus keeping the free radicals away from our healthy cells and DNA particles. In doing so, they break the chain reaction that can eventually lead to degenerative diseases. This process is why antioxidants are an imperative part of protecting our brains and bodies from oxidization.
Our bodies create some antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid and glutathioine. In addition, our diet’s minerals and vitamins are a rich source of antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, copper, and selenium. Cartenoids like lutein from kale are also antixodiants, along with flavinoids from green tea, cocoa, blueberries, apples, and onions.
CBD: A Super Antioxidant Patented by the US Government
The phytochemicals in plants have special antioxidant properties, according to Harvard Medical School. Vitamin C, for example, will donate electrons to a free radical - and then the phytochemical hesperetin (found in citrus fruits) will restore the Vitamin C back to its antioxidant capabilities!
Fascinatingly, in laboratory studies, CBD has been found to be an antioxidant, with even more antioxidant quality than Vitamin C (ascorbate) or Vitamin E (α-tocopherol)! As early as 1998, the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Cancer Institute began discovering that CBD works as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant. Then in 2000, the National Institute of Mental Health performed a follow-up neuronal culture study that found CBD and other cannabinoids were more powerful than Vitamin C and Vitamin E in protecting neurons exposed to hydroperoxide toxicity.
These findings in America would prompt the US Federal Government to file for a patent on cannabinoids - even though cannabis was still illegal at that time in 2003. The patent was entitled, “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants,” and discussed how cannabinoids could be effective in treating a wide range of oxidization diseases, including inflammatory, autoimmune, age-related, or ischemic (restriction in blood supply leading to tissue damage, such as stroke or coronary artery disease).
With the legalization of hemp with the US Farm Bill in 2018, the door to researching the best CBD oil has been thrown wide open, and we are only at the beginning of discovering the molecular characteristics of cannabinoids. We have discovered that full spectrum, whole plant CBD works more powerfully than isolate. Called the entourage effect, this plant power comes from the wisdom of Mother Nature’s design, where all the compounds in the plant work in synergy to enhance each other. We would not be surprised if future research finds that different plants further the entourage effect, just as we’ve seen with certain foods increasing CBD absorption, as well as CBD helping to boost tryptophan. In our formulation of the best CBD oil, we included terpenes, essential oils, and vitamins that have all been discovered to be antioxidants.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil + More Antioxidants
In our Relax line, every ingredient has been found to be an antioxidant: full spectrum CBD oil is complimented by the terpenes bisabolol, caryophyllene, and neral/citral, along with chamomile (which contains the antioxidant apigenin), ginger (with the antioxidant gingerol), and green tea (with antioxidant catechins).
Our Rest line too contains antioxidants in every ingredient, with full spectrum CBD oil enhanced with the terpenes linalool and eucalyptol. Kava is in the formulation, with kavalactone working to activate many downstream antioxidation genes and preventing cell death. Melatonin too has antioxidant effects, working as a free radical scavenger that specifically prevents tissue damage and blocks inflammation. It has been shown to inhibit degenerative changes in neurons linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as minimizing damage to DNA by free radicals that could cause cancer.
As well, every ingredient in our Revive line has antioxidant effects. We combined full spectrum CBD oil with the antioxidant-rich orange oil, sage, ginseng, as well as the terpenes limonene, pinene, and humulene. The cherry on top is Vitamin B12, whose antioxidant qualities have been shown to protect oxidative stress from an immune system response.
Our formulations were thoughtfully and meticulously created with your wellness in mind. We are excited for what research will continue unveil in the best CBD oil and how Mother Nature;s entourage works in our bodies. Like you, we believe Mother Nature is our greatest healer.