Nothing can make you feel quite as gross and crabby as constipation. Except maybe diarrhea. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that 10-15% of Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and half of them haven’t been properly diagnosed yet.
That means is 5-8% of Americans are walking around feeling gross and crabby, and don’t even know why. Whether you suffer from chronic digestion issues that stem from chronic conditions like IBS, Crohn’s Disease, or Colitis, or you suffer from infrequent digestive irregularities, the fact is… it stinks (no pun intended).
The human digestive system is an incredible grouping of organs that work together to breakdown and absorb the nutrients we consume through the food we eat. Technically, the digestive process begins in the mouth as we chew our food, but it’s safe to say that the stomach is the star player of the team. Gut health is no joke. Our stomachs are filled with acid, bacteria, fungi (yep), and eukaryotic parasites (uh, ew). If that wasn’t gross enough, our stomachs also take a lot of abuse from us. Americans frequently overeat, often overeating things that are innately difficult to digest (like deep-dish pizza). When you think of it that way, it’s no surprise that more and more of us are finding our stomachs out of whack.
Whether that means we are backed-up or on overdrive, we are having a hard time regulating our gut health.
What is Going in the Gut?
Gut health is no joke. The first thing might seem obvious. One of the top chronic digestive issues people experience is inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Prolonged inflammation results in damage to the GI tract.
The second one is leaky gut. Leaky gut is a condition where the walls of the stomach have become permeable to a dangerous point. Meaning, that the walls of the stomach are essentially too weak to keep out harmful bacteria and other foreign organisms that don’t belong in your stomach. The effects of CBD on leaky gut are still being thoroughly researched. A recent paper published by the Journal of Advanced Research Gastroenterology & Hepatology states an observed direct relationship between CBD use and restored permeability in stomach walls.
The third thing applies to just about all of us: Stress and anxiety are sadly becoming a cultural norm in America and greater Europe. It is no secret that stress and anxiety can have symptomatic effects on your digestive system. Constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating; chances are you experience one of these irregularities of digestion under extreme stress. You may not even notice the correlation, but pay attention the next time you are making a big career move or going through a relational hardship…we are willing to bet you will notice your digestion reacting to the stressor.
If you have not yet tried CBD, ask yourself why. It is all-natural, non-habit forming, a safer alternative to most herbal and prescription medications, and in our experience, 100% effective. Chronic stress and anxiety can show itself through a variety of symptoms, and irregular digestion is one of them.
Remember, gut health is no joke. Why are you still walking around feeling gross and crabby? There is a safe and all-natural tool that you can add to your daily routine right now!