How Hemp Can Help With Hormone Health

The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC, which is the intoxicating compound found in that other form of cannabis: marijuana. Since then hemp has gone mainstream, with the most trendy product being CBD. However, CBD isn’t the only thing that can be made from hemp. It turns out hemp seeds are one of the most nutritious foods you can put in your body, and the fiber from hemp stalks are not only strong and durable but also a healthier sustainable alternative to synthetics.

With hemp and all of its benefits now being explored through the lens of modern science, it’s natural to wonder: How can hemp help us balance our hormones? Let’s take a look!

CBD

CBD stands for “cannabidiol” and is a molecule found in cannabis flowers that is showing therapeutic potential for all sorts of ailments. It’s only one of 140+ different kinds of “cannabinoid” molecules found in cannabis. Some of the others are THC, CBG, CBN, and CBC. Research suggests that they work better when taken together in “full spectrum” products due to what is called the “Entourage Effect”.

While CBD can be found in both hemp and marijuana, only hemp has low levels of THC that won’t cause intoxication. Hemp also doesn’t have the high taxes that marijuana products typically have, so it’s way cheaper.

So how does CBD work? It turns out CBD influences a variety of chemical messengers in the body via the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) as well as other receptor systems found throughout the body. These regulate pretty much every bodily function, including mood, appetite, sleep, pain, inflammation, digestion, the immune system, stress, and yes, even hormones!

Which hormones does CBD affect? Let’s take a look at a few:

Cortisol: This hormone’s primary function is to control our “fight or flight” stress response, but it also helps regulate our metabolism and memory. While some stress is natural, chronic stress can cause health issues, including weight gain, mood swings, and anxiety. This study showed that CBD can significantly reduce cortisol levels, which may be why CBD seems to be so effective at reducing stress.

Insulin: This hormone helps regulate our metabolism by controlling how much blood sugar our cells take in. Too much or too little can cause serious problems. Diabetes is a condition where the body can’t produce enough insulin. This study showed a significant drop in the rate of diabetes in mice treated with CBD. While more research is needed, this may be due to CBD helping regulate insulin levels.

Melatonin: Also known as the sleep hormone, melatonin helps regulate our Circadian Rhythm that determines when we should sleep and be awake. By activating receptors in the pineal gland, CBD may help stimulate the body’s natural production of melatonin. However, perhaps the best way CBD may help us get better sleep is by reducing stress.

Though much more research is needed on precisely how CBD affects our hormones, it’s clear that this compound helps our bodies maintain homeostasis, or overall balance, in the body. Though it affects everyone differently, the good news is that CBD is safe to try, as long as you buy it from a reputable source.

Plus, coupling this, or diving into syncing your cycle to your nutrition, you can truly maximize the efficiency of your hormones to assure they are harmonizing with your chemistry! I’ve laid out how to do just this in my Hormone Balancing Course - GO WITH YOUR FLOW - to walk you through how to start cycle syncing.

Hemp Seeds

Perhaps the best way to ensure proper hormone balance is with a healthy, balanced diet. It turns out that hemp seeds, which contain no CBD or THC, are instead packed with nutrients like easily digestible plant-based protein, healthy fats rich in Omega-3, dietary fiber, and even vitamins and minerals like B-vitamins, Vitamin E, manganese, copper, zinc, and iron. Hemp seeds are also lacking in allergens like soy and lactose as well as digestion disruptors like trypsin inhibitors and oligosaccharides. Seriously, get this superfood a cape!

These tasty morsels can be eaten shelled as “hemp hearts”, pressed into “hemp seed oil”, or ground up into “hemp protein powder”. Use hemp seeds in smoothies or on a variety of dishes to add a subtle, pleasant flavor and a potent boost of nutrients that will help your body regulate its hormones naturally.

Hemp Apparel

Most of us don’t know that what we wear affects our health, but it does! Traditional cotton is grown using tons of pesticides, and synthetic fiber sheds microplastics that are known to be hormone disruptors. When we wear clothing laced with these chemicals, some of them inevitably end up absorbing through our skin, where over time they can accumulate and increase our toxic load.

Why settle for poison in our clothing when there’s a better alternative? Organic cotton avoids the use of toxic pesticides, and hemp fiber is not only the strongest and most durable natural fiber on the planet, but hemp is also one of the most sustainable crops that can be grown. Hemp is also grown without pesticides. Many of the best clothes are made with a blend of hemp and organic cotton. So do yourself and the environment a favor and find yourself some attire made with these healthier and more eco-friendly fibers!

Where should I buy hemp?

Especially when it comes to CBD, there are hundreds of fly-by-night brands selling untested and potentially unsafe products. It’s best to buy CBD from a reputable source. I get hit up my endless brands ALL DAY LONG, because of my social media presence. I took time and spoke with Kris at Cascadia Hemp Co and appreciated his knowledge of all the brands he sources. This local Seattle brand only carries products that are fully tested for safety and potency, so you’re getting what you pay for and without any dangerous contaminants. They also offer a variety of CBD products, including oil drops, capsules, edibles, and even THC-free options. Kris is a small business and is happy to provide personal consultations to help you find the best products for your needs. They've got everything Hemp you could need - seeds, apparel, food, etc., they’ve got you covered!  Visit them today and get 15% off with my special code: TARYN15.