Natural Antioxidant: Full-Spectrum CBD
There are many known benefits of using full-spectrum hemp CBD. Those benefits include improved pain relief, decreased anxiety and depression, and anti-inflammatory properties. Research also suggests that CBD is a fantastic, natural antioxidant!
“Antioxidants” are a common marketing hook, especially when purchasing skin products or considering diet changes. What is their true value for our pets’ health and wellness? How do antioxidants help the body? Why are they so important?
Table of Contents
Antioxidants and Free Radicals
Antioxidants help the body to defend against free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable atoms, which bounce around the body causing cellular damage and oxidative stress. Over time, these pesky particles can cause significant harm to your pet’s body.
Free radicals can form as a result of a number of different events. This includes exposure to pollution, infections, as well as an imbalance of minerals or vitamins. In many cases, the regular consumption of highly processed foods and unmet nutritional needs are similarly responsible.
One theory also suggests that the process of aging is accelerated when cells accumulate free radical damage. Research indicates that free radicals can destroy the substances that the cell requires to function properly, causing mutations, which speed up the production of free radicals and the damage they inflict. According to research, this damage can lead to a number of different diseases including heart disease, cancer and a number of cognitive disorders.
Antioxidants, such as CBD attract these atoms like a magnet, hanging on to free-radicals as they are excreted together by the body.
Ensuring the body has the necessary natural antioxidants doesn’t mean our pets are immune to the forces of time. But, if we can keep free radicals to a minimum there is a greater potential to slow the inevitable breakdown of the body’s cells.
Natural Antioxidant
The body produces some antioxidants, but we can also get it from food sources or supplements. Some examples of antioxidants include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Beta-carotene
The most common sources of antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and whole wheat products. Think carrots for beta-carotene, oranges for Vitamin C, dairy products for Vitamin A, or nuts for Vitamin E. You can also order specific supplements, but be mindful of the dosage, especially when considering those available in their diet. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) does warn that high doses of antioxidant supplements can be harmful.
CBD as an Antioxidant
Studies have shown that CBD can directly impact the free radical chain reactions by trapping and diverting the most destructive free radicals.
According to research CBD and other cannabinoids are natural antioxidants that help to protect the brain. Research shows that CBD and THC prevent oxidative damage in both human and animal models of concussions.
This research later led scientists to petition for and receive a government patent for “cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants.” Patent #US6630507B1 expired in 2019 (20 years after it was initiated), which means major companies can now use the inventions those researchers initially found.
The Bottom Line
In addition to limiting our pets exposure to harmful pollutants in their environment, we can build their defenses against free radicals with a robust wellness routine. Try offering your dog a diverse selection of nutritious vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants from a fresh and unprocessed diet.
For added antioxidant benefits, we recommend our Ease tincture. Ease contains 550 mg of full-spectrum hemp extract per bottle, as well as the natural antioxidant benefits of turmeric and frankincense.
Antioxidants have literally been called the “fountains of youth.” Science has proven that they actually help reverse the signs of aging, both inside and out.