"The interplay between diet and the endocannabinoid system is key to understanding today's obesity and diabetes crisis."

The endocannabinoid system is an ancient biological signalling network that regulates many physiological processes, including gut function, glucose metabolism and stress responses. Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system is associated with metabolic and intestinal disorders as well as many other diseases. The cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 have distinct but complementary roles in diet, digestion and energy metabolism.

When it's working properly, the endocannabinoid system ( ECS ) keeps our appetite, satiety and weight in good balance. The CB1 cannabinoid receptors in our brain are responsible for signalling that it's time to eat when we need food, stimulating our appetite and enhancing our sense of smell, so food is an added bonus. On the other hand, CB2 cannabinoid receptor activation reduces food intake and prevents the accumulation of body fat.

In ancient times, it was easier to maintain our ECS balance naturally when there was only fresh meat, fruit and vegetables to consume. But in modern times, our diets are so dysfunctional that our CB1 receptors go into overdrive mode, reinforcing the vicious cycle of abnormal intake - reward - intake from all the high-sugar, high-fat foods we consume. A study on rats found that when rodents were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet for 60 days, their CB1 receptors became overactive, thus blocking the secretion of amino acids that would reduce appetite when the system is working properly.

On the other hand, our CB2 receptors are activated by plant-based foods, such as green vegetables, olive oil and various spices, which are less consumed in the typical modern diet rich in carbohydrates and processed foods.

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency also affects the function of our cannabinoid receptors. These healthy fatty acids keep our ECS running smoothly. However, when you are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids (as many modern people are), your ECS function is impaired.

The health of your gut microbiota (the trillions of bacteria that live in your gut) is also important, and not just because it contributes to effective and efficient digestion. Your gut has its own 'brain' that communicates with the brain between your ears. Medical scientists have recognised the importance of the gut-brain axis, which affects inflammation, digestion, and even your mood and overall health.ECS regulates your gut-brain axis to facilitate communication between microbes and the brain. If your diet compromises your microbiome and causes dysbiosis of your gut flora, it can also distort your ECS and your brain function.

Physical activity (just as we used to hunt, grow and gather food) is also essential for maintaining good endogenous cannabinoid levels. Exercise triggers the release of endogenous cannabinoids in your body, helping to keep your stress levels low and your weight healthy. But nowadays it's easy to spend most of our time sitting - at a desk, in the car, or on the couch.

The cumulative result of poor lifestyle habits: ECS dysfunction and metabolic syndrome, heart disease and other degenerative diseases that are closely linked to our diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Researchers have found that CBD can affect bodily functions by acting on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body.

A 2018 US research paper, Role of Cannabinoids in Obesity, states that CBD affects bodily functions by acting on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body, which is involved in the body's processes of pain, stress, appetite, and energy, thereby reducing appetite and preventing binge eating.

Researchers at the University of Miami in the USA have published the results of a study which tracked 13,000 users of CBD for weight loss over a six-year period, and those in the group who used CBD daily had an average of 3% lower body fat than the non-user group.

In addition to healthy eating and regulating energy conservation, you can also try to apply CBD to your daily life.