Alcohol and CBD: What to think of this cocktail of legal substances?

On balance, opinions are divided on the effects of this mixture on the human body. That said, we propose to discover, through this article, the effects of this explosive cocktail, to say the least.

The effects of mixing alcohol and CBD on the human body

Today, various beers and alcoholic cocktails contain CBD. They can be found in bars in countries such as France where the consumption of CBD is legal. Also, some cannabidiol consumers add a few drops of CBD tinctures to their alcoholic beverages. Thus, theinteraction between alcohol and CBD is entirely possible. Furthermore, research suggests that this interaction has a number of benefits.systemic effects. To understand these, it is essential to know the individual action of each of the two compounds on the human body.

Alcohol and its effects on the human body

Once alcohol is ingested into the body, it enters the bloodstream. From there, it is transported to the liver where it undergoes transformation and metabolism. Also, alcohol is a depressant, so it has the ability to slow down the activity of the central nervous system. In fact, it has been proven that its short-term consumption acts not only on the brain, but also on the entire body.

In this regard, note that alcohol can impair your cognitive functions, impair your judgment and prevent you from concentrating. Drinking alcohol can also contribute to a sudden change in your mood or disrupt your vision. In addition, some people experience high blood pressure or nausea after drinking an alcoholic substance.

Furthermore, in the long term, alcohol consumption can lead to chronic disorders such as memory loss. It can also make you depressed or lead to liver fibrosis.

The effects of CBD on the human body

When you consume a CBD product, the active ingredient in the product binds to cellular receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is, among other things, responsible for regulating the body's internal balance. Also, CBD interacts with other cellular receptors, for an action that can be indirect or direct. That said, at low doses, it has invigorating and energizing effects, which promotes stimulation of the central nervous system.

On the other hand, at high doses, CBD has relaxing effects, particularly to calm neuronal excitement. In addition, research has shown that this compound, whose effects differ from person to person, has several applications. Indeed, CBD is a non-psychoactive molecule that can soothe anxiety and improve the quality of sleep. Also, without being addictive, it is an effective antidepressant and a powerful anti-inflammatory.

The consequences of an alcohol - CBD cocktail on the body

As an antidepressant, CBD, in combination with alcohol, may protect the body from the damage it can cause. In other words, CBD can inhibit the depressant effect of alcohol. In this regard, studies suggest that CBD reduces, albeit slightly, the disability caused by alcohol. One reason for this is that CBD can regulate blood alcohol levels. Unfortunately, this regulation does not lead to an improvement in the consumer's state of intoxication.

Indeed, it has been observed that people who consume a high-alcohol CBD drink have a low blood alcohol level, even though they are drunk. In this respect, it is possible that the relaxing effects of CBD, combined with those of alcohol, may lead to an increase in the level of intoxication. This can lead to a significant loss of motor coordination. This is why many health professionals recommend avoiding mixing alcohol and CBD.

In addition, alcohol causes oxidative stress on the liver, and CBD has antioxidant properties. That said, consuming alcohol in combination with CBD can help protect the liver. In addition, cannabidiol has anti-inflammatory properties that may help protect the body from other toxic side effects of alcohol. These include hepatitis and chronic inflammation of the liver, also known as cirrhosis.

The latter is caused by regular heavy drinking. It affects nearly 200,000 people in France and can lead to death when it is in an advanced stage. Alcohol consumption can also lead to hepatic steatosis, which is an accumulation of fat in the liver. In addition, it can cause inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis.

Finally, studies concerning the consumption of alcoholic products in the CBD are very recent. Also, there is no rigorous research to prove that such consumption has no harmful effects on the body. It is therefore advisable not to draw any active conclusions and to consult a doctor's opinion before consuming these products.

The CBD, to fight alcoholism

Some studies show that cBD acts on the endocannabinoid system to combat various types of addiction. Also, alcoholism may be one of the addictive behaviours concerned, making CBD its potential remedy. So how can CBD be useful in the treatment of alcoholism? To find out, it is important to understand the basis of addiction. In reality, drug or alcohol addiction occurs when one of these compounds greatly stimulates the brain's sense of reward.

Indeed, when you feel pleasure in doing an activity or consuming a product, the brain releases dopamine in particular. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the sensation of happiness, allows the brain to feel rewarded. The released dopamine is distributed to different parts of the brain and each part of the brain records the pleasure you feel. These areas of the brain make you feel more pleasure each time you repeat the activity.

So every time you drink alcohol, your brain releases dopamine. So every time you drink again, your urge to start over increases. So the more you give in to this urge, the more often it will occur, making you addicted to alcohol. Also, the more alcohol you drink, the faster the communication between the neurons in your brain is slowed down.

The latter then begins to produce more neurotransmitters (including dopamine), in order to accelerate this communication. This causes hyperactivity in the brain, which you may feel calms you down by drinking more alcohol. This is how alcoholism develops. That said, the endocannabinoid system groups together the receptors through which neurotransmitters can communicate.

It thus participates in the regulation of emotions and desires that one may feel. This is why disorders of this system can encourage addictive behaviour. Also, the use of narcotic substances such as alcohol can cause these disorders.

So CBD, being a substance that binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, may be involved in the treatment of disorders of this system. In this way, it can help reduce the risk factors associated with alcoholism.

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