Exercise is known to decrease chronic inflammation in the body that causes many diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and heart disease. According to a new study, this is because exercise increases the body’s own cannabis-like substances: so-called endocannabinoids help reduce inflammation.
Of 78 people with arthritis, 38 did 15 minutes of muscle-building exercise every day for six weeks while the other 40 were inactive. At the end of the study, the pain in the participants who had exercised had significantly reduced. The active persons also had more microorganisms in their intestines that produce anti-inflammatory substances, as well as fewer inflammatory messenger substances and more endogenous cannabis-like substances – endocannabinoids – in the blood. This is what the researchers report in the journal “Gut Microbes”.
Interestingly, exercise led to these effects by altering the intestinal flora, which was linked to increases in endocannabinoids and the formation of anti-inflammatory substances. At least a third of the anti-inflammatory effects of the gut flora were due to increases in endocannabinoids.
Doctor Amrita Vijay of the University of Nottingham said, “Our study clearly shows that exercise increases the body’s own cannabis-like substances. This can have a positive effect on many diseases. As the interest in cannabidiol oil and other dietary supplements increases, it is important to know that simple measures such as exercise can also modulate the endocannabinoids. “
What: DOI 10.1080/19490976.2021.1997559
.