CANNAHEALTH Diversity in The Cannabis Industry | Page 37

Using Cannabis To Help Lower Cholesterol

KNOWLEDGE

Millions of Americans live with high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of developing heart disease, developing peripheral artery disease, or having a stroke – all of which are potentially life-threatening. Research is being conducted to determine whether patients with high cholesterol could see health benefits from using marijuana. So far, scientists haven’t reached a conclusive verdict about whether Cannabis can lower cholesterol; but while more research is needed, existing studies have raised some interesting points about marijuana’s potential role in the fight against high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol is an organic compound that naturally exists in all of your body’s cells. Cholesterol is critical to various bodily functions, such as synthesizing vitamin D, making hormones, and producing substances your body needs to digest food properly. But while some cholesterol is essential to life, too much can wreak havoc on your health. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 73.5 million American adults – roughly a third of the population – have high cholesterol, which can double the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

A 2013 study published in Diabetes Care examined the relationship between Cannabis use, cholesterol

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