I love a nice glass of wine but too much of it isn’t good for you. I know I know, there’s all these articles about red wine and how it can be beneficial to your health however this has been debunked as misleading, and many of you are consuming too much alcohol.
Now before you throw your bottle of merlot at me, here’s what you need to know about drinking alcohol regularly.
With the pandemic, consumption of alcohol has gone up dramatically. My mother lives in an apartment building and after a holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving, she’ll notice the recycle bins were overflowing with empty bottles of alcohol. She said during the pandemic the bins were like this daily.
Alcohol is a known carcinogen and can cause cancer and heart disease
While you’ll find a warning label on a CBD bath bomb which has zero risks to your health, there’s no warning labels on liquor telling you the risks.
However if you want to read about the risks of cancer from drinking alcohol there’s numerous articles on the subject here, here, here, here and here.
Alcohol can raise estrogen levels in women which can increase your chances of breast cancer. This isn’t something many women know, we live in a culture that has normalized and even praised the consumption of alcohol.
Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of:
- Accidents, violence and suicide
- Certain types of cancer
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Liver and pancreas diseases
- Stroke
- Weight gain and obesity
There’s many articles saying how a glass of wine a day is good for you, in truth though the harms may outweigh the good.
What are the benefits and risks of using cannabis?
Cannabis doesn’t cause cancer (as far as we know) and that’s even when smoked. You also can’t consume enough cannabis to kill you.
Much of the research I’ve read (keep in mind cannabis research is still in its infancy), doesn’t show any long term risks with using cannabis.
Any risk from cannabis comes from the short term until it wears off. This can include risks to your heart if you have cardiovascular issues, as cannabis can increase your heart rate and dilate blood vessels.
Long term issues with regular cannabis use in high doses can:
- impair your short term memory
- decision making
- worsen anxiety and depression
- cause paranoia
- Using cannabis too young (under the age of 25) especially in high doses, can increase the risk of developing psychosis early in young people at high risk for conditions like schizophrenia
However cannabis used in moderation can have benefits to your health. What does moderation mean with cannabis? From the science I’ve read on what the recommended amount THC is *under 10mg or 10% how often though is up for debate. *some people don’t even feel the effects of cannabis unless they use much higher doses, this is a guideline and more research is needed.
Recommended articles:
–How to know when it’s time to take a tolerance break
–Cannabis isn’t safe for everyone
I use cannabis daily, usually in the evening after my kids go to bed. I also use low doses and I find if I overdo it, I do notice negative side effects. If I use too much cannabis it gives me more intense mood swings and I can feel more anxious and forgetful.
I regularly take tolerance breaks to make sure I’m not overdoing it. When I’m mindful about my cannabis consumption, the benefits for me is I feel relaxed, happy, creative and more in the mood for sex, even when I’m tired. It helps me sleep and helps me meditate more deeply.
Recommended articles:
–3 ahhhmazing ways to reduce stress and anxiety with cannabis
–How you can use mindfulness and cannabis to reduce stress and feel better
THC used in low doses, especially with CBD can:
- reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
- lower blood pressure
- increase your sex drive
- help you feel relaxed, focused and creative
- reduce pain and inflammation
- reduce tremors and seizures, especially CBD.
- increase or decrease your appetite, depending on the product you’re using.
Cannabis has been linked to shrinking cancer tumors and the acids found in raw cannabis has been linked to preventing Covid infection.
Recommended articles:
–Why you should always take THC and CBD together
–Your Ultimate Guide to CBD
Let’s look at how cannabis works in your body
First of all the cannabis plant is made up of many chemical properties including over 100 cannabinoids, the two most common you may have heard of is THC and CBD.
The other properties of the cannabis plant are terpenes which give the plant it’s smell and taste, plus terpenes have an effect on how cannabis will feel and there’s also flavonoids which give the plant its colour and have their own health benefits.
Keeping all of these chemical properties intact in the extraction process is called full spectrum. It’s believed all of the plant properties work best when they are kept together, this is known as the entourage effect. However you can also buy products that have removed some of the plant properties. These products are isolates and distillates, often used in edibles and concentrates, these remove some or all of the plant properties and keep only the desired cannabinoids, like just CBD or just THC.
The endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system is what regulates or body, it keeps us in a state of homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system is a series of receptors found throughout the brain and body, including our skin. It regulates everything from mood, hormones, appetite, sleep, digestion, fertility and more.
Endocannabinoids are created by the body and they bind themselves to the CB1 receptors (found in our central nervous system) and CB2 receptors (found in our immune system in our body) then enzymes break it down. Phytocannabinoids (or cannabinoids) from plants such as THC found in the cannabis plant, bind to these receptors.
This is why cannabis can have a dramatically different effect on everyone. It has everything to do with your own body chemistry and each one of us is unique.
Cannabis is nature’s gift to women
Did you know the part of the plant we harvest for consumption is female. In fact, when growing cannabis plants you have to destroy the males or the female plants won’t produce flowers.
And she’s got our back, ladies especially when it comes to sex. Cannabis helps us feel more aroused, heightens our senses, increases confidence (and blood flow to the clitoris) and gives us better orgasms. However for men and sex, it’s not as good, cannabis can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Cannabis can help with menstrual pain, endometriosis, moodiness from hormone fluctuations and sleep.
Recommended articles:
–Edibles and sex is where it’s at, ladies
–How to have a mind blowing orgasms with the help of cannabis
Cannabis when compared to alcohol is the clear winner
Cannabis doesn’t give you a hangover, in fact cannabis may help your hangover from alcohol, especially with nausea. Unlike alcohol, cannabis is prescribed in pharmacies across Canada because it’s medicine.
Cannabis doesn’t have to get you high!
One misconception I come across frequently is that using cannabis gets you high, it can of course however it doesn’t have to. It comes down to dose and the product. If you’re using very low doses of THC, you likely won’t feel high but still receive some of the benefits from using THC.
If you’re wary of THC, maybe you had a previous bad experience or you’re worried about a drug interaction, or you simply don’t like the feeling of THC- there’s ways to use the plant that’s safer for you.
CBD and CBG are both cannabinoids that don’t get you high but have benefits in other ways. CBD can help calm you and help with pain and inflammation. CBG is a lot like CBD except it makes you feel more alert.
Topically cannabis is very helpful for many people, used in creams, salves and lubes, you can receive numerous benefits from the plant without it going to your head or interfering with medications.
Recommended articles:
–Everything you need to know about cannabis lube (will it get your vagina high?)
–What the cannabinoids CBDA and CBGA are and why smoking cannabis won’t prevent Covid
When you’re ready to try cannabis, explore the learning guides on Weed Mama
I created this website to help people, especially women navigate the world of cannabis. I understand it can be overwhelming and even make you feel nervous trying cannabis, especially if you’ve had a previous bad experience.
As someone who has had a bad experience with cannabis that made me quit using it for 6 years, I can appreciate your apprehension and it’s why I’m very specific and detailed on how to use cannabis in all of it’s forms. Below are some links to help you get started on your journey to trading your wine for weed.
Articles:
–How to use cannabis so you don’t trigger anxiety
–Cannabis 101, how to figure out your perfect dose and method
Guides: