Welcome Spaced Cadets! We are continuing the journey of learning about all of the amazing cannabinoids. This week will be about Anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule. Keep reading to learn more about this beautiful cannabinoid!
Anandamide is classified in the fatty acid amide class. Anandamide is derived from the Sanskrit word Ananda, meaning joy, happiness, and pleasure. It was the first cannabinoid discovered from a pig brain by William Devane and other researchers in 1992. It is often called the bliss molecule from the neuro effects of using Anandamide. It works by binding to the CB1 receptors in our body and sometimes activates the TRPV1 receptor.
Anandamide is a brain chemical that gives you a happy feeling. It also has other bodily roles, such as memory, appetite, sleep, and pain relief properties. With Anandamide being with the endocannabinoid system, it also protects you from stress, depression, PTSD, and anxiety whenever your endocannabinoid system is balanced. Still, when there are low levels of Anandamide, it can affect your focus and happiness. Researcher Gary L. Wenk, Ph.D., did a study with marijuana on mental decline that stimulating the marijuana receptors in the brain with Anandamide may help with strokes and neuroinflammation.
There are ways to boost the Anandamide in your system, such as physical activity, foods, and of course….THC. Finding an activity you can do frequently can help increase your levels of Anandamide. It helps because whenever you are working out, your brain is flooded with other chemicals to keep you going while the levels of Anandamide rise as well. You can find high levels of Anandamide or other compounds that can boost Anandamide in a wide variety of foods like apples, grapes, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and even chocolate! Chocolate and Black Truffles have high levels of Anandamide that can help your brain while enjoying a delicious snack!
Anandamide really is a bliss molecule! If you ever need a boost in your mood or even help improve your memory, try boosting your Anandamide levels. This cannabinoid seems like it can do wonders for your head!
Sources
Alban, Patrick, and Deane Alban. “Anandamide: Bliss Molecule for Happiness & Mental Balance.” Be Brain Fit, 16 Jan. 2023, bebrainfit.com/anandamide/.
Maccarrone, Mauro. “Metabolism of the Endocannabinoid Anandamide: Open Questions after 25 Years.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 12 May 2017, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2017.00166/full.
Nuria. “What Is Anandamide and How Does It Work?” Kalapa Clinic, 31 Aug. 2017, www.kalapa-clinic.com/en/what-is-anandamide/.
Scherma, Maria, et al. “Brain Activity of Anandamide: A Rewarding Bliss?” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 July 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6460372/#:~:text=The%20discovery%20of%20CB1%20receptors%20%5B6%5D%2C%20the%20primary%20pharmacological,workers%20in%201992%20%5B7%5D.
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