STUDY: Exercise has similar health benefits to cannabis

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis - by producing the body's own 'cannabis', according to new research.

The recreational drug has long been credited with dampening inflammation - and is taken by some for medicinal purposes.

Now a study has found gym workouts, brisk walks and bike rides have similar health benefits - without the potential side effects.

In arthritis sufferers, physical activity reduced pain - and destroyed inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.

It also increased molecules called endocannabinoids - natural versions of the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana.

Interestingly, the way exercise resulted in the changes was by altering the gut microbes.

First author Dr. Amrita Vijay, of Nottingham University, said: "Our study clearly shows exercise increases the body's own cannabis-type substances. Which can have a positive impact on many conditions."

Legalization of cannabis is spreading across the world. Many people mistakenly believe it can be used without significant health risks.

In the US it's used to treat arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, migraine, multiple sclerosis (MS), anorexia and severe nausea.

But the UK's National Health Service says very few people in England are likely to get a prescription.

Currently, it is only likely to be used for severe forms of epilepsy, complications caused by chemotherapy and MS.

It would only be considered when other treatments were not suitable or had not helped.

Vijay said: "As interest in cannabidiol oil and other supplements increases, it's important to know simple lifestyle interventions like exercise can modulate endocannabinoids."

Chronic inflammation is linked to a host of life-threatening illnesses including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Lead author Professor Ana Valdes said the study in Gut Microbes sheds fresh light on how to combat it.

The team tracked 78 patients - 38 of whom did 15 minutes of muscle-strengthening exercises a day for six weeks. The other 40 did nothing.

At the end of the period, the former group had less joint pain, tenderness and stiffness.

They also had more anti-inflammatory microbes in gut bacteria, fewer cytokines and more endocannabinoids.

It's believed the latter were fuelled by gut bugs and anti-inflammatory substances called SCFAS (short-chain fatty acids).

At least a third of the anti-inflammatory effects of the gut microbiome was due to the rise in endocannabinoids.

Valdes said: "Exercise increases the body's own cannabis-like substances, which in turn helps reduce inflammation and could potentially help treat certain conditions such as arthritis, cancer and heart disease."

For healthy adults doctors recommend at least 150 or 75 minutes of moderate or vigorous aerobic activity, respectively, a week.

Arthritis can be crippling. In the United States, 24% of all adults, or 58.5 million people, have arthritis, according to the CDC.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.