FITNESS + CANNABIS

Cannabis gets a lot of attention for its use in treating the symptoms of cancer, and the side effects associated with the chemotherapy treatments many cancer patients undergo, and for good reason. So much so, The American Cancer Society officially “supports the need for more scientific research on cannabinoids for cancer patients, and recognizes the need for better and more effective therapies that can overcome the often debilitating side effects of cancer and its treatment.” 1 Although they don’t have an official recommendation of cannabis for cancer treatment, they do note that Marinol, one of the very few pharmaceuticals containing THC which has been approved by the FDA in treating nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, has been shown to be helpful in easing those symptoms based on numerous studies.

However, instead of focusing on treating the symptoms of cancer and other diseases, it would benefit us greatly if we focused on preventing these conditions in the first place. Preventing cancer can be encouraged through the consumption of cannabis, certain foods, and physical activity. There are scientists researching cannabis as being a cancer-preventative medicine. In 2018, a review of ongoing clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids in treating cancer was published in Cancer Medicine, a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal publishing research from global biomedical researchers across the cancer sciences, in the areas of cancer biology, clinical cancer research, cancer prevention, and more. Although the review ultimately concluded more research needed to be conducted to determine how useful

cannabinoids can be in treating cancer, it also states, “Many in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that cannabinoids inhibit proliferation of cancer cells, stimulate autophagy and apoptosis, and have also a potential to inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis.” 1

This at least suggests cannabis is helpful in the prevention of cancer. However, those studies were conducted on exogenous cannabinoids, meaning the ones our body obtains from outside sources like THC and CBD found in cannabis. Our body also produces natural cannabinoids on its own, known as endogenous cannabinoids. When we exercise, it stimulates your endocannabinoid system by naturally producing the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, which has been found to cause the euphoric sensation after exercising, often referred to as a runner’s

high. Surprisingly enough, research from Israel indicates anandamide to also be antiproliferative, encourage apoptosis, and inhibit metastasis as well. These anticancer relationships with both endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids suggest that a lifestyle incorporating physical activity and cannabis could help prevent cancer. You can round out your preventive care plan in the kitchen by eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer animal products.

An analysis of many research reports examining the evidence between plantbased diets and cancer risk was published in Cancer Management and Research, which focuses on the optimal use of preventative and integrated treatment plans. The analysis indicates an abundance of scientific evidence linking eating plant foods like fruits and vegetables with high amounts of fiber, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals, while also maintaining a healthy weight, reduces the risk of cancer diagnosis and recurrence. It also reviews the research linking the consumption

of meat, especially red and processed meats, with an increase in the risk of several types of cancers. The analysis goes on to state, “Vegetarian and vegan diets increase beneficial plant foods and plant constituents, eliminate the intake of red and processed meat by definition, and aid in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight,” 2 and concludes by stating the evidence clearly indicates a plantbased diet in being a useful strategy for preventing cancer.

All of these reviews and research studies are suggesting cannabis, fitness, and food to be beneficial in preventing cancer. Even though more research needs to be conducted on cancer prevention in general, this at least gives us a starting point in creating a cancer prevention plan versus a cancer treatment plan. It begins with supplementing exogenous cannabinoids like THC and CBD found in cannabis. Then it continues by

producing our body’s own endogenous cannabinoids, like anandamide, which is produced when we exercise. Finally, the prevention plan is rounded out by remembering that food is medicine and choosing to eat more plant-based foods while also eating less meat. When you combine all three, you’ve got a solid plan that, science so far suggests, may help with preventing cancer from even beginning.

1. https://www.theroc.us/index.php?preview=1&option=com_dropfiles&format=&task=frontfile.download&catid=180&id=1MAOyGjUt6CZp9kQN3T0pH0fXUxvurqWU&Itemid=1000000000000 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048091/