Advances in modern medicine have increased the average life expectancy, with global life expectancy rising from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. This means more time spent with family and loved ones or doing things you enjoy, but how do you keep up your health into these additional years you now have? The key is to live a more holistic lifestyle.
The importance of a holistic lifestyle
One study in The BMJ reports that women over 50 who adopt healthier lifestyle habits can increase their disease-free life expectancy by 10 years, and men over 50 by 7.6 years. However, the critical factor to consider is that it’s not just about living longer but also being healthier.
“What is the point of living for an additional seven to ten years if those years are fraught with pain and illness?” asks Inesa Ponomariovaite, holistic health practitioner and CEO of Nesas Hemp. “Individuals living a holistic lifestyle are constantly searching for ways to improve their quality of life.”
When thinking about how to live a more “holistic” lifestyle, people likely think of steps like eating right, exercising regularly, and maybe even improving mental health and mindfulness practices, but there is only so far these steps can go in boosting one’s overall health. As a result, many people have turned to supplements that use natural ingredients and allow the body to achieve wellness more holistically.
Hemp oil as an important part of a holistic lifestyle
One powerful tool to which many have turned to improve their quality of life is hemp oil, which is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant — a cousin of the cannabis plant, colloquially known as marijuana. However, even though hemp and cannabis are both derived from the Cannabis sativa family, there are several differences between the two. Namely, hemp contains a very low concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in marijuana.
As a result, hemp — and the products derived from it — offers many of the plant’s health benefits and medicinal qualities without creating the “high” effect. This has made hemp a desirable alternative to medical marijuana, hailed by many as a “miracle plant” for those looking for an improved quality of life. “Especially with a product that utilizes high-quality, full-spectrum CBD oil, one can reap the numerous health benefits of hemp oil,” Ponomariovaite asserts.
Hemp oil benefits
The hemp plant contains high concentrations of several polyunsaturated fatty acids, which offer several health advantages. For example, the omega-3 fatty acids that are abundant in the plant’s extract can be used to lower blood pressure for individuals with hypertension.
Additionally, the linoleic acid in the extract can significantly reduce total cholesterol — especially low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) — promoting improved heart health. “The best CBD oils contain these compounds at levels that make them ideal supplements to prescribed medications,” adds Ponomariovaite.
Many individuals have found use in CBD oil for pain relief. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties of the hemp plant, hemp oil and CBD oil can be applied topically to the pain area, providing a natural form of pain relief. Some studies have even found that CBD could serve as a much safer alternative to medications such as opioids, which are notorious for their addictive properties, since CBD offers pain relief without many of the potential adverse effects.
Studies have also shown the treatment potential of CBD for anxiety. One study evaluated the use of CBD as a treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders and for the improvement of sleep. In this study, 79% of patients reported decreased feelings of anxiety, while 66.7% of patients reported improved sleep patterns. Given the adverse effects that anxiety and poor sleep can have on the body, CBD use can be beneficial to an individual’s overall well-being.
For those looking to live a more holistic lifestyle, hemp oil offers many of the therapeutic benefits they may be looking for without the undesirable effects of alternatives like opioids or even standard medical marijuana. “By improving one’s health through natural means, the hemp plant has the power to change lives and allow people to live longer and better,” Ponomariovaite concludes.
