A laboratory study published in Life Sciences found that smoking hemp and eating a diet high in processed, omega-6–rich seed oils together increase risks to the heart and immune system. The researchers focused on inhaled hemp, which contains CBD and extremely low amounts of THC, and on an omega-6–enriched processed-food diet often high in soybean, corn and safflower oil.
In a five-day exposure experiment, animals inhaled smoke twice daily. The team detected multiple cannabis compounds in organs within two hours and observed that large quantities accumulated in several tissues. Organs with accumulation included the heart, lungs, brain, spleen and plasma. The experiments showed that inhaled cannabis weakened heart function and caused inflammation in the lungs and other organs. The seed-oil processed-food diet also suppressed the immune system’s ability to fight inflammation compared with a diet without processed and packaged foods.
Lead author Ganesh Halade, a cardiovascular researcher and professor of internal medicine, explained that immune cells are only about one percent of blood content. If those cells are impaired by the combination of diet and cannabis exposure, the body’s defence and repair processes can be reduced. The authors warn that many people in the United States already eat packaged foods: about 40% are obese and some 70–75% are overweight. If people in these groups also smoke cannabis, they could face greater harm and worse illness.
The researchers described a greater risk of developing chronic inflammation, which has harmful long-term effects, and contrasted it with acute inflammation that helps healing. They also noted that sleep, exercise and a non-processed, wholesome diet support immune health, especially from middle age onward. The study received support from the Florida Department of Health and comes from the University of South Florida.
Difficult words
- inhale — to breathe air or smoke into lungsinhaled
- accumulate — to gather or build up over timeaccumulated
- suppress — to reduce or stop a body processsuppressed
- inflammation — body reaction causing redness or swelling
- processed — changed by industry before sale or use
- seed oil — oil made from plant seeds used in cookingseed oils
- chronic — lasting a long time or often recurring
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What lifestyle changes mentioned in the article might reduce risks to immune and heart health, and why?
- How could the combination of processed seed-oil diets and cannabis use affect people who are already overweight or obese? Give reasons from the text.
- What public health steps could be taken to inform people about the risks described in the study?
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