Researchers published a lab study in the journal Life Sciences. They tested inhaled hemp smoke, which contains CBD and extremely low amounts of THC. The team looked at how smoke interacts with a processed-food diet high in omega-6 seed oils, such as soybean, corn and safflower oil.
In a five-day experiment, animals were exposed to smoke twice daily. The scientists detected cannabis compounds in organs within two hours and found large amounts in several tissues. Inhaled cannabis weakened heart function and caused inflammation. The seed-oil, processed-food diet reduced the immune system’s ability to fight inflammation compared with a diet without processed foods.
Difficult words
- cannabis — A plant that people use for smoking.cannabis smoke
- processed — Foods that are changed from their natural state.processed foods
- immune — The body's system that protects from illness.immune system
- heart — The organ that pumps blood in the body.heart health, heart problems, heart function, heart damage
- health — The state of being free from illness.health issues
- weaken — To make something less strong.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are some healthy food choices you can make?
- How can smoking affect your overall health?
- Do you think lifestyle choices are more important than genetics for health?
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