CBD and Chocolate: A Match Made in Hemp Heaven?
Posted by Tweedle Farms on Dec 4th 2023
With the recent release of two CBD-infused chocolate bars, we thought it would be a perfect time to explore the relationship between cannabinoids (in this case, CBD and THC) and anandamide.
What is Anandamide?
Anandamide is a cannabinoid found in chocolate, as well as an endocannabinoid found in the human body. It bonds with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, but has the highest affinity for the CB1 receptor, similar to the phytocannabinoid, THC.
It is a neurotransmitter that has been found to play a role in modulating mood, appetite, and even pain perception through its regulation of dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate. These functions have earned it the moniker, the "bliss molecule”.
What is CBD?
If you’re on our site, you probably know what CBD is, but while we’re going over anandamide, we figured we would provide a quick refresher.
CBD is a phytocannabinoid found in both CBD flower and THC flower. It interacts with the human body’s endocannabinoid system by binding with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, although it binds more efficiently with the body’s TRPV1 receptors.
As we said before, CBD is found in both CBD flower and THC flower. It’s found in much larger amounts in the former, hence the name “CBD flower”. It is also extracted in a pure form from CBD flower and then infused into a variety of products, such as oils, edibles, and topicals.
CBD and Anandamide
CBD and anandamide both separately support homeostasis in the body, but when the two are combined, magic happens.
Research suggests that CBD may prolong the effects of anandamide by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for its breakdown. This means that when CBD is introduced, it could potentially allow anandamide to linger in the body longer, amplifying its therapeutic effects.
CBD-Infused Chocolate: A Symphony of Synergy
Considering the inherently pleasurable properties of chocolate and the potentially synergistic effects of CBD on anandamide, offering our new CBD-infused chocolate bars was an obvious choice for our site.
Add to that the high content of healthy fats in the 70% dark chocolate, which help to increase the bioavailability of the cannabinoids themselves by inhibiting their rapid digestion, and you’re left with a near-perfect cannabinoid delivery method.