Anandamide has been shown to stop cancer cell formation, reduce anxiety and depression, and even increase neurogenesis in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  Recently, it has even been proven that anandamide helps produce the ‘runner’s high’ you experience after intense exercise.

A 2015 study by German researchers examined the role of different neurochemicals in creating the runner’s high in mice; previously, endorphins were believed to be solely responsible for generating those pronounced post-workout feelings of contentment and happiness. Surprisingly, the researchers found endorphin molecules to be too large to pass the blood-brain barrier, leading them to conclude that the activation of cannabinoid receptors by anandamide is primarily responsible for reducing stress and pain after exercise.

Further studies have found anandamide to play a significant role in babies’ and mothers’ lives from conception to breastfeeding.

In a 2009 study, researchers found that anandamide levels rose significantly during ovulation in women who would become pregnant via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) methods. The study concludes, “Our observations suggest that in successful pregnancy, a higher plasma AEA [anandamide] level at ovulation and a significantly lower level during implantation are required.”

A comprehensive review of the roles endocannabinoids play in human reproduction also points to anandamide as being imperative for successful embryo implantation and fetal development. The review states that abnormal function of endocannabinoids or their receptors, especially as they relate to the placenta, could result in pregnancy complications.

Finally, anandamide, along with the 2-AG endocannabinoid, may be pivotal in triggering a suckling response in newborn babies. A 2006 scientific review found correlations between increased levels of these endocannabinoids and baby mice’s ability to latch and suckle. The mice pups naturally had high levels of endocannabinoids within their first day of being born, and as they suckled, their endocannabinoid levels were replenished by the mother’s milk. When the mice pups were given a CB1 receptor antagonist, which prevented the CB1 receptor from being activated by anandamide or 2-AG, the newborn mice were not able to suckle.

As you can see, anandamide is important for regular and healthy bodily function. So how can you make sure you have enough of it? A primary building block in the synthesis of anandamide is arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid found almost exclusively in animal foods (e.g. different meats and eggs), but can also be found in pasta and grain dishes. As long as you are eating a varied and balanced diet, chances are you are getting enough AA to maintain regular anandamide levels.

Interestingly, anandamide is chemically similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid from the cannabis plant responsible for the ‘high’ most people associate with consuming marijuana. Because anandamide and THC are similarly structured, they both activate the CB1 receptors with similar potency. However, THC comes with a slew of mind-altering effects, and while it may bring feelings of psychedelic bliss for some, it is no substitute for the bliss molecule.