Even if you don’t smoke marijuana, you’ve probably heard of the munchies — that overpowering desire to eat all of your food after smoking cannabis. Others claim, however, that smoking marijuana not only causes them to eat less but also helps them lose weight. You can buy this product in our store.
Although cannabis use is linked to lower body weight, it isn’t as straightforward as it appears. Here’s a rundown of what we know and don’t know about marijuana and weight loss.
Marijuana & Metabolism
Is there a connection between cannabis and a boost in metabolism? Everyone is aware of the “munchie” effect, in which consuming cannabis products results in an increased appetite. Snacking stoners have been ridiculed various forms of pop culture for ages because of their habit of munching. However, one of the many side effects that marijuana may induce is hunger stimulation. The more unique and hyper-focused strains are developed, the easier it is to fine-tune your cannabis experience to fit your own particular health and lifestyle demands. Marijuana and weight loss are a wonderful combination for many individuals all around the world. It turns out that marijuana and metabolism, like many other body systems, are intricately linked.
Cannabis is also considered one of the best natural remedies for treating glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if not treated. According to research, marijuana use has a protective effect on the eye and may help slow down or even prevent vision loss associated with open-angle glaucoma. Furthermore, studies have shown that cannabis consumption has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces tissue swelling and pain. There’s more: Cannabis sativa is also a potent antioxidant that helps reduce overall oxidative stress in our bodies by lowering free radical damage caused by heavy metals like mercury! This gives even occasional smokers a metabolic boost that lasts up to four weeks after usage!
The exact amount required to accomplish this effect is still unclear, although the increased metabolic state described was observed in both casual and regular smokers. THC is a must when it comes to marijuana and metabolism because CBD‘s impact on the metabolic process isn’t activated by CBD, which is beneficial in a variety of ways.
THC promotes gut health by modulating the natural bacterial ecosystem. THC assisted to balance the metabolic system and reduce weight gain in studies on marijuana and metabolism with laboratory mice on high cholesterol diets.
How Marijuana May Help You Lose Weight
Regardless of all the other variables, marijuana has been linked to a direct physiological effect on weight in at least one study. Clark is one of them. In 2018, he and his colleagues published a paper in which they created a hypothesis for the lower BMI and obesity rates among cannabis users based on data from 17 major research projects.
THC activates the CB1 receptor, which stimulates hunger in a limited time frame—but this effect does not endure. According to Clark, the receptor becomes less active after a 24-hour period, suggesting that people will eat fewer calories overall. Meanwhile, research indicates that THC increases metabolism over time. As a result of this theory, even if you had partaken in the munchies after smoking a joint, your higher metabolic rate would counteract the impact by burning through those calories faster than if you were not marijuana smoker.
Even once a week may be enough to maintain CB1 receptors running on low and metabolism revved, according to Dr. Clark.
However, he cautions that this is merely a hypothesis at the moment. We’d need extensive human clinical trials to determine whether THC has this impact on weight reduction for sure. Researchers would have to gather a large number of people with similar diets and lifestyle habits, split them into two groups, offer one group marijuana and the other not, then track them over an extended period of time.
Because weed is technically still illegal in the United States and laughably considered a Schedule I narcotic, which severely restricts study, this type of research will not take place anytime soon. Complicating matters further, Clark claims that plants like cannabis are exceptionally difficult to study since they are complex organisms with distinct anatomy from strain to strain.
At the moment, the best we can do is hypotheses, and Clark’s appears to be well-founded. That said, he does not advocate that marijuana be used as a primary weight-loss tool: “I believe cannabis can help if the side effects are manageable, but you’d be better off concentrating on your diet and exercise.”
THC and Obesity
Some people require the use of THC-rich strains to function. According to one study conducted on obese mice, using THC had a paradoxical effect: the munchies were not as bad as they seemed. Obese mice were treated with THC for four weeks in a 2015 study. Surprisingly, the heavier mice lost weight. However, how it was given made a difference.
Humans usually take a puff of marijuana, such as through a vape pen. However, these mice were given THC via their food. The mice’s gut bacteria were altered after they ingested THC, according to the researchers. Our intestinal microbiome is an area of great interest to scientists because it appears to influence so many aspects of our behavior and bodily functions.
Obesity is not the only health concern associated with cannabis use. Long-term users of marijuana, despite the munchies phenomenon, appear to have a lower incidence of obesity than non-users. They also have a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome, which is an indication of poor health characterized by obesity and diabetes.
In this research, 8500 people were asked about their obesity and cannabis use. Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among users (14%) than non-smokers (22%). The question now is whether you need to smoke marijuana for a long period of time before you notice an effect on metabolic syndrome. More study is needed.
CBD and Exercise
CBD also has an unexpected second benefit: it increases your attention. CBD also improves your attention by making you more focused on whatever activity you’re performing. If you’re having trouble motivating yourself to exercise, CBD may provide the focus you need to get started. It’s probably best not to use it for weightlifting or other resistance exercises.
The cannabis field is experiencing a golden age of research, but more study will be required to determine which cannabinoid combinations are the most effective for weight loss applications. However, if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, speak with your doctor and dispensary about experimenting with high THCV or heavy CBD strains for weight reduction. Avoid high THC strains because they stimulate appetite; if you must take THC, consider using CBD drops to counteract the appetite boost.