How To Use Cannabis For Weight Loss?
If you believe in the prevalent stereotypes, you’ll probably think that you’ll gain weight if you use CBD. Most people associate Cannabis with intense snacking behaviour or that overpowering drive to empty your fridge. Yes, smoking weed gummies results in the “munching effect” however, despite all that munching, CBD can actually help you shed those extra pounds.
Thanks to Science, we have studies that explain that Cannabis can be your ally in weight loss. As per a study from the American Journal of Medicine, regular cannabis users have smaller waist circumference and lower levels of fasting insulin. Many other studies illustrate the use of Cannabis results in reducing obesity and lowering Body Mass Index (BMI).
Who would’ve ever thought that Cannabis could make you lose weight? Read on to know more about how you may use it to support your weight loss goals.
Choose the right strain for Weight loss
There are many strains of cannabinoids, and all have different effects. Some strains may boost the appetite, while others may suppress it. THC and CBD are natural compounds found in cannabis plants. Despite their similar structures, THC tends to stimulate hunger, whereas CBD seems to curb it.
Therefore, choosing a strain high in CBD could promote weight loss by suppressing your appetite. For example, Harlequin has an approx 5:2 CBD/THC ratio and is one of the most popular CBD strains. Another example is ACDC, which is rich in CBD and low in THC, with a 30:1 ratio of CBD/THC. This strain is excellent for people looking to avoid munching and want to lose weight.
Aside from CBD, another compound that can aid in weight loss is THCV, as it possesses appetite-suppressing powers and counters THC’s “munchies” side effects. So choosing a strain like Doug’s Varin, which contains higher amounts of THCV, ranging from 15 to 19 per cent, can help suppress your appetite and increase your alertness.
The terpene profile is another essential factor to consider before choosing the right strain for weight loss. Humulene is one such example of terpene, which has an evident impact on appetite. You can use strains with higher humulene, like Pink Kush, for its appetite-suppressing qualities. Even a small dose of this strain may work wonders in weight loss, sleep disorders, and pain.
You can start your weight loss journey by growing your batch of lab-tested cannabis seeds in the comfort of your home to enjoy distinct flavours and characteristics without incurring any high costs.
How does CBD work?
Before delving into the details of its impact, it’s essential to understand CBD’s role in helping the body lose weight. Our body has a natural endocannabinoid system that responds to various compounds through two receptors, CB1 and CB2. Both receptors are cannabinoid in nature, with one difference: CB1 receptors usually exist in the central nervous system (CNS), whereas CB2 receptors exist throughout the body.
However, it is seen that in obese individuals, CB1 receptors are present throughout the body, especially in fatty tissue. There is a connection between obesity and the activation of CB1 receptors. CBD does not have a direct effect on the receptors; instead, it influences the body’s natural cannabinoids to block the receptors.
Role of CBD in Weight Loss
There are many ways through which CBD impacts and promotes weight loss. Cannabis can reduce appetite and help with metabolic disorders. It also helps in the normalization of insulin levels and decreasing stress.
Let’s go over the key benefits of CBD in assisting weight loss.
It reduces appetite:
CBD reduces appetite and prevents overeating by influencing specific molecules to block CB1 receptors. It also improves the sensitivity of the hypothalamus and curbs hunger pangs, resulting in a decrease in caloric intake and an increase in weight loss.
It turns “bad fat” into “good fat”:
Bad or white fat is associated with the risk of heart disease, and diabetes and CBD can convert this fat into good or brown fat. According to a study, CBD not only converts white fat into brown fat; it also stimulates the body to disintegrate fats more efficiently, thereby eliminating them from the body as waste.
According to another study, brown or good fat cells are more active and burn off calories by releasing heat. As burning calories is vital for weight loss, CBD may help burn fat by turning bad white fat into good brown fat.
It can normalize the insulin level:
When you eat high-sugar foods over the years, your blood insulin levels gradually rise. The higher insulin levels in the bloodstream increase the uptake of fatty acids and stop the breakage of fat. This leads to energy storage and not fat burning.
Here’s when CBD can come to your rescue! According to a study, CBD showed a 17% reduction in fasting insulin in patients suffering from metabolic disorders. This is incredibly significant, as normalizing/stabilizing insulin levels in the bloodstream will result in burning fat and reducing obesity.
It can lower anxiety and stress:
Stress is directly proportional to weight abnormalities, specifically weight gain. During stress or anxiety attacks, our bodies release more cortisol (the stress hormone), which increases our appetite.
When we are anxious or depressed, we tend to eat more, especially not-so-healthy comfort foods, which results in weight gain. However, some studies demonstrate that Cannabis can significantly reduce short-term levels of stress and curb overeating.
It promotes sound sleep:
Good and sound sleep is essential for losing weight, as we burn a lot of calories while sleeping. Poor sleep increases hunger and overeating. Therefore, if you suffer from poor sleep, you may use strains that have high levels of CBD, which promotes relaxing and sound sleep.
To sum it up
Even though Cannabis users have a higher caloric intake and cravings than non-users, the same stuff helps their bodies retain fat! CBD boosts metabolism and prevents weight gain even after you eat more.
Now, that’s a reason to celebrate, but only relying on Cannabis cannot guarantee you weight loss. You must adopt a healthy lifestyle, indulge in exercises, tweak your eating habits, and consult a physician for visible weight loss.
