CBD and Weight Loss: Can CBD Really Help You Lose Weight?
Anyone unfamiliar with
cannabidiol, or CBD, may be surprised to learn its association with weight
loss. After all, the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in cannabis has long been
known to do the exact opposite; stimulate the appetite. However, now that medicinal
cannabis is legal in more parts of the world, new research has
found that industrial hemp-derived CBD may have an effect on weight. How you
ask? Read on and find out.
What is CBD and How Does it Work?
Cannabinoids are compounds found
in cannabis, and CBD is one of over 100 known today! After THC, CBD is the
second most plentiful cannabinoid, composing up to 40 percent of some cannabis
extracts. While THC is known for its intoxicating effects, CBD doesn’t get you
high.
Studies have shown that CBD may
offer its benefits by stimulating certain receptors in our body’s
endocannabinoid system and prolonging the effects of the “bliss molecule”
anandamide. By allowing anandamide to remain in the body longer, it doesn’t
just help soothe soreness but also helps in other areas as well. CBD may also
support the body by helping to decrease the number of cytokines, which are
inflammatory molecules.
What does this all have to do
with weight loss? Keep on reading…
4 Ways CBD May Help with Weight Loss
1. CBD’s Effects on Food Intake
Unlike THC, CBD does not make you
hungry. Though there haven’t been many studies on the effects of CBD on weight
loss, one study found CBD could actually reduce food intake. Researchers
compared three cannabinoids and found that CBD minimized total food consumption
in rats. It works by helping to block the overflow of neurotransmitters, which
leads to binge-eating behaviors, thus regulating appetite and weight. However,
as these tests were done on rats, more research on the effects of CBD on human
appetite is still needed.
2. CBD to Combat Stress-Eating
Many people turn to food to help
them deal with stress. The endorphins that stress eaters get from eating
unhealthy comfort foods may effectively battle stress hormones, but it does so
at the cost of weight gain, as well as other health problems. Because CBD has
been found to help ease stress and anxiety, it may curb this behavior and
prevent you from putting on unwanted pounds due to stress-eating.
3. CBD and Breaking Down Fat
One study published in the
Journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry found that CBD stimulates the genes
and proteins that help break down fat. CBD speeds up “fat browning”, which is
the process that turns the white fat cells linked with obesity into healthier
brown fat cells that generate energy. The researchers also found that CBD may
increase the activity of mitochondria, boosting the body’s ability to burn
calories while decreasing the number of proteins involved in fat cell
generation.
4. CBD to Manage Blood Sugar
Sugar is a highly addictive
substance that can wreak havoc on your health and weight. Once diabetes
develops, the body becomes more resistant to insulin, causing more fat
absorption. CBD has been found to minimize insulin resistance, decreasing fat
build-up.
How to Use CBD Oil for Weight Loss
Though more studies need to be
done on CBD’s effects on human weight management, CBD is quite safe and has
very few side effects. While the findings of recent research are promising,
it’s important to note that these studies are still in their early stages.
However, when coupled with a healthy diet and exercise, CBD oil could very well
lead to faster, healthier weight loss.
This article first appeared on MadebyHemp