Cannabidiol is likely to stimulate appetite, but not the way how tetrahydrocannabinol does. Unlike THC, it will not offer you the feeling of hunger, which are informally described as the ‘munchies’. CBD can aid you in gaining appetite or eating less. So, CBD effects on appetite are potentially useful, whether you wish to eat less or are having no food at all. Keep reading to know what research says about CBD and appetite.
The Findings Of Research About Cannabidiol’s Effects On Appetite
Studies demonstrate that there exists an interesting relationship between cannabidiol and appetite. The utilization of cannabidiol will reduce your nausea, and it will calm your nervous system and digestive system, thereby allowing you to have food. Here is how these effects occur. The nervous and the endocannabinoid systems work together to regulate the chemical equilibrium among body parts to keep organs working smoothly.
CB1 cannabinoid receptors are mostly present in the central nervous system and the human brain, whereas CB2 receptors exist primarily in the peripheral nervous and the immune systems. These two receptors overlap somewhat over some body functions and systems, plus they spread to the body fat. This way, both receptors play a big part in how the human body modulates appetite, processes fat, and controls its weight.
Research in 1999 found the role of the ECS, especially that of N-arachidonoylethanolamine, in regulating the desire for food. A study in 2000 confirmed the ECS’s contribution to appetite regulation, and it looked at how far the effects of anandamide extended for cognitive attributes, appetite, and weight.
Another study from 2002 discovered that N-arachidonoylethanolamine makes the hypothalamus active, through CB1 cannabinoid receptors, to make people eat too much. In some experiments, mice without enough CB1 receptors were utilized to substantiate the role of these receptors in stimulating their appetite.
A study from 2018 found the ECS mainly responsible for modulating many metabolic processes, which start from the quantity of food ingested to the forms of food favored. These findings are featured in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS). As per the study, CB1 cannabinoid receptors can reduce body weight, whereas CB2 receptors can aid in not just browning white fats but also making thermic energy from chemical energy.
A different 2018 study, featured in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Pharmaceuticals’, looked to discover the pharmacological, cellular, and molecular logic behind cannabinoid receptors in body weight control. Modulated CB1 receptors were shown to control the affinity of the body to fat and sugar ingestion.
The aforementioned studies indicate that there exists a perplexing connection between the ECS and cannabidiol. Meanwhile, CBD aids in inducing hunger in individuals who are averse to eating, because of vomiting and/or nausea from health conditions or medication. Cannabidiol can act as a product that suppresses nausea.
Research On Whether Cannabidiol Can Help To Curb Both Appetite And Weight
Research indicates that cannabidiol can reduce the intake of food and that it can boost the process of poorly stored and processed body fat being converted into brown adipose tissue. This is how it is likely to promote weight loss. It is regarded as a treatment option for obesity. The following studies show how cannabidiol could just cause weight loss.
- In a study from 2006 featured in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry’, cannabidiol was shown to promote the white fat browning process. This causes the elimination of stored body fat, increases the energy and body heat levels, and reduces fat accumulation.
- A study from 2019 posted in the peer-reviewed ‘Cell Death and Disease’ journal, showed that cannabidiol targets the mitochondrial system, thereby supporting metabolic health. It was shown to promote metabolism by regulating the levels of calcium in the organelles named the ‘mitochondria’.
- A review published this year in the peer-reviewed ‘Frontiers in Endocrinology’, indicated that cannabidiol can ease the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and adult-onset diabetes.
Many other pieces of research support cannabidiol’s effectiveness when used in the form of a product that balances metabolism.
- In a study from 2011, which came in the biweekly journal of ‘Neuroscience Letters’, rats were given cannabidiol dosages of 2.5 milligrams per kilogram and 5 milligrams per kilogram for 2 weeks. It showed a considerable reduction in the weight gain of these rodents; this effect was more noticeable with 5 milligrams of CBD per serving.
- In a different study, published 10 years ago in ‘Neuropsychopharmacology’, cannabidiol was shown to counteract the THC-induced munchies and to reduce the level of intoxication from tetrahydrocannabinol.
So, Is Cannabidiol An Appetite Suppressant Or Appetite Inducer?
It is unfortunate that there exists a need for further research about CBD and appetite to have something conclusive on this matter. Certain studies suggest that cannabidiol can cause hunger, but others indicate that the botanical substance can aid in reducing both body fat and appetite.