Everybody’s heard about or maybe experienced “the munchies.” So how could CBD help with obesity? Turns out that well-known frenzied hunger comes from THC – which is present in only trace amounts or not at all in CBD. (There’s no “high,” either).
Working With What’s Already There
CBD works with the body’s own endocannabinoid system, which responds to chemicals in the body through two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2.
CB1 receptors
- Are most common in the brain
- Are also found in quantity in the central nervous system
CB2 receptors
- Are found mainly in the immune system
But in obese people, the CB1 receptors are also found in fatty tissue, suggesting a link between active CB1 receptors and obesity.
CBD For Reducing Appetite and More
One 2018 study indicates CBD may make CB1 receptors less active, helping to reduce appetite and rein in obesity. CBD may stimulate CB2 receptors to reduce inflammation and food intake, as well.
Other peer-reviewed research connects CBD use to:
- lower body weight
- lower body mass index (BMI)
- smaller waist measurements
Cutting Your Risk of Insulin Resistance
Unfortunately, obesity comes with a number of risks to your health. CBD can help with many of them, including insulin resistance.
Here’s what happens when your metabolism is working well.
- you eat
- blood sugar levels increase
- the pancreas releases insulin to move the glucose to your cells
- cells use the glucose for energy
Here’s what happens when your eating habits put too much glucose into your system, creating insulin resistance.
The process begins the same way
- you eat
- blood sugar levels increase
- the pancreas releases insulin to move the glucose to your cells
Then it goes haywire
- the insulin doesn’t work
- your blood sugar can’t stabilize, so it keeps increasing
- the liver takes over and turns glucose into fat to protect the body from too much sugar
- the cells still need sugar for energy
- the cells trigger the appetite
- the whole unhealthy cycle starts again
- you feel hungry and sluggish
With CBD:
- research has showed the body’s cells absorb glucose better
- convert less of the sugar to fat, reducing hunger
- in turn reducing or repairing damage to mitochondria, which produce energy for the cells
Lowering Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Obesity can make the body’s CB receptors too active, increasing the risks of:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- type 2 diabetes
Studies in obese animals showed that, over time, CBD helped:
- total cholesterol drop by 25%
- decrease blood sugar levels
- improve markers for liver health
Researchers believe some of these benefits come from CBD’s documented ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body, as well as its potential to turn white fat (aka “bad” fat) into brown fat. This may:
- help the body burn calories
- break down fats more efficiently
- reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions
Rebalancing The Endocannabinoid System
There’s a proven connection between an overstimulated endocannabinoid system and inflammation. CBD can bring the endocannabinoid system back into balance and reduce inflammation. That protects internal organs like the pancreas and liver, among others, and can reduce the risk of diabetes. Reduced inflammation brings the body a host of other benefits.
Helping You Help Yourself
As helpful as CBD is, it can’t do the job alone. But it can work with you as you make changes in your eating habits and consider starting an exercise program or boosting the one you do now.
Changing habits isn’t easy. But neither is living with obesity and its effects. I encourage you to take the first step now. Talk to your doctor about all the ways you can improve your health, including CBD in the discussion. If you decide to try it, you could start here.
As a Navy SEAL Veteran, I work every day to improve my health. My life is immeasurably better as a result. I believe yours will be, too. And I wish you the best.
And now when you subscribe to Easy Day we’ll text you a 20% discount off our CBD products; so you can start having your own Easy Day.