Debunking The Myth: Does CBD Make You Hungry?

It’s widely known that smoking marijuana can make you hungry. There’s even a commonly-used term for the effect: getting the munchies.

The appetite stimulation associated with weed use leads many to assume that using CBD products will also have them craving cookies, Cheetos, Doritos, Pop-Tarts, or another stoner snack.

The myth isn’t true, though. Generally speaking, CBD products do not make you hungry. In fact, the majority of users find that it reduces their appetites — and studies are being conducted to see if the substance can be used to help people lose weight.

Let’s find out why marijuana and CBD have such different effects on appetite.

All About Cannabis Sativa Plants

Marijuana is sourced from the cannabis plant. The CBD used to make commercial products is almost always sourced from the hemp plant. Both plants are members of the cannabis sativa family, and they’re extremely similar in almost every way. The big difference between the two is their cannabinoid content.

Cannabinoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in cannabis sativa plants. There are more than 100 known cannabinoids, but the two most important are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). They each appear to have therapeutic benefits after interacting with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

THC, of course, does more than that. It’s also responsible for the psychoactive effects that most weed users experience, including euphoria, sensory distortions, and sometimes even hallucinations.

Most cannabis plants are loaded with THC; that’s why the buds of the plants are used for smoking, vaping, edibles, or other marijuana-infused products. On the other hand, only very small amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid occur naturally in hemp plants.

CBD products sold in the UK can only contain one mg of THC per container, which is a concentration of approximately 0.2%. (In the US and most of Europe, the legal limit is slightly higher.) For that reason, cannabidiol is usually extracted from hemp plants, which have about that same low THC level.

(You can choose from several types of CBD products. Full-spectrum CBD contains the small amount of THC just mentioned, broad-spectrum CBD contains only trace levels of THC, and CBD isolate is THC-free.)

The different amounts of THC in cannabis and CBD explain why the latter doesn’t get you high. And that’s not all they explain.

CBD vs. THC: Appetite

When THC enters the body, it binds to a group of endocannabinoid receptors known as CB1 receptors and then influences messages sent and received throughout the brain and central nervous system. Those messages are responsible for regulating an enormous range of body functions and sensations including mood, memory, pain, appetite, and sleep.

Cannabidiol doesn’t bind to the CB1 receptors. It interacts with them secondarily, but the primary effects of CBD involve the so-called CB2 receptors responsible for immunosuppression, anti-inflammatory actions, and similar activities.

The different effects of cannabidiol and THC explain why, generally speaking, THC makes you hungry and CBD does not.

Research shows that when THC binds to CB1 receptors in the body, signals transmitted throughout the brain appear to affect appetite in several ways.

• They affect sensory signals, making food seem to smell and taste better and leading to an increased appetite.
• They boost feelings of hunger by causing the release of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin.
• They “turn off” the neurons in the brain that normally make people feel full, leading to greater food intake.
• They stimulate production of “feel-good” hormones like dopamine and serotonin, making eating more enjoyable and lessening inhibitions against eating too much. Those who are overweight have more CB1 receptors and usually experience a larger dopamine surge, leading them to eat even more and be more likely to experience weight gain.

However, cannabidiol doesn’t cause any of those effects because it doesn’t bind to the CB1 receptors. Some experts think CBD antagonizes(or deactivates) the CB1 receptors and creates the opposite effects of those caused by THC.

A systematic review of research shows that most people given CBD experienced appetite suppression, even more so if they had a high body weight or a high body mass index. The major exception involved those with health issues that hurt their appetites; CBD’s apparent health and wellness benefits include the promotion of gut health and a more balanced appetite.

In short, CBD doesn’t make most people hungry. It might even help them with weight loss.

CBD and Weight Loss

Findings showing cannabidiol’s potential for helping users lose weight are preliminary. Further research is necessary, but even so, early indications are promising.

Here are some of the key study results.

CBD and CB1 receptors

As mentioned earlier, researchers say they’ve found that CBD affects the body’s CB1 cannabinoid receptors by deactivating them, generally lowering users’ appetites and potentially leading to weight loss. The same 2018 study theorized that cannabidiol’s ability to reduce body inflammation could also help prevent weight gain.

CBD, White Fat, and Brown Fat

2016 research found that CBD may help the body convert “white fat” into “brown fat,” helping with the effective breakdown of body fat.

White fat (stored in fat cells called white adipocytes) stores extra calories for use as fuel when needed. However, that fat builds up in the stomach, thighs, and hips where it can cause obesity while increasing diabetes and cardiovascular disease risks. That’s why white fat is considered to be “bad fat.”

By contrast, brown fat (stored in cells called brown adipocytes) is considered “good fat.” It breaks down glucose and fat molecules, burning calories to produce energy and maintain body temperature — and in the process, controlling blood sugar and insulin levels. It accumulates in small, non-visible areas of the body, rather than in the belly, hips, and thighs.

Needless to say, the conversion of white fat to brown fat would contribute to weight loss and be an important weapon against obesity.

CBD and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of medical issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol (often low “good” cholesterol levels coupled with high “bad” cholesterol levels), and high blood sugar. This condition increases the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the buildup of extra, unneeded fat in the stomach and waist areas. To be blunt, obese people are likely to have these metabolic problems.

Animal studies have found that cannabidiol appears to be able to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, possibly by acting as a CB1 antagonist. This potential benefit of CBD holds great promise for lowering metabolic risks and preventing the accumulation of body fat.

Final Thoughts on CBD, Weight Loss, and Physical Well-Being

The popularity of products like CBD oil, CBD gummies, and CBD topical creams continues to soar, driven by potential benefits of CBD like the relief of chronic pain, anxiety, and inflammation, with no serious side effects. The possibility that cannabidiol could help with weight loss should make CBD products more sought-after than ever.

It’s important to remember, though, that the only proven health benefit of CBD is its ability to ease or prevent seizures experienced by some epilepsy patients. Before deciding to give any CBD product a try, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor or other healthcare professional for their advice.

Shop our CBD products:

• CBD oils
• CBD gummies
• CBD capsules
• CBD creams
• CBD patches
• CBD vape pens
• CBD vape juice