Can CBD affect your metabolism?

These days, almost everyone has head of at least one ailment or another that the cannabinoids in cannabis are good for including pain relief and treating common mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. The most significant issue is most people are aware of these powerful benefits yet attribute the results to the presence of THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive cannabinoid that is largely popular due to its ability to induce typical euphoric sensations that are often expected after consuming recreational marijuana, but it isn’t the only active element that is produced naturally by cannabis plants. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most prevalent component from a medical perspective and the portion of the plant’s chemical profile that can influence a person’s metabolism.

Did you know?

The average marijuana consumer eats an average of 600 more calories per day than non-users, and it’s also been noted that even though stoners seem to be eating more than their counterparts, they aren’t gaining any additional weight either. That tidbit of information is what initially inspired cannabis researchers to investigate the link between pot consumption and metabolic rate.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism is defined as an essential set of reactions from organisms within a host that provide life sustaining elements. This is a cellular process that almost every living thing on this earth requires to convert things like food and nutrients into proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, while also regulating and limiting unnecessary waste. These microscopic beings provide vital services, including energy, controlling how fast our food is absorbed or processed, while also providing energy en masse for us to burn and thrive on.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main ingredient in CBD products and is naturally produced in large quantities by both cannabis and hemp plants. It is one of over 100 different cannabinoids that have been discovered since 1972 and carries unique qualities that allow it to interact with the human body as a metaphorical grease to keep the whole system in good working order. It can help to reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, anxiety, depression, appetite, and increase sleep quality, and has recently shown incredible potential as a tool to help to regulate metabolic rates in humans.

How CBD interacts with human metabolism

For me to explain in detail how the CBD that is present in cannabis can affect your metabolism, you will first need to learn just a few of the basics about the human endocannabinoid system. Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network of receptors that can be found almost everywhere in the body. There are two primary types of receptors, and both seem to hold the responsibility of transmitting critical messages to the brain which tells it how to perform. This network is one of the primary reasons that we can feel hungry, tired, alert, experience a variety of moods, and take significant amounts of pleasure from simple actions like exercise or having sex.

These cannabinoid receptors typically interact with what are called endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are chemicals that our brain releases to remind us when to eat, sleep, drink, go to the bathroom, get exercise, and more. The cannabinoids that are produced by marijuana like CBD are virtually indistinguishable from our very own endocannabinoids, which is why they can trigger the same release of chemicals and similar felt effects.

Marijuana’s effects and benefits for metabolism

Unfortunately, the majority of the cannabis research currently available is this department has been conducted on animal subjects. However, the results of these studies have also shown to be transferable when tried on human patients. According to one study that was conducted by the University of Miami, marijuana consumers, in general, are 54% less likely to be diagnosed or experience the symptoms of Metabolic syndrome than their counterparts. Some of the most common side effects of Metabolic Syndrome are high blood sugar, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess fats that are stored in and around the waistline. The cannabinoid CBD can help to reduce or eliminate many of those symptoms while increasing the quality of life for the patient. Here are just a few of the notable benefits to using CBD to control the side effects of metabolic syndrome.

• Slower weight gain
• Regulated appetite
• lower blood sugar levels
• lower blood pressure levels
• faster weight loss
• lower amounts of bad cholesterol

Other neat cannabis and metabolism facts

• According to the study quoted above, cannabis researchers discovered that marijuana consumers were 40% less likely to develop heart disease.
• In the same study, researchers also found that cannabis consumers were 20% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion

Though CBD may not yet have the approval of the FDA specifically for weight loss or to counteract the possibility of illnesses like diabetes or heart disease, it has been approved for use as an anti-inflammatory and is psychoactive free, and completely safe to try out for yourself without concern of harsh or mind altering effects. It may not be a cure all right across the board, but one thing is for sure and that is the effectiveness of CBD and its ability to positively influence a person’s regular bodily functions are the hottest topic in the industry right now, and many are learning for them