One of the most well-known side effects of marijuana is what is colloquially known as “the munchies” or just “munchies.”
However, this has led to many questions about the relationship between cannabidiol, also known as CBD, and our appetite. Can CBD give people munchies, just like marijuana can?
It is true that CBD and appetite are linked, but it may not be in the way you think. In this article, we will explore the relationship between CBD, munchies, and diet. If you’re interested, read on for more!
What Are The Munchies?
The munchies are a feeling of significant hunger, often attributed to those who use marijuana. In popular media, this is often shown as people longing for snacks and junk food.
What Causes Munchies?
CBD does not cause the munchies. CBD is industrial hemp, which is very different from marijuana. While both come from the cannabis genus and are composed of the same cannabinoids, their overall composition is different.
CBD actually contains under 0.3% THC, while marijuana contains around 30%. This means that you will not experience the high that you get from marijuana, and therefore, you will not experience the munchies.
Munchies are caused by hormones. When you smoke marijuana, the THC will stimulate the production of ghrelin, which is a hormone that occurs naturally and works to increase your appetite for fatty, greasy foods.
Typically, this hormone will spike when you have an empty stomach. However, THC will result in it being released early no matter if you have food in your belly or not.
THC also interacts with the appetite control centers in your brain. This regulates your hunger throughout the day, but it significantly increases your appetite and makes you feel hungry constantly.
Not only that, but THC actually increases the levels of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is a hormone that controls your pleasure.
When you have increased dopamine in your system, smells become more appetizing, food begins to taste better, and even the act of eating brings pleasure. This works to increase your appetite, and is ultimately the cause of the munchies.
Can CBD Still Impact Your Appetite?
Yes, CBD does still have an impact on your appetite. While CBD does not cause the munchies, it can make it easier for you to eat more food.
However, it does this without changing the hormones in your brain. Instead, CBD will create improved situations in your body to allow you to take in more food.
Let’s check out the various ways CBD impacts your appetite in more detail!
CBD Helps To Reduce Symptoms Of Nausea
CBD can help your appetite by reducing symptoms of nausea. This is based on anecdotal evidence from studies, which you can find by clicking the link.
By taking CBD, people find their feelings of sickness are relieved, which in turn allows the bodies’ hunger mechanisms to operate. So, if you were feeling nauseous before taking CBD, afterward you will be far more likely to want to eat food.
CBD Helps To Improve Your Gastrointestinal Health
There are a number of studies that show a link between CBD and improved gastrointestinal health. This concerns gastric discomfort and IBD in particular. When we have good gastrointestinal health, we also have more of an appetite.
CBD Helps You To Relax
Some users of the anecdotal study above cited that CBD had a calming effect on their digestive tract and nervous system. This allowed them the confidence to eat freely as well as the ability to keep any food that they did eat down.
However, this is not considered to be the munchies because, in this situation, the body’s appetite has returned to normal, which is not an actual “increase” of appetite.
Does CBD Cause Weight Gain?
There is not much research on the link between weight gain and CBD, so there is no current way to know for sure if CBD causes people to gain weight. However, many people believe this to be the case since CBD causes an increase in appetite.
However, there are also some studies to suggest that CBD causes both an increase and a decrease in appetite, too. So, more research is needed on this topic before we can begin to draw any conclusions.
Does CBD Cause Weight Loss?
CBD is not a weight loss supplement, but there is some evidence to suggest that it can help people lose weight. Let’s check this out in more detail below.
CBD Boosts Metabolism
According to studies, CBD can actually work to boost your metabolism, which results in a lower intake of food.
CBD Converts Fats
CBD can help to convert “bad” fats into “good” fats. The fewer “bad” fats we have in our bodies, the more likely we are to lose weight. This is because “good” fats burn calories in order to generate heat, which results in weight loss.
Does CBD Make You Thirsty?
Yes CBD can make you very thirsty! Some of the biggest side effects of CBD are gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, and a dry mouth. This may leave you feeling very thirsty.
However, there are things you can do to combat these side effects, dry mouth in particular. For one thing, make sure you drink plenty of water or chew gum to stimulate the production of saliva in the body.
Final Thoughts
The munchies is the term used to describe feelings of significant hunger after using marijuana. It is caused by the THC present in marijuana, which works to increase levels of dopamine in the brain to make you feel rewarded each time you eat food.
THC also interacts with the appetite receptors in your brain to increase your appetite throughout the day and will increase the production of ghrelin which causes individuals to crave fatty foods.
However, CBD does not do this, so taking CBD on its own will not result in the munchies. However, CBD can cause an increase in appetite without affecting your hormones, by improving your gastrointestinal health, relieving symptoms of nausea, and helping you to relax.
Hi, my name is Dave Durrel and I have been in the CBD industry for almost five years. I oversee the production process, its benefits, and the selling of the items.
I’ve seen first-hand the positive effects that CBD can have on a person, and I want to share that euphoria with others in desperate need.
We’ve all met someone and thought – you could really use some CBD – right?
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