CBD and Weight Loss: Is CBD an Appetite Suppressant?

Most of us have either heard about, or experienced firsthand, the marijuana related phenomenon that is often referred to as “the munchies”, which is usually described as an overwhelming urge to eat endless quantities of whatever food that we can get our hands on, so it might seem counterintuitive that a product derived from the cannabis plant could be capable of actually REDUCING appetite. Let’s look at what the research says about how different phytochemicals, known as cannabinoids, work to either increase or suppress appetite.

The main study that we wanted to highlight for you is titled “Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns.” It appeared in the Medical Journal of Psychopharmacology, an academic medical discipline that focuses on the clinical applications and effects of different chemicals on mental health and behavior. Although this study was conducted on rats (due, in part, to the legal difficulties surrounding human trials of cannabis-derived substances), it is widely considered to have nearly identical effects in humans, because of the similarities in our species’ endocannabinoid systems, which help to regulate several vital bodily functions and processes like mood, sleep and, of course, appetite.

Put simply, subjects in the trial were given supplements containing different cannabinoids (CBN, CBG and CBD), then monitored their food intake in speed, duration and quantity. They found that subjects that were treated with CBN ate faster and for a longer duration than usual, and consumed more food overall than normal, but CBD had the OPPOSITE effect, causing subjects to eat “significantly” less food overall. In layman’s terms, it sounds like the subjects who were given CBN had a major case of “the munchies”, while those who were received CBD supplements were on their way to fitting into their little rat bikinis, or whatever rats who want to lose weight aspire to.

And remember how we mentioned that your endocannabinoid system can also help to regulate aspects of your life like mood and sleep? It turns out that these are also major factors that influence weight loss! Stress causes your body to release a hormone called cortisol, which has been widely studied and shown to increase body fat percentage, especially around the abdominal area. Many CBD users report lower stress levels, which also means that their adrenal glands are pumping out less fat converting cortisol. Improved sleep is another major benefit of CBD supplementation which has also been linked to lower levels of body fat.

When it comes right down to it, there is no “magic bullet” for weight loss, but CBD supplementation can help you to combat several of the most prominent causes of obesity and weight gain. The study cited in this article can be found at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22543671

There are hundreds of testimonials online that support the claim that CBD can be an effective appetite suppressant and weight loss tool, but we’re more interested in hearing from you, our own customers, about how our products have worked in your lives. Send us an email at cbdgurus@nibanna.life and we may use your testimonial on our website or social media.