Have you ever found yourself ravenously hungry after smoking a joint? You’re not alone. In fact, munchies are one of the most commonly reported effects of many cannabis strains.
But why does this happen?
Why does weed make you crave salty or sugary junk food? And how can weed help with weight management if it makes you hungry? These are questions which nearly every weed enthusiast has asked themselves at one point or the other, and ones which we will be answering today.
So let’s begin.
How and why does weed cause the munchies?
Under normal (sober) circumstances, the human body feels hunger mostly due to 4 different factors. These, as proven by researchers at the University of Michigan Department of Medicine are:
- Blood sugar levels
- Hormone levels
- Emptiness in the gastrointestinal tracts
- Signals from the hypothalamus region of the brain
These same factors are also responsible for telling your body when it is full.
Appetite, however, is quite a different thing. Unlike hunger, appetite can be triggered by a number of different things, including the smell and look of delicious food. Stress and depression can also stimulate a person’s appetite, and cause them to eat even when they’re not hungry.
But what role does weed play in this? A new study published by Yale University has all but answered this question. The hypothalamus section of the brain contains certain neurons which are known as proopiomelanocortin (or POMC neurons). These are responsible for appetite and hunger simulation, along with sexual arousal and alertness.
Cannabinoid receptors which form the Endocannabinoid system have a complicated relationship with the POMC neurons. Active cannabinoids found in marijuana, such as THC and CBD can fool your brain’s central feeding system. Instead of tapping the breaks, cannabis may just cause you to put the pedal to the metal and leave you feeling ravenous and sometimes even starved, even if you’ve just eaten.
At the same time, cannabinoids can also alter the mind’s ability to perceive sights and sounds. They can enhance your senses, and as a result can cause food to look, smell and taste much more delicious than they normally are. No wonder people who are looking to put on a few pounds love cannabis so much.
Cannabis and Weight management
But worry not. For even though cannabis does stimulate appetite and can cause people to overeat, there certainly are exceptions to this rule, especially for long term consumers. There is a lot of evidence and scientific research which indicates that cannabis can actually help people lose weight.
To begin with, research has proven that regular usage of THC can help users improve their metabolism. Not only does this mean better management of fatty acids, but also improved energy storage and consumption, hence effectively lowering the body mass index.
At the same time, cannabis can also increase mobility levels, improve the quality of sleep, and reduce alcohol intake, especially in younger people. All of these result in improved calorie management, making cannabis an extremely fun and effective way to manage weight.