Can CBD Help you Lose Weight?

All over the world, people struggle to maintain a healthy weight. Exercise routines, fad diets and supplements have always topped the list of recommendations, some of which offer better results than others. Now there’s a new natural treatment in town that might have the ability to help you reach your weight loss goals. Its name? CBD.

CBD is a cannabis constituent that is known for many health benefits. Are one of those health benefits weight loss? Read on to find out if CBD could be a natural solution to assisting you in becoming healthier.

Cannabis as an Appetite Suppressant

CBD can help to keep weight manageable, thanks to its ability to work as an appetite suppressant. The fact that CBD suppresses appetite will likely surprise most people. Especially when THC, the most famous cannabinoid, is well known for bringing on the munchies. So how does CBD work to produce an opposite effect?

When CBD enters the body, it works to boost the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the CB1 and CB2 receptors that are part of the system.

CB1 receptors stimulate the neural circuit in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the region of the brain that controls appetite. It regulates the secretion of ghrelin and leptin, two hormones that influence appetite. Ghrelin stimulates hunger while leptin creates the sensation of being full.

CB1 receptors stimulate the neural circuit in the hypothalamus that regulates ghrelin. While THC does this in a way that generates feelings of hunger, CBD works as a CB1 blocker. In doing so, it suppresses the appetite and can control cravings by increasing levels of leptin.

Studies have been conducted to determine the neurological effects of CBD. Research showed in animal subjects, common findings included reduced food consumption and body weight.

CBD and Metabolism

CBD also works to promote weight loss by speeding up metabolism. It is responsible for aiding the body in a process known as fat browning.

There are different types of fat in the body, brown fat and white fat. White fat is the body’s main type of fat and is found under the skin and internal organs. It is good for insulation and cushioning falls, but excessive white fat can lead to heart disease, diabetes and other unpleasant health conditions.

Brown fat, on the other hand, is considered a “good” fat. It generates heat to metabolize calories, instead of storing them.

CBD works to turn white fat into brown fat. It stimulates the fat browning process, working to break down fat while increasing the number and activity of the mitochondria cells in the body. This helps the body burn more calories. It can also reduce the activity of proteins associated with the growth of fat cells.

In 2016, research was conducted to determine CBD’s effects on weight loss. The findings showed that CBD promoted cell browning and lipid metabolism. For this reason, CBD may be explored as a therapeutic agent in the prevention of obesity.

CBD and How it Can Help Prevent Underlying Weight Related Conditions

We see how CBD speeds up the metabolism and suppresses the appetite to have a direct effect on weight loss. However, there are many underlying factors that contribute to weight gain that CBD can treat as well.

These include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep
• Wakefulness

CBD Reduces Anxiety

We’ve all heard of nervous eating. Feelings of anxiety and depression are very closely linked. They both tend to cause people to seek comfort in food, which can lead to overeating and ultimately, weight gain.

CBD works to relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. It interacts with the CB1 receptor in such a way that it alters serotonin signals. Serotonin is a chemical that affects your mental health. Lower serotonin levels often correlate with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

CBD has been shown to be an effective compound in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders like PTSD, GAD, PD, OCD and SAD. Because anxiety triggers overeating in so many people, the ability to minimize these conditions could be what makes it effective in aiding weight loss.

CBD Helps Sleeping

When we think of ways to lose weight, diet and exercise are the first things that come to mind. But did you know that getting the right amount of sleep can also help you maintain a healthy weight?

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body overproduces the hunger causing hormone ghrelin, making you more likely to overeat. Your fat cells also lose their ability to properly use insulin, causing them to produce even more insulin in order to function. This overproduction causes a fat build up, that can then lead to diseases like diabetes.

Lack of sleep has a tendency to make you feel stressed out. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol triggers the reward center in your brain which in turn, will make you more likely to crave food.

Fatigue also affects your ability to exercise at the gym. Your body needs sleep in order to repair muscles properly. If your muscles can’t fully repair, any exercise you do will likely be less effective. Fatigue may even make you want to skip the gym altogether.

CBD can combat fatigue and cravings you may experience, by promoting a healthy sleep cycle. It interacts with different receptors, proteins and chemicals in the brain to change the activity of neurotransmitters, hormones and other cells in the brain and body. This affects many of the body’s functions; providing several benefits including a regulation of sleep wake cycles.

CBD also works to reduce stress, anxiety and pain, all of which can be underlying causes of insomnia.

When testing Wistar rats, it was shown that CBD can increase total sleep time in the subjects. This makes it a promising solution in the treatment of insomnia. Insomnia is a large cause for weight gain, so being able to fight it, could help fight weight gain, too.

CBD Promotes Wakefulness

It may seem counterintuitive, that CBD, which can promote improved sleep, can also increase wakefulness and alertness. It is especially effective as a stimulant to induce wakefulness and reduce daytime sleepiness if taken in small doses.

A study of sleep modulation in rats determined that CBD modulates waking via the activation of neurons in the hypothalamus. This region of the brain is involved in the generation of overall alertness. The feeling of alertness CBD provides can help us to be more active in everyday life. It can also help us to be more motivated to engage in physical activity. This means we’ll be less likely to skip workouts and more likely to exercise efficiently, and make the most out of our time in the gym.

Taking CBD for Weight Loss

If you’d like to find out if CBD will be effective in helping you reach your weight loss goals, there are a few things you should be aware of.

It’s important to start by finding a reliable supplier. Not all CBD companies are created equal. Do your best to find a reputable seller that has credibility and is backed by testimonials and third party lab testing.

CBD can be taken in many forms including oils, edibles and capsules. Most people choose capsules for weight loss because they are easy to administer and leaves little room for error. Edibles, like chewing gum can be useful in suppressing hunger.

It’s important to note that there are different dosages of CBD available. Finding which works best for you may take some trial and error. The best way to start is with low doses to determine how CBD will affect you, then increase the dosage if necessary.

CBD is not a magic pill that you can just take and expect to lose weight overnight. For CBD to be effective, you must do your part by sticking to a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine. The compound will work as an aid in this capacity, by helping to reduce your cravings and boost your metabolism.

Finally, you should be aware that CBD affects everyone differently. There is no guarantee it will aid with weight loss. However, with the many health benefits it can provide, give it a try and see just how it can improve your life.

Conclusion

Statistics show that more than 50% of the population are considered to be overweight or obese. Being overweight can lead to a lack of self confidence and even feelings of depression. In more extreme cases, it can negatively affect health by increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

While CBD is not a magic solution for fighting obesity, it can aid in weight loss. CBD can assist you in achieving your fitness goals. If you’re struggling with your weight, try CBD to find out how it can help you to become the slimmer, healthier and happier person you want to be.