One of the subtler, yet heavier epidemics facing our country has to do with weight loss. Recent studies show that CBD has a very positive effect on weight loss. CBD interacts with the bodies’ Endocannabinoid System, which has been recently linked with playing “an important role in how the body regulates energy (calorie) balance, as well as carbohydrate and fat metabolism.” (Leafly, 2015) In short, it does a wide variety of things in our bodies to make sure the body is in tip top shape, and CBD literally feeds it by interacting with this systems cannabinoid receptors.
The Endocannabinoid System is essentially a giant network of cannabinoid receptors spread throughout the human body. It’s made up of “a group of specialized fatty acid-based signaling chemicals (think ‘keys’), their receptors (think ‘locks’), and the metabolic enzymes that produce and break them down.” (Leafly, 2016) The most well-known cannabinoid receptors in the body are CB1 and CB2, which are most active when interacting with cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Obviously, the stimulation and control of appetite, cravings and other food seeking behavior is an intricate interaction between different areas in the brain, because different areas of the brain receive different types of information, “in the form of nutrients, hormones, and signaling molecules from body fat tissue, the gut, blood, and peripheral sensory receptors.” (Leafly, 2015) Simply put, people eat for different reasons; but the parts of the brain that stimulate hunger, appetite and energy intake are believed to be influenced by the CB1 receptor. Marco Torres wrote an article in Waking Times that references a study published in the American Journal of Medicine that found:
“that regular cannabis consumers have fasting insulin (insulin in your body before eating) levels 16% lower than non-consumers. The study also found that cannabis consumers had 17% lower insulin resistance levels and lower average waist circumferences. The researchers concluded that there were significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences.”
We know that the two main ingredients in the cannabis plant are CBD and THC, the latter being the psychoactive ingredient. Recently researchers have studied the effects of CBD on fat cells in relation to the fight against the rise in obesity and the collective weight of the current world. “Remarkably, CBD was found to…stimulate genes and proteins that enhance the breakdown and oxidation of fat, increase the number and activity of mitochondria (which increases the body’s ability to burn calories), and decrease the expression of proteins involved in lipogenesis (fat cell generation).” (Leafly, 2016) This all comes from CBD being able to convert white adipose tissue (WAT) into beige and brown adipose tissue. The white adipose stores energy whereas the brown and beige adipose burns energy. This is a process called fat browning. The body creates fat as a filter to shield our organs from the different toxins in our bodies. So the more toxins in our bodies, the less easy it is to burn that fat. However, CBD also helps our bodies release toxins which help protect our organs from harmful substances and also reduces the need for more fat cells in the body. The best part is the fact that it is completely natural and can be derived from hemp as well as cannabis.
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