CBD is known for a range of potentially medicinal effects, from helping to manage everyday stress to relieving pain and muscle tension. Many users, or those who are just considering taking CBD, wonder if CBD has any effect on appetite. Therefore, in this article, we will focus on how CBD can increase or suppress appetite.

How does appetite work?

To understand if CBD can affect our appetite, we first need to understand what happens in the human body when we are hungry. Appetite is the feeling of wanting to eat. It is different from hunger, which is the body's biological response to a lack of food. You can have an appetite when you are not hungry, or vice versa. Appetite increases and decreases due to a variety of factors, including:

  • Overwhelming emotions,
  • seeing or smelling food,
  • daily routine,
  • health conditions,
  • taking medication,
  • environmental influences.

Can CBD increase appetite?

When it comes to CBD's effect on appetite, it's important to understand that CBD is not a direct appetite stimulant. Therefore, taking it before breakfast does not necessarily affect the amount of food you eat. Instead, CBD affects appetite through its effect on other physical and psychological experiences. Some studies suggest that CBD may stimulate appetite via endocannabinoid receptors, in two ways:

  1. The first is CBD's action on CB1 receptors, which are located in the central nervous system, of which the brain is a part. CBD can increase the production of certain hormones, such as ghrelin, which causes hunger, and dopamine and serotonin, which are known as "mood hormones" and can stimulate appetite in stressful situations in those suffering from a deficiency.
  2. Another way CBD directly binds to CB2 receptors found in peripheral tissues, including the digestive system. CBD is thus involved in the production of saliva and stomach acids, which increase the feeling of hunger and contribute to better digestion.

Can CBD suppress appetite?

There is little scientific evidence to prove that CBD helps with weight loss or suppresses appetite. As with appetite enhancement, CBD does not directly affect appetite, but rather other mental and physical experiences, as CBD has a calming effect. In fact, many people consume more food when they are stressed, in pain, nervous or hypersensitive . So if CBD alleviates these problems, it stands to reason that it may also help to reduce overeating. In addition, CBD is commonly used to induce a good mood, which can also contribute to a healthy appetite.

Using CBD oil to promote a healthy appetite

CBD dietary supplements are no miracle cure, however, they can help to create habits that will promote a healthy appetite. Below are some simple ways to promote a healthy appetite.

Regular exercise

One of the best ways to promote a healthy appetite is to be active. Through exercise, calories are burned, which leads to weight loss. Plus, if you have trouble eating regularly, exercise can help. This is because regular cardio releases endorphins that stimulate the body to want to replenish energy.

Eating nutritious foods

Try making different smoothies, vegetable soups or even porridge. These dishes are easy to consume and you can even add CBD oil to them.

Eat at predetermined times

Eating is usually the first activity we neglect when we have a busy schedule. Eating at regular times, even when you're not hungry, can help increase your appetite over time. This then prevents us from overeating and driving away hunger with snacking.

Does CBD stimulate or suppress appetite?

Due to the various differences in CBD products and the differences in our endocannabinoid system, we still have a lot to learn about how this product affects the human body. Thus, CBD can both stimulate and suppress appetite. It can be said to regulate it. Different people react differently in stressful situations. CBD can thus be useful both for those who have a craving for sweets in times of stress and for those who have no appetite at all. It is important to remember that our relationship with food is both emotional and physical. While CBD can affect appetite in different ways for different people, incorporating it into your diet is a great start on the road to better health.

Interested in CBD's effect on appetite? Get some CBD and see how it affects you. You can choose from a range of CBD products in our e-shop.