Lose weight with Healing Cannabis

03/09/2021 8 min read

Therapeutic cannabis manifests itself as promising for weight loss and for the potential development of an anti-obesity drug

Studies are observing the effect of vitamin A in combination with cannabis on reducing the volume of body fat
CBD reduces appetite and stimulates the genes and proteins responsible for breaking down fat
Regular cannabis users have a lower BMI (body mass index based on height/weight)

Imagine a world where medical cannabis is a key ingredient in anti-obesity medicines. To some recreational users this idea may well seem ironic, since appetite often rises rapidly after using cannabis, and it is not uncommon for the user to end up with their head in the clouds, buried in packets of crisps and chocolate.

One recent study published in a journal of endocrinology, however, offers a rather different perspective. According to this study, the key to developing an effective anti-obesity medicine could lie in a mix of vitamin A and certain components contained in medical cannabis.

"The results of our study show that the combination of vitamin A and some components of cannabis (cannabinoids) counteracts the excessive storage of body fat," explains one of the researchers, Dr Yann Gilbert. "This finding opens up a whole range of new opportunities and potential options for treating obesity without the need for invasive surgery."

Vitamin A + the endocannabinoid system as the key to success

Scientists found that activating the retinoic acid pathway with vitamin A, combined with activating the body's endocannabinoid system with phytocannabinoids , ultimately reduces the volume of fat reserves in "chubby" fish, specifically zebrafish (Danio rerio).

According to the scientists, the synergy of these two systems is absolutely crucial, and moreover, for this purpose cannabis can be administered in doses small enough that no psychoactive effect is noticeable. It must be added that these results will not necessarily be reflected in future studies on human subjects, but they will nevertheless move science a step forward.

When we consider how many dangerous weight-loss "medicines" there are on the market, which may ultimately do a person more harm than good, the idea of a cannabis-based product against obesity is appealing, to say the least. The scientists expect that, if all goes according to plan, we can expect a cannabis-based anti-obesity medicine within roughly five years.

weight loss and cannabis

CBD oil for a slim waist?

To summarise quickly - CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid contained in medical cannabis. It has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antidepressant and many other effects. When it comes to natural products for health, CBD wins hands down. But can it also help us lose weight? There is some hope here...

The effect of CBD on metabolism through "fat browning"

In one recent study published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry), Korean scientists examine the effect of CBD on so-called preadipocytes (immature fat cells) and attempt to discover potential mechanisms that could ultimately help develop a natural anti-obesity medicine.

The results of this CBD study are truly remarkable:

CBD stimulates the genes and proteins responsible for the breakdown and oxidation of fat

CBD increases the number and activity of mitochondria. A higher number of mitochondria equals an improved ability of the body to burn fat.

It reduces the number of proteins involved in lipogenesis (the formation of new fat tissue)

Overall, these results stem from the ability of CBD to trigger so-called "fat browning", which means converting white fat tissue, which is responsible for storing fat, into beige fat tissue, which, on the contrary, is intended for burning it.

Previous studies have also shown that increased activity in brown fat tissue is directly proportional to increased glucose tolerance, which in turn equals increased resistance to the development of diabetes and other abnormalities.

CBD against metabolic dysfunctions

Interestingly, excessive activation of the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system contributes to abdominal obesity (popularly, a fat belly), the absorption of glucose into fat cells and reduced insulin sensitivity of muscle tissue. This "metabolic dysfunction" starts a vicious circle that leads to increased appetite and a constant feeling of hunger. Gradually, CB1 receptors become activated to an even greater degree, with further excessive fat storage.

Another study focused precisely on the activation of CB1 receptors in mice using the phytocannabinoids CBN and CBD. As far as eating patterns are concerned, the researchers observed markedly different effects of these two cannabinoids. CBN caused weight gain in mice as a result of increased appetite, whereas CBD ultimately reduced appetite and body weight.

If you are interested in other ways to reduce body fat, try cold showers or exposure to cold, or high-intensity exercise (of course, only if you can manage it). The very best solution is then exercise in the cold and supplementation with CBD oil.

Cannabis consumers lose weight

Cannabis consumers are slimmer overall

As we can see, vitamin A, CBD and other cannabinoids may well help against obesity, which is also reflected in one of the studies from December last year, in which scientists compared the body mass index (BMI - indicating the healthy ratio between height/weight) of 786 individuals - the result was that consumers of medical cannabis have a lower body weight.

This study specifically analysed data from the 2004 "Nunavik Inuit Health Survey", which offers us a unique view of the relationship between cannabis use, obesity and insulin resistance. A full 54% of the participants in this study reported that they regularly use cannabis, and it was precisely these participants who had healthier BMI values.

Overall, a lower volume of fat tissue was observed in cannabis consumers , as well as lower insulin resistance, which may or may not be the result of cannabis consumption. The theory is that cannabis may increase your resistance to the development of prediabetes - the stage just before the development of diabetes. But before you give up on exercise and a healthy diet, you had better wait for further, more thorough studies. There are still many questions waiting to be answered.

Nevertheless, this study only adds to the growing body of findings regarding the connection between blood sugar levels, body weight and cannabis consumption. For example, the cannabinoid THCV, which we described in the previous article "Medical Cannabinoids 1: CBD and THCV", is currently under scientific scrutiny mainly for its potential effects in lowering blood sugar levels and its ability to increase insulin production.

Translation: Filip Maral

Sources: leafly1 leafly2 leafly2

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Farrimond JA, Whalley BJ, Williams CM. Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Sep;223(1):117-29.

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