A few years ago, most people hadn’t heard of CBD (also known as cannabidiol), but today more than half of American adults say they’ve tried a product that contains it, according to 2022 survey of 2,000 Americans conducted for Forbes Health by OnePoll. This compound, one of the many compounds found in hemp and hemp plants, has become a popular addition to chewing gums, drinks, sprays, and even pet products. What makes it so popular?
“Research suggests that CBD may be effective in reducing inflammation, pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, autoimmune disorders, nervousness, and other debilitating conditions,” Janice Newell Besiks, RDNa holistic practitioner of cannabis at Jannabis Wellness and director of the Medical Cannabis Science Program at John Patrick University’s School of Integrative and Functional Medicine in South Bend, Indiana.
But these are not the only reasons to reach for CBD. The latest posts say it may help you eat less and lose weight. Does he deliver? Here’s what health experts want you to know.
What is CBD?
It’s easy to confuse CBD with hemp (the plant that marijuana comes from), but they’re not the same thing. CBD is one of more than 100 compounds known as cannabinoids found in hemp and hemp plants, according to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. THC (also known as tetrahydrocannabinol) is another cannabinoid in cannabis (but not cannabis, Research has shown) – but unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive substance, so it won’t make you high.
This does not mean that it is completely legal. Because hemp is still a controlled substance, CBD derived from the hemp plant is illegal at the federal level, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (Food and Drug Administration). On the other hand, hemp-derived CBD is legal in most states. But there are some exceptions, and CBD laws are constantly changing. The best way to know for sure is to check with your state’s health department.
Can CBD help you lose or maintain weight?
It has long been known that cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating appetite and metabolism, among other functions. Because of that relationship, researchers He was interested in exploring the therapeutic use of CBD in weight loss and obesity.
However, to date, most of the available research on CBD and weight has been done using animals or laboratory studies, not actual humans. Consider the claims that CBD helps burn fat, for example. Those are based on Test tube study which found that CBD may help convert unfavorable white fat into a type of calorie-burning fat called brown fat — in animal cells.
“Animal studies can tell us what to study in humans, but you can’t make a strong conclusion that CBD helps with weight loss based on animal studies.” Peter Grinspoon, MD, a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Sometimes the animal studies translate to humans and sometimes they don’t, which is why you really have to do the human studies to make sure it works.” Overall, he says, there aren’t a lot of great studies showing that CBD promotes weight loss in humans: “It might make some people gain weight and it might make others lose weight.”
There is more research on the father of CBD, cannabis. But cannabis contains hundreds of compounds that exceed CBD, so they are almost equivalent. For example, a A study published in 2020 in diabetic It found that cannabis users metabolized glucose more efficiently than non-users, but it’s a huge leap to assume that the same is true for CBD. Now, the official word of American Diabetes Association is that CBD is unlikely to improve blood sugar or insulin levels in people with diabetes.
results Three-year national prospective study It revealed that cannabis users are less likely to be obese than people who do not use cannabis (despite marijuana’s reputation for making people fearful). and A study published in 2019 in International Journal of Epidemiology It found that cannabis users were less likely to gain weight than people who had never touched the substance.
But don’t get too excited, the study authors say: “We don’t yet have enough conclusive evidence to answer the question ‘Why?’ “Question,” says James C. Anthony, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan State University and co-author of the study. “We would like to see more iterations of this inverse association before anyone makes a significant investment in researching the mechanisms.”
Dr. Anthony isn’t the only expert urging caution. “Currently, marketing claims rise high above the actual scientific evidence,” Dr. Grinspoon says. “This does not mean that CBD is not working [for weight loss]However, its success has not been proven as people claim.
While there is little evidence that using CBD directly affects metabolism or appetite, it may help control weight in other ways. “Many people eat more when they are stressed, in pain, or exhausted,” Beskes says. “So, if CBD can help manage these issues, it stands to reason that it might help reduce overeating.”
There is evidence that CDB may help in those situations. a reference study Of the 103 psychiatric clinic patients who were given CBD, anxiety decreased and sleep improved in the majority of patients within the first month.
“Sleep deprivation has been shown to increase the secretion of the hormone ghrelin, which increases hunger and appetite,” Beskes adds. “By allowing for a better night’s sleep, it is possible that this CBD inhibits the release of ghrelin, thus reducing appetite.” And if aches and pains keep you away from the gym, CBD’s anti-inflammatory action may ease muscle aches and fatigue, so you can get moving again, every time. The review was posted on Frontiers in Physiology In 2021.
Risks or Side Effects of CBD
CBD is safe for most people, but not for everyone. For example, if you have low blood pressure, large amounts can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, Besix says. She adds that while many people swear by CBD for sleep, some find that it leads to vivid dreams, which may be due to deeper REM sleep. Other than that, side effects such as fatigue, nausea, upset stomach and loss of appetite are usually mild and short-lived, according to Mayo Clinic This may make you uncomfortable enough to eat less, but this is not a healthy or recommended strategy. High doses may cause liver injury. According to the Food and Drug Administration. CBD can also interact with some medications, especially blood thinners and thyroid medications Harvard health publishing. So, if you’re considering trying CBD, talk to your doctor first.
What do you know if you want to try CBD for weight loss
Despite the hype online and on social media, CBD experts don’t get the hype. “People ask about CBD for all kinds of things, but weight loss is not a common indicator,” says Grinspoon.
If you are still curious, look for the highest quality product available. “Avoid cheaper CBD isolate products that can be sold at your local gas station or convenience store,” says Bissex. “These lack the synergy between the different components of the plant.” Instead, she recommends organically grown broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD. “Full-spectrum products contain all plant ingredients, including a small amount (less than 0.3 percent) of THC, while broad spectrum contains all ingredients that do not contain THC,” she explains.
Should you try CBD for weight loss? Not based on current research, but stay tuned. In the meantime, there are more robust and proven weight management strategies – healthy diet and exercise.
