The scientifically proven therapeutic and medical benefits of cannabinoid – cannabidiol have made health and wellness products made using it popular among users. CBD oil is universally used by people due to its medicinal purposes as it can easily be consumed. For instance, its dosage can be easily adjusted, it can be used in multiple ways, and it can be added into foods and beverages, etc. In this article, we will investigate how the health benefits of CBD oil are effective for weight management.
CBD is a substantial element of the cannabis plants. It is popular because of a multitude of therapeutic and health benefits, along with its lack of psychotropic effects. Legally available products made from it like CBD oil are produced from hemp plant strains that have less than 0.3% of THC. So there is no feeling ‘high’ after consuming it. The health benefits of CBD oil is because of its positive effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD oil is popular for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsive, and anxiolytic effects.
Endocannabinoid System
The ECS is a network of hormones and neurotransmitters that are spread all over your entire body. As a result, it regulates homeostasis. For example, it controls metabolism, body temperature, mood, and neurological functions, etc. Due to their similarity in structure and functioning, cannabinoids like CBD and others that are naturally found in the cannabis plant, are found to affect the ECS. CBD influences ECS by interlinking with its receptors – CB1 and CB2. CB2 receptors are observed in the immune system, whereas CB1 receptors are found in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
THC attaches to CB1 producing its psychotropic effects, while CBD attaches to CB2 receptors producing its therapeutic effects. The ECS also regulates the endocrine system which is a network of hormones and the glands that secretes them; so, CBD influences the endocrine system through the ECS. This is the reason for the health benefits of CBD oil like reducing stress because it reduces the secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Likewise, consuming CBD oil before bed provides better sleep because it increases melatonin levels in the blood.
CBD And Metabolism
CBD influences ECS, and because of this, it affects our metabolism. It has been found that it influences “fat browning” due to its effect on immature fat cells. Cannabidiol, not only stimulates the proteins and genes involved in breaking down fat but also boosts mitochondrial activity. Besides, CBD decreases the expression of genes that are involved in the formation of new fat cells. These combined effects increase the body’s calorie-burning capacity and thereby increases the metabolic rate.
CBD And Weight Loss
The three main ways CBD promotes weight loss are listed below.
- It promotes fat burning and normalizes insulin levels.
- By enhancing mitochondrial function, CBD promotes metabolic health.
- It decreases calorie intake by lowering the appetite.
The predominant function of fat in our body is storing and supplying energy when it is required. Apart from this, it also insulates the body and protects internal organs by cushioning them. Fat cells in our body are of two types – white and brown. An excessive amount of white fat cells causes obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes. On the contrary, brown fat cells burn calories to generate heat.
The percentage of brown fat cells is higher in people with an increased metabolic rate, whereas obese people have a higher percentage of white fat cells. However, you can convert white fat into brown by sleeping adequately, increasing metabolic rate by exercising, and exposing to cold temperatures. Besides, this can also be done by consuming CBD oil because cannabidiol enhances the expression of genes that promotes fat browning.
Due to CBD’s influence on ECS, consuming CBD oil will potentially normalize insulin levels. As a result, it is also useful for diabetic patients. You must know that abnormal insulin level in the blood affects sugar metabolism. This results in excessive blood sugar that will be stored in the body as fat leading to obesity. Besides, it stimulates insulin production in diabetic patients as it reduces the inflammation of the pancreas due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
Finally, research has shown that CBD reduces calorie intake in people due to its influence on cannabinoid receptors CB1. This effect is more predominant when you take CBD and THC together. In this scenario, you do not experience munchies, because CBD reduces the CB1 receptor’s affinity for THC. However, in some people, this effect is not observed. Due to this disparity, more research is required to better understand CBD’s effect on appetite.
CBD oil is one of the most popular CBD products used to manage weight. The efficacy of this product greatly depends on its dosage. You must know that the ideal dosage for maximum effect varies from person to person because of the difference in their physiology.