What’s the connection between CBD oil and appetite? It’s a great question and one that many people are seeking answers to as CBD continues to grow in popularity.
It’s natural to assume that CBD oil can increase appetite because of its connection to another, similar cannabinoid found in the cannabis sativa plant, known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the chemical in cannabis that causes a psychoactive result and does have the capacity to increase appetite. CBD, on the other hand, does not create a high.
Aside from CBD’s differences from THC, some research is suggesting that CBD oil and appetite do have a correlation with one another separate from any interference of THC. Specifically, studies are showing that CBD might be able to stimulate appetite through indirect processes.
Contrastingly, other studies done on animals show that cannabidiol (CBD) can have an aversive effect on weight gain and can even be an anti-obesity asset. These findings possibly support the idea that CBD oil and appetite correlate to one another in the sense that CBD oil could decrease appetite, which might be the reason for the weight loss.
The answer to this seeming contradiction may lie in CBD’s effect on the endocannabinoid system, which regulates the body’s biological processes and helps maintain homeostasis. Thus, CBD oil could theoretically increase or decrease appetite according to the body’s specific needs. In this article, we’ll explore the different findings of CBD oil and appetite.
Let’s dive in and look at what we know so far and what we still need to know when it comes to CBD oil and appetite.
CBD Oil and Appetite: THC vs. CBD
Marijuana, the THC-containing cannabis variety, is known for stimulating the appetite. While the munchies aren’t universal in all marijuana users, it is a fairly common side effect. In fact, many people find it a desirable outcome and one that enhances the psychoactive properties of marijuana.
The critical thing to keep in mind here is that marijuana and CBD are not the same. Even more importantly, THC and CBD, while similar in chemical structure, are not the same either–and therefore produce different effects. Marijuana’s ability to stimulate the appetite is precisely due to its high concentration of THC.
While THC is the chemical known for causing an increase in appetite, that isn’t to say that CBD is incapable of doing so. THC just happens to have the hunger connotation, whereas CBD doesn’t have that type of implication.
The primary mechanism that makes THC cause hunger is its binding to the CB1 receptor found in the human endocannabinoid system, which does not occur with CBD. Again, just because CBD doesn’t induce hunger in the same method as THC, doesn’t mean that CBD oil won’t increase one’s appetite.
The verdict is this: THC can directly affect hunger, while CBD may or may not affect hunger. However, CBD has been shown to have an indirect effect on appetite in some situations. Some studies help us to understand more.
CBD Oil and Appetite: Anti-Nausea and Anti-Anxiety Effects of CBD
One of CBD’s main presumed benefits is its ability to treat nausea, especially in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Due to
According to the Society for Neuroscience and a study performed in 2018, CBD prevents nausea in rats. Scientists concluded in the research that CBD could potentially be developed into a new anti-nausea treatment for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This conclusion supports the idea that CBD oil and appetite to work together in a sense.
Theoretically, the less nauseous a person is, the more likely they are able to maintain a healthy and nutritious feeding schedule despite any adverse side effects from treatments. So, CBD may be able to indirectly affect appetite in certain situations.
Loss of appetite is also associated with other issues such as anxiety and depression. There is a growing number of studies suggesting CBD oil’s capacity to help with anxiety and depression. Thus, CBD may be able to help stimulate appetite in those who have lost it due to these anxiety or depression.
CBD Oil and Appetite: Final Thoughts
It’s worth noting that, as stated above, CBD oil does not affect appetite directly. Unlike THC, CBD does not directly bind to the CB1 receptors, the process through which THC causes the “munchies,” upon ingestion. Rather, CBD oil and appetite have an indirect connection. Studies show that CBD can help address nausea as a side effect of chemotherapy treatments.
Also, more studies are say that CBD may help with anxiety and depression. Given the implications of these findings, it’s safe to say that CBD oil and appetite do interrelate with one another, though indirectly. Unlike marijuana, though, CBD won’t give you the munchies.
However, more research is necessary until we can settle on the exact effects on CBD oil and appetite and the connections between the two.
