- Losing Weight
- CBD Oil as an Addiction Breaker
- How This Works
- Additional Benefits Research Has Shown for Weight-Loss Using CBD Oils
- All That Remains is to Purchase Your CBD Oil
- CBD Dosage: How Much Should You Take?
- Safety and Side Effects
- Can CBD Make Cause Weight Gain?
- CBD Products
- Choosing High-Quality CBD Oil
- CBD for Weight Loss
Can CBD oil help you lose weight and get you that healthy weight you've always dreamed about?
Derived from the cannabis plant, hemp-derived CBD products such as CBD oil are receiving more and more attention for their ability to help get the body back in tip-top shape thanks to their homeostatic-promoting benefits.
And that's got a lot of people wondering if taking CBD for weight loss is a good idea or not.
Losing Weight
Despite all the information out there, Americans are still gaining weight and struggling to lose weight, causing issues from chronic pain to high blood pressure to poor liver health.
The average weight of Americans has increased steadily since the 1970s. Even with the marketing of products from the health and wellness industry that are designed to help boost your metabolism, shed pounds, and feel better, the waistline of America keeps getting larger. And more and more Americans are saying weight loss is unachievable.
Surgical methods for weight loss are more popular than ever, and there are several variations of the procedures. There are lap bands, gastric sleeves, complete bariatric bypass surgery, and more. Losing weight is a big industry, but the problem that exists for many Americans is that they are just hungry all the time.
Why We Struggle
The foods produced today are higher in fat, sugars, and additional food preservatives than they used to be. And that make us feel hungry most of the time, making it hard to reduce food intake.
Many people tend to eat to feed their feelings, and as you can see, this is a potentially vicious cycle that you can get yourself caught up in. Breaking the cycle of emotional eating, and giving in to the symptoms of cravings is horrendously difficult. It’s been said that detoxing from sugar is like trying to quit cocaine. That’s how addictive sugar is!
If we can think of food as an addiction, because it can be for many, then we can possibly approach the way we eat in a different way.
If we are to break the food cycle then we must break the habits that we are in and that is like detoxing from a drug. People who quit drugs are often checked into rehab and get substance abuse counseling. When you eat a pizza, you just feel bad, and likely, since the diet is already blown, you’ll dip into a half a gallon of ice cream too. Why the heck not, right?
Our mentality changes greatly when we treat food addictions with the same seriousness as we do with drug addiction. An addiction is an addiction -- period.
So where do you turn when you need help to stop the cycle that you are in with food? Is there a path out of it?
CBD for weight loss might just be that path!
CBD Oil as an Addiction Breaker
CBD oil and other CBD products have been proven to have value in helping to break addictions for smokers, cocaine users, heroin users, and people who are hooked on opioids. So why not food for help with weight loss?
Craving Signaling
CBD may help food addictions because of the way in which CBD oil works in the body’s neural circuitry to stop the signals of cravings from ever getting to the brain, meaning the body will not act on the cravings.
The signals of cravings are blocked and never get to the brain. You can forget about being hungry because you won’t get the message that you are. If your nerves want some sugar, that message isn’t going to get to your brain.
With CBD's potential to help this, many wonder if taking CBD for weight loss is a good idea or not.
How This Works
CBD activates the endocannabinoid system in the body by bonding with the receptors of that system. There are two types of receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors bind with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in very high amounts in marijuana but not in CBD products like full spectrum CBD oil.
Those receptors are concentrated mostly in the brain, but there are a few around the rest of the body. This causes people to feel high when they smoke weed. With only traces of THC, CBD products prevent you from getting high when you use a CBD product.
Full spectrum CBD oils activate and bond to the CB2 receptors, which are scattered all over the body. They help block messages from parts of the body that are on their way to the brain, without affecting the brain function so that you aren’t mentally foggy. CBD is not a psychoactive ingredient, but THC is. Therefore, THC is found in medical marijuana, and it is highly regulated.
CBD products are not as regulated and can be purchased easily, no matter where you live. All fifty states now allow for the legal sale of CBD oil and others, but there are few municipalities and counties that have made these products off-limits. Check locally to be clear about what the law is in your city.
We know that CBD blocks signals and this is the single thing that makes it so amazingly effective for so many different issues, illnesses, and conditions. CBD successfully blocks pain, cravings, thoughts, and more. If you have a chronic condition, CBD will be your rescue from pain.
If you suffer from tremors, CBD can help the nervous system by telling the brain to trigger them and give you relief from the constant shaking of Parkinson’s Disease or other tremors.
If you have ADHD, the blocking of constant thoughts can be slowed down, allowing the brain to stop being overreactive.
If you suffer from depression, the constant negative thinking that causes your sadness can be nearly eliminated.
If you overeat, your brain will not get the constant impulses that are sent to it, telling it you need to eat. Powerful medicine for a plant-based oil extract, eh?
Additional Benefits Research Has Shown for Weight-Loss Using CBD Oils
CBD and Appetite Control
A 2011 study found rats given CBD ate considerably less than the control group, despite food being freely available to both groups. This may be because CBD helps stimulates the production of the hormone leptin which tells your body you are full.
White and Brown Fat Cells
To understand fully the way that fat cells are used or stored in the body, we need to understand that all fat cells are not created equal.
White Adipose Tissues – These cells are harder to break down. This fat tissue is known to lead to diabetes, heart disease, arterial clogging, and other health issues. The belly fat that is so common for those with weight-related health problems is this white adipose tissue.
Brown Fat Adipose Tissue – This tissue is known to burn readily and is available for immediate use as energy. This type of fat is good to have, can convert to weight-loss power, and keeps the body free of excess fat in the arteries. With less clogging of your ‘engine’, you are likely to remain healthier for longer. White fat cells have to turn into brown fat cells before they can be burned away.
CBD oil plays a role in determining which type of tissue fatty foods are turned into. CBD causes the process of ‘fat browning’ to happen. This means that fewer white adipose tissues white fat cells) will develop, keeping you leaner and healthier overall, when you use CBD.
Exercise and calorie restrictions that result in weight loss are the two most famous ways of converting white fatty cells into brown fatty cells. Meaning this is truly an incredible health benefit from consuming CBD oil that can be life-enhancing for many people who struggle with trying to break the cycle of food addictions and uncontrolled weight gain.
CBD oils can hit back in two important ways when it comes to breaking an addiction-related specifically to food, and the ways it impacts your health. This is incredible knowledge that will not just help you stop eating foods that are horrible for you, but you can also begin living a healthier life from this day forward.
CBD and Energy
You might have heard of CBD being used for sleep disorders such as insomnia. And while CBD oil can help with that, it requires larger dosages than traditionally needed for other health conditions. This is because CBD is biphasic, and where it can help you get some Zzzz when you consume a lot, if you stick to a traditional size dosage you're much more likely to feel awakened and energized than tired.
Metabolism
Despite cannabis users' love of the munchies, the average user is thinner than the average non-cannabis user. This may be because cannabis use increases a person's resting energy expenditure, meaning they are burning calories at a greater rate than normal throughout the day.
Hormones
While you can't get around calories in/out, hormones can make you lose the wrong kind of weight, i.e., muscle and not fat.
One of those hormones is cortisol, better known as the stress hormone. It's well documented that stress can increase muscle loss when in an energy deficiency. It's also well known that research has time and time again shown CBD can help with seemingly all forms of stress. You do the math.
Inflammation
From causing chronic pain to issues with mobility, high inflammation can put a quick stop to moving and grooving around and burning calories.
Thankfully, once again, research has found CBD can help the human body better mediate inflammation, including regulating inflammatory cytokines that control the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells
All That Remains is to Purchase Your CBD Oil
If you have never used a CBD product before, you may want to start with a basic oil and blossom from there. If you’ve ever smoked or used marijuana, you will recognize the smell as well as the taste.
And if that has you wondering "is CBD legal" you can rest assured as CBD use is completely legal in the United States and much of the rest of the world because it can't cause a high like marijuana.
In both cannabis plants, the terpenes of the hemp plant are akin to those in the marijuana sativa plants that are used for the purpose of getting high. Terpene is the name given to the smell and flavor of the plant and its oils. Terpenes occur naturally in the plant, but depending on the methods of extraction, there can be fewer terpenes in some types of extracted oils.
Tinctures tend to be thicker than oils and may often come in flavors. If you are not wild about the smell or taste of organic hemp or marijuana, then you might want to go with this type of use. You can add tinctures into syrups.
For example, adding a blueberry-flavored tincture of CBD into your pancake syrup is a great way to get it into your system first thing in the morning and not even know that you’re taking something good for you. If you are eating healthier than pancakes, try mixing CBD along with the honey that goes into your hot tea or your morning coffee.
Are you doing protein shakes to try for weight loss? Add your CBD oil directly into that and enjoy cutting calories, taking the edge off your hunger, and creating healthier cells. I can’t get much easier than that when trying to lose weight, can it?
CBD Dosage: How Much Should You Take?
If you aren’t sure how much CBD oil to use, the right CBD dosage, or what milligram to start with, you can do a little reading to get an idea of what has worked for others. There are articles, message boards, and more available on the internet by the hundreds. Doing what you are doing right now is a huge part of your journey, and in learning more, you will find new questions. You may even become a CBD advocate, meaning that you will start recommending it to everyone you meet.
For starters, you may want to start with 500 to 1000 milligrams concentrations of CBD oil. Most people start with a half-dropper at a time, once per day. For a 150-pound person, it is common to take anywhere between 15-90 mg daily. Make sure to check the back of your CBD product's label to see how much they recommend taking.
In most cases, you'll want to start with only one dosage a day for about a week. Many take CBD anywhere between one to three times a day daily.
If you feel that you are still struggling, you may increase your dose as you see fit. The beautiful thing about CBD is that there is no doctor’s prescription required and you don’t have to check with anyone for what amount to use. You decide what works best for you and go with that.
Start low, so you have room to increase. You can find strengths of up to 2500 or even 3000 milligrams. You want to start low though because starting with too much can trigger some minor side effects that aren’t serious but can be rather uncomfortable. CBD diarrhea will occur if you take too much CBD when you aren’t used to it. Lower your dosage or even skip a day, then start again at a lower dose.
Give your body a week to get used to that dose, and then gradually increase it. Other mild symptoms of taking too much too soon are stomach pains, cramps, and headaches. If you experience any of these, simply follow the same instructions given above, and you’ll be fine.
Safety and Side Effects
There are no long-term side effects from using CBD. It is very safe, even for children and pets. Many people use CBD for their children who have ADHD and for pets with separation anxiety or chronic arthritis pain.
Given that CBD is so safe, a lot of people give up using prescription medications for themselves, their children, or CBD for pets, simply because they do not have to worry about toxicity in the body, harmful side effects, or the worry about poisoning other members of the household if someone else gets ahold of the prescription medications.
You also won’t have to worry about drug-seeking in the family. CBD is non-addictive. No one will become so dependent upon it that they get sick and have withdrawals. You definitely will get used to how good you feel and will want to continue taking it though. Liking something and being addicted to something are two different things.
Can CBD Make Cause Weight Gain?
There are two good reasons why some wonder if using CBD oils will lead to weight gain.
The first reason is due to marijuana and its tendency to give people the munchies. But no need to worry because that happens due to THC overstimulating receptors that cause us to crave food. THC is largely absent from CBD oil.
The second reason is because there will be a fatty carrier oil mixed with the CBD extract in the CBD oil to promote better absorption. Again, no worries because while your CBD oil will have calories, the typical CBD dose is negligible and will not stifle your weight loss.
With research finding that CBD can potentially help with weight loss in multiple ways; blocking craving signals, ability to boost metabolism to better burn fat, etc., it's highly unlikely for CBD oil to lead to weight gain.
CBD Products
Taking CBD oil for weight loss is a fantastic idea and brings along additional health benefits, such as pain relief.
If you get bored with CBD oil and the tinctures, there are other things that you can try. CBD edibles are made with CBD oil already added. Just open the package and eat. Gummy candies are quite popular, and you can control how many milligrams you or your child takes each day because you can see how much is in each candy.
If you find that you get overwhelmed by cravings suddenly, and you want something you can take to help you in the spur of the moment, consider using a CBD vaping oil that can be used with a vaping pen. Breathing something into the lungs introduces it to your blood supply almost immediately.
The vaping oils are also available in many different flavors, like mint, bubblegum, or berry flavor. When you find yourself challenged in the moment, be prepared and have a vaping oil ready. You can even buy single-use vaping pens that are disposable, and you can simply keep one with you for those "just in case" moments. They aren’t overly expensive, most run less than twenty bucks.
Learn to cook with CBD. That might sound counter-productive to trying to lose weight, but the truth is that when you make cooking healthy foods a habit, you gradually change your lifestyle to a healthier one. Pure CBD oil can be incorporated into your meals as part of the ingredient list, and there are many websites that exist purely for the exchange of recipes.
If you enjoy a cocktail from time to time, you may even enjoy adding one of the flavored CBD oils on the market into your drink for additional flavor. CBD use seems to offset some of the more obnoxious side-effects of alcohol and makes the experience less nauseating and hangover free for many people.
Also, CBD combats some of the more unpleasant side effects of alcohol, such as moodiness and depression.
If you are someone who has no issues with alcohol abuse and just enjoys the occasional drink with friends or a glass of wine at home, add CBD oil right into that drink to make a CBD Cocktail. A helpful tip for keeping those alcohol calories off too is to try standing as much as possible when drinking. You'd be surprised how well that can burn calories. Oh, and watch your food intake when drinking!
If you are incorporating more salads or raw foods into your meal plan, CBD is a vegetarian/vegan-friendly product if it hasn’t had any additives introduced to it. Make sure you purchase ‘pure CBD’ for this purpose. Add it directly into pureed nuts, mix it into salad dressings, and pair it with olive oil for a deeper, woody flavor.
Get creative with the way you incorporate CBD oil into your weight-loss journey, and don’t forget to take time for yourself as well. Quiet time, for relaxation and exercise, should both be part of your daily routine.
It is hard sometimes to set aside time, especially if you are a parent with young children. Only five minutes each day can make an enormous difference in your health and weight loss.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil Vs. Broad Spectrum CBD Oil vs. CBD Isolate?
All CBD products, from CBD oils to CBD gummies, come in three variations: Full Spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate.
While products like broad spectrum CBD oil and isolate CBD oil will be THC Free CBD, the overwhelming majority of people prefer CBD items like full spectrum CBD oil for weight loss and other health benefits.
Full spectrum CBD works best with the human body thanks to the vast array of compounds that all have health benefits, along with working synergistically with one another (known as the entourage effect).
Choosing High-Quality CBD Oil
Besides looking for full spectrum CBD oil vs. a broad spectrum CBD oil for your CBD treatment, other ways to ensure you're getting a high-quality CBD oil include ensuring it's derived from organic hemp.
Then you'll want to make sure the makers of your CBD product provide a certificate of analysis (COA).
These are 3rd party lab-tested results that show the true amount of CBD in your CBD product, so you can know for sure that your CBD product contains what's advertised. This is a must for nonprescription CBD products.
Last, pure CBD oil should contain no nasty additives or be derived from hemp grown with harsh pesticides.
CBD for Weight Loss
No matter what you do during this journey to a healthier you, remember that you’ll make mistakes. You will have good days, and you’ll have bad days. Forgive yourself and know that the most important person in your world is you.
Pat yourself on the back. Tell yourself that you are worth it. Forgive yourself for making a few mistakes along the way, because none of us are perfect. If you eat something that you shouldn’t have, don’t beat yourself up over it because that only makes matters worse.
Forgive and move on. Your priority should simply be to love yourself, and all else will fall into place. CBD can make the journey more enjoyable. Be well, and good luck.
Taking CBD oil for weight loss is a great way to kick off a healthy diet and may help those that frequently struggle with weight management lose weight. Even more exciting, CBD may help those that struggle with metabolic factors that can cause them to easily gain weight and struggle to reduce their body fat.