If you are one who keeps up with new fads, current trends, or cutting-edge developments in the health and wellness arena, then you may have heard of, or even tried, CBD. Amazingly, in the last few years, CBD oil has garnered a ton of attention in the media, and for good reason. Its therapeutic properties have those who consume it singing its praises.
Now, many advocates believe that CBD, along with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, may contain properties that promote weight loss. While more studies are needed, there is promising research that backs these weight loss claims. In this article, you’ll learn what CBD is, how it affects your weight, and which CBD oil products are best for weight loss.
What is CBD?
There are over 100 diverse phytocannabinoids found within the cannabis sativa plant. Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is the second most prominent phytocannabinoid that organically occurs within marijuana and hemp, both of which belong to the Cannabaceae family. The first and most prevalent phytocannabinoid is Tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC.
While its origin may be a bit alarming, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t make you feel “high”. THC, on the other hand, is infamously known for its psychoactive properties, meaning it does cause mind-altering effects.
Is CBD legal and safe to consume?
Studies show that CBD is well tolerated among its users. However, there are a few side effects of CBD that have been reported:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Irritability
- High blood pressure
Thankfully, these side effects don’t last long and are rarely reported. Now let’s move on to the legal status of CBD.
For the most part, CBD is easily obtainable legally throughout America. However, it’s legal status falls in a bit of a grey area from state to state in the United States. While the 2018 Farm Bill affirms that industrial hemp is in fact legal, not all CBD products are considered legal. In fact, according to the FDA, only one CBD product is legal: Epidiolex, which is a hemp-derived CBD oral medication designed for rare forms of seizures and epilepsy.
This is because not all reputable companies derive their CBD from hemp; some are marijuana-derived. Companies like this often don’t provide third party test results on their website, or offer any other information on their formulation practices. So, how is it legal for big box chains like Whole Foods, Walgreens, or even small mom and pop shops to sell CBD products? While it’s true that the FDA does not condone any CBD product other than Epidiolex, they aren’t going out of their way to shut CBD companies down. Rather, they only focus their attention on companies that make false medical claims in order to sell CBD products.
It’s no doubt that THC contains a host of therapeutic benefits, but what makes CBD so appealing, and so accepting, is that its non-intoxicating effects help consumers achieve the same therapeutic benefits of THC without the fear of getting “high”.
These therapeutic effects include:
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Antioxidant benefits
- Anti-seizure effects
- Neuroprotective properties
- Analgesic effects (pain relieving)
- Anti-tumor effects
- Antipsychotic benefits
- Anti-anxiety effects
- Etc.
Now, scientists are beginning to explore the possible effects CBD has on our body weight. But how could a phytocannabinoid like CBD help you lose weight if it’s even remotely associated with a plant that’s famously known to cause the “munchies”?
Does CBD cause weight gain?
Many consumers are on the fence to believe that CBD could actually promote weight loss — partly because CBD is a component of marijuana. This leaves consumers wondering: Does CBD make you hungry?
While we know that THC (the main ingredient in marijuana) promotes hunger and food cravings, only trace amounts of THC (0.3%) are found in hemp-derived CBD products. In fact, research shows that CBD will counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. Furthermore, 0.3% of THC by volume is not nearly enough to cause a psychoactive effect when combined with higher amounts of CBD. Thus, the food cravings that are often associated with THC will not be felt with hemp-derived CBD products.
Additionally, according to a study done on male wistar rats, CBD may actually reduce food consumption and weight gain. In this study, CBD was injected into rats daily for 14 days. The study showed that each rat’s body weight decreased significantly. Researchers believe that CBD may alter body weight gain by interacting with CB2 receptor cells. These receptors are theorized to help regulate body weight. Still, scientists feel further studies are needed regarding CBD and the regulation of body weight gain.
In another study, researchers explored the effects that Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG), and CBD had on the feeding patterns of rats. They found that CBN actually increased food intake in the rats, whereas CBD did the exact opposite. Scientists believe that from this study, CBD could possibly contain anti-obesity effects. However, more studies are desperately needed, especially those involving humans.
So does this mean CBD promotes weight loss?
CBD for weight loss
Now that we know that CBD is completely different from THC — in that it actually reduces food intake and it doesn’t contain any psychoactive effects — let’s now look at how CBD works in the body and how it may actually promote weight loss from within.
There is an endogenous cannabinoid system within each and every mammal. This system is known as the Endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short. It is considered “one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health.” The ECS has two categories of receptor cells: CB1 and CB2 receptor cells.
- CB1 receptor cells are found primarily in the brain and throughout the central nervous system.
- CB2 receptor cells are primarily found in the immune system or throughout the whole body.
According to a 2018 study, researchers discovered that metabolic disorders like high cholesterol, high levels of blood pressure, and conditions like type 2 diabetes are often triggered by obesity. Additionally, this study showed that obesity is a result of an “over-activation of endocannabinoids” and an increase of the CB1 receptor cells in the body.
While CBD doesn’t necessarily activate or directly interact with our CB1 and CB2 receptors, it does help influence our body to create our natural endogenous cannabinoids like anandamide and arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). Not only does it influence the production of our endogenous cannabinoids; it also influences these cannabinoids to either activate or block off the CB1 receptors. This shows there is some evidence that may suggest CBD could help promote weight loss and prevent these unwanted metabolic disorders.
In fact, a 2016 study showed that CBD affects how fat is stored within our body in 3 different ways:
- CBD supports the stimulation of the genes and proteins that improve the breakdown of fat cells.
- CBD increases our body to use and burn more energy.
- CBD helps reduce the creation of new fat cells by reducing the proteins that contribute to these cells in the first place.
So what does this all mean? Well, there are two types of fat that occur within your body: White fat and Brown fat.
- White fat is the main type of fat in your body. It helps you use and store energy, and it helps keep your organs safe and protected. However, there is a bad side to the white fat in your body. When white fat grows excessively, it will promote health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and many other metabolic diseases.
- Brown fat generates heat “by burning calories”. In fact, studies show that humans with lower body weight have more brown fat in their body than they do white fat.
According to the 2016 study, researchers found that CBD not only stimulated the genes and proteins that help promote brown fat, but it also turned the already established white fat into brown fat. This suggests that CBD may help the prevention of obesity. However, more human research is needed to adequately confirm these results.
With all this promising evidence, now consumers are wanting to know: Are there specific CBD products that you can use to help promote weight loss?
The best CBD products for weight loss
CBD is most commonly consumed in products like oils, topical creams, gummies, infused drinks, sprays, and many other products. Unfortunately, in most of the studies mentioned above, scientists injected CBD into their test models, which is not something the average consumer does. But according to some CBD companies, certain CBD products can target weight loss as long as they are formulated correctly. For example, some companies may combine valerian root and melatonin with CBD to promote better sleep, while others will combine caffeine with CBD to promote energy. The same goes for weight loss. Different ingredients naturally promote weight loss, and when they are combined with CBD they may help enhance those fat burning properties.
CBD weight loss coffee
Coffee is the go-to stimulant. It’s packed with caffeine which helps increase our energy throughout the day. Some even believe it can curb our appetite. So naturally, some CBD companies have formulated the potential fat-burning properties of CBD with coffee to create a powerful weight loss product. No studies have confirmed that this combination will help consumers lose weight, but many personal testimonies suggest otherwise.
CBD weight loss tea
Like coffee, tea can be a stimulant. There are multiple weight loss teas out there, so when a company decides to infuse CBD into a weight loss tea, it can be a pretty potent product. However, and again, there are no studies that show that CBD tea can help reduce weight gain.
CBD weight loss capsules
CBD capsules are perfect for those looking to discreetly consume CBD while out in public. However, because CBD capsules are often only formulated with CBD isolate or even full spectrum CBD oil, ingesting CBD may not produce the same fat burning effects as mentioned in the studies above — partly because a lot of the CBD gets lost in the digestive tract.This doesn’t mean CBD capsules won’t help you lose weight, it just means no scientific evidence confirms they will help you lose weight. However, if you are currently on prescription drugs, CBD may negatively interact with those medications. It’s important to consult with your doctor before consuming any form of CBD, especially if you are taking pharmaceutical drugs.
CBD weight loss cream
Applying CBD cream to the body has shown to reduce inflammation in some troublesome areas. But there are no studies that suggest topical CBD cream can help you lose weight. Again, this doesn’t mean it won’t help you lose weight, it just means there’s no scientific data to back these claims. If you come across a CBD cream, lotion, or balm that’s formulated and designed to help you lose weight, research the ingredients, company, and product reviews before applying to your skin.
CBD weight loss oil
CBD oil is perhaps the most common way to consume CBD. It’s also the most effective. CBD oil is often used in scientific studies, and therefore may be the closest option to achieving your goals. Still, it’s imperative to consult with your doctor before adding CBD to your regimen, especially if you are on any medications.
Where to find the best CBD oil for weight loss?
If you’re curious about how CBD will work for you, it’s important to note that not all CBD is created the same. This means some companies will cut corners to sell you CBD products that seem well established on the outside, but are poorly formulated on the inside. For your safety, be sure to only purchase CBD products from highly reputable CBD companies.
One of the safest ways to purchase the best CBD oil, topical creams, gummies, and other CBD products, is over the internet. This is because a reputable CBD company will provide everything their customers need to know about their products on their website. This includes third party test results, customer reviews, frequently asked questions, a list of ingredients for each product, and a thorough rundown of how they cultivate, formulate, and manufacture their CBD products.
So, if you’re looking for the best CBD for weight loss, it's best to explore CBD companies online.
Should you try CBD oil to lose weight?
While the studies regarding CBD and weight loss are promising, there isn’t enough conclusive evidence that proves CBD will help you lose weight. Adding CBD to your daily regimen can definitely help improve your health and your weight, but so can exercising, implementing a well balanced diet, and getting better sleep.
It’s important not to look at CBD as a “cure-all” supplement. If you struggle with weight loss, you're not alone. There are various tips, tricks, and ways to effectively lose weight. The key is to apply yourself and stay consistent even when it feels hard or inconvenient.
