Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is perhaps one of the most popular products in the market today; and why shouldn’t it be if it can help patients suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, stress, epilepsy, etc?
CBD, the non-psychoactive chemical in cannabis, is being claimed to have a cure for many diseases/condition, though they haven’t yet been confirmed via conclusive studies.
The reason why CBD may work in aiding weight loss
CBD, one of the cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant, is known for acting on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates multiple important functions, including mood, sleep, and appetite.
The following studies may back the effect of CBD on weight-loss:
Study 1
A study conducted in 2012 tested the effects of three cannabinoids, namely CBD, CBG and CBN on the appetite of rats.
It was found that while CBN increased the appetite in rats, CBD and CBG both reduced it.
Study 2
Another piece of research carried out in 2016, on mice, concluded that CBD played a crucial role in the fat browning process, which is basically the conversion of white (bad) fat into brown (good) fat.
Heat-generating brown fat was only discovered in adults back in 2009 – until then, it was assumed to only be in babies.
During the research, experts observed that the colder the temperature, the more brown fat mice produced.
In humans, it has been seen that more brown fat leads to better insulin sensitivity, which means you are less likely to store belly fat.
Furthermore, a few studies, although vague, have suggested that CBD may also help treat metabolic issues that may lead to obesity.
Further Research Required
Not many human studies are available that could put an ‘approved stamp’ on the effectiveness of CBD at promoting weight loss. Whatever has been tested so far, has been performed on rats and mice. Thus, one can’t be 100% sure until more human-based research is available.
