Most cannabis users have experienced that feeling of extreme hunger (referred to as munchies) after consuming marijuana. Surprisingly, you can feel this intense hunger even if you’ve eaten already.
The munchies can be a plus if you’re looking to add some pounds. However, they can be a significant obstacle if you’re hoping to burn some calories, as many people soothe that craving with unhealthy snacks.
The good news is that they’re usually, and you can handle them. Why does cannabis, specifically the nuken strain, cause your hunger pangs to be more active than usual? Keep reading to gain pure pine tar strain.
A Brief Introduction to Cannabis
Cannabis is a herb that’s widely used for recreational and medicinal purposes. It contains hundreds of compounds, including:
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC is the most well-known of these two as it’s responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana- such as increased appetite, altered sense of time, and impaired memory.
On the other hand, CBD is non-psychoactive and is known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
The Science Behind Hunger
Hunger occurs due to a chemical response happening in your body. It makes you crave food. This message causes your stomach to growl and gives you hunger pangs.
We usually feel hungry at specific times of the day. It’s linked to the reason when the food you eat begins to break down into simple molecules for digestion. When your tummy contracts and glucose is low, you feel hungry.
Specialized contractions, called migrating motor complex (MMC), clear up undigested food. A hormone called motilin regulates the last stage of MMC. Motilin-regulated contractions cause stomach rumbling.
The stomach rumbling coincides with activating a particular area in the hypothalamus by ghrelin- a powerful hormone in hunger regulation. Glucose is the primary source of power for humans. Therefore, you may crave some cake or chips even when you’re full.
Why Marijuana Makes You Hungry
There are several reasons the nuken strain takes your hunger levels a notch higher. Here are the main ones:
- The Body Becomes Less Sensitive to Leptin
Leptin is a hormone that reduces appetite. It signals the brain when you’re full, so you stop eating. Marijuana consumption can make your body less sensitive to leptin. This means it takes more food to make you feel full and, as a result, you eat more.
- It Stimulates the Appetite-Regulating Region in the Brain
Cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system- a network of receptors located throughout your body responsible for various functions like pain, inflammation, mood, and appetite.
THC activates the CB1 receptors in the brain. This increases the production of ghrelin- the hormone that makes you feel hungry. Also referred to as the gut hormone, it switches on the secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) to influence fat deposition and food ingestion.
It also affects other hormones and neurotransmitters that contribute to the feeling of hunger, such as:
- Neuropeptide Y
- Agouti-related protein
- Orexins
- It Reduces Glucose Metabolism
Marijuana slows down glucose metabolism. This means your body can’t burn glucose as quickly, leading to low blood sugar levels. As we’ve mentioned before, when blood sugar levels are low, you tend to feel hungry. You crave sugary and high-carb foods that will give you a much-needed energy boost.
- It Stimulates the Olfactory Bulb
The olfactory bulb is a center in your brain where sense organs transmit and interpret tastes and smells. As per the Nature Neuroscience Journal, foods are more appealing than ordinary when THC activates these receptors.
- It Agitates the Nucleus Accumbens
The nucleus accumbens is the part of the brain that controls pleasure and reward. It regulates the production of dopamine- a neurotransmitter that increases happiness. People tend to eat more when high, as THC activates this area. As a result, you may over-eat even if you’re not hungry.
How To Control Excessive Hunger
While the munchies can be a fun experience, they can also lead to unwanted weight gain. If you’re trying to control your mass or watch your calorie intake, here are some tips that may help:
- Get enough sleep- the more rest you get, the less you’ll weigh. Getting at least seven hours of sleep enables you to increase your chances of growing leptin degrees, dropping ghrelin levels, and controlling your hunger hormones generally.
- Eat at regularly scheduled periods- this allows you to manage your hunger throughout the day. Your brain will automatically adjust, and the munchies will less likely overwhelm you.
- Exercise frequently- working out plays a significant role in hunger control. It promotes self-discipline. According to surveys, it helps to induce changes in the brain that assist with executive function. Resistance training can make your cells more sensitive to leptin and insulin, allowing these hormones’ signals to be more powerfully exerted in your body at lower concentrations.
- Include more fiber in your diet- studies reveal that high fiber consumption can suppress ghrelin degrees while possibly inhibiting NPY levels. You can keep your hunger levels at usual degrees by eating fiber consistently.
Bottom Line
Cannabis makes you feel hungry. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy it or think twice about using it if you aren’t ingesting it. Use the tips above to keep your hunger levels despite the munchies. Most importantly, use marijuana in moderation and ensure you buy your bud from a certified vendor.
