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Thread: Ganja and weight regulation

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    Featured Member Odette's Avatar
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    Default Ganja and weight regulation

    So I was chatting with a friend about this the other day, and I seriously think there may be a correlation of some sort. I have been overweight for the majority of my life and I started smoking weed regularly 2 years ago, and since then I have experienced a slow but steady weightloss of 50lbs to date. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that this is ALL 100% due to the whacky tabacky, but I definitely think it has helped me change my eating habits for the better, by facilitating dietary changes and eliminating bad eating habits that are related to being stressed. Or perhaps because I smoke now I am less stressed out and just have less of that annoying cortisol floating around my system. I used to be a huge stress eater of carbs and fatty junk, and my appetite has changed a lot since I started this habit. I don't crave junk food anymore, or very rarely like around my period. And when I do usually having a little toke and preparing something healthy throws it off and is just as satisfying. I also generally crave different foods now, I never used to be a big salad eater, but now I want it almost every day. And wheat products now taste bleh to me and I used to live off of them. I read somewhere that THC enhances cellular level communication and can be helpful in regulating a lot of bodily functions along with metabolism and appetite. I wish I could remember the source. When I find it I'll post it. Any other tokers have a similar experience? Or maybe the opposite where you always were underweight and started smoking and your weight went up to a normal level? THC seems to be more of a "regulator" or "balancer" than anything else. That could explain it's wide range of effects on different individuals. Just thought I would share! It's been the easiest "diet" I've ever been on ironically.
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    God/dess miss.a.p1600's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    it's known to be used for people with eating disorders but i think it's the other way around like to gain weight. I don't know much about the metabolism part. I've smoked before and it didn't make me super hungry or have 'munchies'.

    Is it possible you are just becoming more in tune with your body and are educated about nutrition?

    I think the people who eat junk food will eat that whether or not they are on weed and vice versa. Most people that eat junk do it out of ignorance and like you mention stress.

    I also think if something like glass of wine, or cup of coffee/tea, or maybe a little weed - these things when used by adults responsibly and in moderation - can help you relax a bit after a long day then more power to you. When you are relaxed you make better choices. And eating healthy is all about knowledge and food choices.

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Pot doesn't seem to have any effect on my weight, although it does give me some munchies LOL. But I would agree about it enhancing cellular communication. It greatly enhances my senses, and eliminates the pain if I happen to have a headache. It also helps me feel better during my period.
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Quote Originally Posted by Odette View Post
    less of that annoying cortisol floating around my system. I used to be a huge stress eater of carbs and fatty junk, and my appetite has changed a lot since I started this habit.
    ^That makes sense-if you are lowering nasty stress hormones and eliminating carbs and fatty foods (even by accident) you will notice a difference in your weight. Also, you replaced one habit with another (one which isn't going to make you gain weight). I suppose it does for you what smoking cigarettes does for others i.e. a stress release, appetite suppressant etc.

    Congrats' on the weight loss anyway
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    Featured Member Odette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    I think the stress release factor is definitely part of it. And my appetite doesn't come raging back when I quit smoking (been at home for 3 weeks over the holidays, so haven't been), but I did notice a slight increase. These articles:

    http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/0...r-body-weight/
    http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weigh...nd-weight-loss

    The first discusses a study that found obesity to be less prevalent among pot smokers, but seems to be of the opinion it's more due to substituting one habit for another. The second article mentions a different study that also found marijuana smokers to have smaller waistlines than their non smoking counterparts, and mentions also that they found they had lower insulin levels, and hypothesizes that there may be something about smoking pot that is beneficial to food metabolization. Makes sense, cannaboid receptors in the body are located throughout the fatty tissues, and most hormones (which essentially perform the role of "directors" or "conductors" in bodily processes--for example all the hormones that regulate ovulation and your menstrual cycle) are fat soluble as well if I remember correctly from my biology days at uni. I find research on this plant so interesting!

    Still can't find that source I was talking about with reference to cellular level communication. I'm starting to think it wasn't an article but something I heard in a documentary. Gonna keep looking when I get home tonight!
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    If you happen to remember what that documentary is, I'd really love to watch it. I always wondered how my stoner friends kept themselves in such good shape. Lol

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    i am the worst sucker for munchies & definitely hold an extra 5lbs due to this weakness. i stick to indicas though and they def are more appetite stimulating than sativas.
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Are there particular strains you've found that help in this regard? curious.
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    Featured Member Odette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Yes, I smoke mostly sativa strains, the indica makes me tired which I don't like. Only time I smoke indica is for period cramps. The indica gives such a lazy, stereotypical stoner high I find--veg and sit on the couch. Not my favourite. I can smoke sativa a bit throughout the day and get so much shit done! Espescially mixed with a coffee in the morning it seems to energize me a bit. I work in design anyway, so it's not like the creative encouragement is unwelcome either
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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Marijuana is a miracle drug - it can help with so much! One side effect is that is can induce an appetite (even in people with chronic nausea which can be life saving), but it also helps metabolism which is one reason why pot smokers have, on average, slimmer waistlines than non-smokers. I also think the fact that you are less stressed because of it has also helped. Congrats on your weight loss!

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    I enjoy eating more when I smoke, but I find myself binging a little less. I think it's because the munchies make it impossible for me to think about anything other than the food I'm eating, and mindfulness is huge in dieting. When I'm sober I find myself "wasting" bites by eating mindlessly and I wouldn't be surprised if I make up for it by eating more. Another factor is that when I have the munchies, pretty much anything tastes great. I've felt total bliss drinking plain seltzer and chewing on fresh herbs. If you suggested that to me as a meal replacement while I'm sober I'd be like wtf.

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Quote Originally Posted by Odette View Post
    Yes, I smoke mostly sativa strains, the indica makes me tired which I don't like. Only time I smoke indica is for period cramps. The indica gives such a lazy, stereotypical stoner high I find--veg and sit on the couch. Not my favourite. I can smoke sativa a bit throughout the day and get so much shit done! Espescially mixed with a coffee in the morning it seems to energize me a bit. I work in design anyway, so it's not like the creative encouragement is unwelcome either
    I stumbled on to the stimulating effect of sativa as well. On the East Coast I had only had that super heavy feeling indica. I thought that's all there was. When I went West, come to find out there's more than one kind of weed. This stuff was amazing and I wish I could buy capsules to take daily. I wanted to clean the house, write a book, hit a club, f*ck all night... I mean--HELLO!!! Great stuff. You could solve world hunger and create world peace on that stuff!
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Cannabis has an anti angiogenesis effect, which has been shown to help with weight loss for those who are overweight or obese.

    I love, love, LOVE biology and nutrition, so when a study of this effect comes out, it grabs my attention.

    The current school of thought is that obesity is caused by angiogenesis, which is the over growth of blood vessels that feed fat cells, thereby causing more nutrients to be stored as fat than those who do not experience high levels of angiogensis. It is a normal process that helps us heal wounds, but can be a problem in some body functions such as fat storage and cancer tumor growth.

    Using anti-angiogenesis substances won't help you get very low body fat percentages. It will, however, help those who are already overweight or obese get back to normal body fat percentages.

    Here's an article about angiogenesis as well as a list of foods that have the same kind of effect:
    http://www.standup2cancer.org/articl...t_fight_cancer

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Quote Originally Posted by Optimist View Post
    I stumbled on to the stimulating effect of sativa as well. On the East Coast I had only had that super heavy feeling indica. I thought that's all there was. When I went West, come to find out there's more than one kind of weed. This stuff was amazing and I wish I could buy capsules to take daily. I wanted to clean the house, write a book, hit a club, f*ck all night... I mean--HELLO!!! Great stuff. You could solve world hunger and create world peace on that stuff!
    Note to bring weed when I meet Optimist.

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    Quote Originally Posted by Odette View Post
    I think the stress release factor is definitely part of it. And my appetite doesn't come raging back when I quit smoking (been at home for 3 weeks over the holidays, so haven't been), but I did notice a slight increase. These articles:

    http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/0...r-body-weight/
    http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weigh...nd-weight-loss

    The first discusses a study that found obesity to be less prevalent among pot smokers, but seems to be of the opinion it's more due to substituting one habit for another. The second article mentions a different study that also found marijuana smokers to have smaller waistlines than their non smoking counterparts, and mentions also that they found they had lower insulin levels, and hypothesizes that there may be something about smoking pot that is beneficial to food metabolization. Makes sense, cannaboid receptors in the body are located throughout the fatty tissues, and most hormones (which essentially perform the role of "directors" or "conductors" in bodily processes--for example all the hormones that regulate ovulation and your menstrual cycle) are fat soluble as well if I remember correctly from my biology days at uni. I find research on this plant so interesting!

    Still can't find that source I was talking about with reference to cellular level communication. I'm starting to think it wasn't an article but something I heard in a documentary. Gonna keep looking when I get home tonight!
    This is really interesting, I read an article in a magazine about the science of nature vs. nurture. The experimenter took LSD to see if they could discover something hidden in the recesses of their brain. There was some background about how LSD deactivates a lot of the pre-frontal cortex neurons (responsible for higher-level cognition, thereby stress-inducing).

    A fascinating point that was made by you and a few others was that cannabis smokers have slimmer waistlines. You mentioned that less stress = less glucocorticoid (cortisol) production. It's true that over prolonged periods of stress the hypothalamus and hippocampus (of the brain) sends a waterfall of hormones to inform the adrenal glands (above the kidneys) to produce cortisol. Over time, insulin/blood sugar can also increase to dangerous levels.

    Those with excessive and prolonged glucocorticoid activity gain weight specifically around their mid-section. This may be why weed-smokers have slimmer waists, their weight gain/loss isn't because of stress, or the "flight" response. During the "fight or flight response" once the body goes into the "flight" response mode there is an increase in lipogenesis (fat creation) and visceral obesity (abdominal obesity). The receptors for cortisol are quadruple (4x) the amount in the abdominal region of the body compared to other regions.

    As far as cellular communication, marijuana also acts on the hippocampus and hypothalamus (among other brain structures), but while cortisol increases hippocampus activity, there are cannabinoid receptors that weed activates, which DECREASE hippocampus activity, hence the cortisol and blood sugar/insulin reduction that can be observed in some marijuana smokers.

    The body also internally produces endocannabinoids that become anandamine and these activate cannabinoid receptors. CB1 and CB2 are the most common cannabinoid receptors and they are activated (marijuana is an agonist) by the consumption of THC or the release of endocannabinoids from brain cells that have been depolarized thus reducing inhibitory currents with the intention of diffusion to other neurons as well as activation CB1 receptors, which are the same as those for the anandamide molecules. The activation of these receptors modifies neurotransmitter release at the pre-synaptic cell.

    In an ionotropic receptor, when the cannabinoid receptor site is extracellular chloride ion build-up is caused by the hyperpolarization of the post-synaptic cell and may necessitate potassium ions, calcium-channel receptor blockers, and other appropriate receptors to activate in the post-synaptic neuronal cell.

    In a metabotropic receptor intracellular enzymes, like cAMP, which is responsible for different cascading protein kinase enzymes that cause cellular actions and reactions are reduced in activity due to the CB1 receptor modifications. Less activity equals less neurotransmitter release.

    Depolarization Induced Suppression of Inhibition (DSI), is a retroactive process. The synaptic potential is depolarized to produce a membrane potential current that oscillates between, but more negative than, the action potential threshold and above the resting potential threshold. When a the aforementioned process is complete and upon completion the summation of the movement of the synaptic potential is negative (hyperpolarized) the process is known as an Inhibitory Post-Synaptic Potential.

    THC may cause the brain to release less neurotransmitters, including GABA. However dopamine (the "feel good" chemical) release is increased, as with most other narcotics. This is because dopaminergic neurons don't have CB1 receptors and usually some GABAergic enzymes have the CB1 receptors that regulate dopamine release. However, since GABA release is inhibited due to DSI as a result of the cannabinoid receptors, which lack the CB1 dopamine regulators allowing increased dopamine release and dopaminergic activity to occur indiscriminately.

    The hypothesized reason cannabis is helpful in weight lose and food metabolism isn't because it's lipid-soluble, but because the brain's hippocampus activity is decreased which controls insulin and blood glucose levels. Therefore if activity is slowed, release of these crucial metabolic components are better regulated which makes for a more efficient metabolism.
    "I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act." - Abraham Maslow

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    Default Re: Ganja and weight regulation

    http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/canna...ffects-health/

    I'm only 20 minutes into this documentary but it's great so far and summarizes a lot of information I've heard in other older documentaries about endocannabinoids, CBD, and THC, and how their role in the body as cellular communicators, similar to neurotransmitters regulates various bodily systems from the immune system to our metabolism, to the "cancer police" and free radical scavengers. Very interesting.

    "Dozens of major studies have been published in the last few years that indicate that the chemicals in cannabis in the lab and in animals have a significant effect on fighting almost all major cancers, including brain, breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, colon, skin, pituitary, melanoma and leukemia cancers. They do this by promoting the death of cancer cells that have forgotten how to die, as well as a reduction in their crucial blood supply, while leaving healthy cells untouched.

    But why, you may wonder, would cannabis have any effect on cancer? The answer can be explained in one word - endocannabinoids. Amazing as it sounds we're all born with a form of cannabis already in our bodies. It's called the Endocannabinoid System. The Endocannabinoid System, or ECS, influences multiple physiological processes. This intricate system modulates energy intake as well as nutrient transport, metabolism and storage.

    A completely natural collection of compounds, endocannabinoids are our body's own form of marijuana and are involved in most of our cells and structures. They control a variety of functions in the nervous system, heart, reproductive and immune systems. Endocannabinoid messengers help the cells communicate. Typically they protect our good cells while killing the bad ones like cancer cells.
    In all animals the nervous system is made of the same components - large numbers of nerve cells carrying electrical signals. And wherever the cells meet these signals are passed to a receptor in the next cell by a chemical messenger called a neurotransmitter. Inside the brain there are different types of neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin. All animals from rodents to fish, to elephants, to humans have inherited this basic structure, but hundreds of millions of years ago some primitive invertebrates evolved an innovation to this system.

    What happened was that nervous system acquired a new chemical related in structure to the chemical found in cannabis. Because of this similarity these new signals came to be known as cannabinoids. It was inevitable that eventually cannabis would meet its perfect partner - us."
    "We can't expect you to just know all the secrets of our top-secret-titty-club!" --Jenna Marbles

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