Does the weed diet really work? It seems counterintuitive that marijuana could help you lose weight. 

Before you immediately dismiss the idea of weed diet, hear us out! Smoking weed does indeed lower your blood sugar, which in turn gives us a mean of the case of munchies. However, it is feasible that in the long run, marijuana can help users maintain a healthy body weight compared to non-smokers.  

The great thing about the science and understanding marijuana use is being able to debunk the myths. As well as, what it means to be a stoner and to educate the masses about the common misconceptions about the side-effects of smoking weed.  

Before you blindly take our word for it — let’s look at what science has to say…

Weed Diet and Weight Loss Studies

According to the American Journal of Medicine, a survey of 4,657 adults was conducted and discovered that 579 were regular marijuana users, partaking about 3 to 5 times a week. 

Those users had 16 percent lower insulin fasting levels compared to the participants that didn’t indulge in marijuana at all. Alternate studies also support this notion, but there is still a lot of research that needs to be done to reach a conclusion. 

Lower fasting insulin levels is beneficial in that it discourages large fluctuations of insulin (produced in the pancreas). This is important because large spikes in insulin levels eventually lead to chronic health conditions. After all, consuming large amounts of sugar (glucose) will get absorbed — leading to feelings of fatigue and weight gain.

Alternatively, low insulin could damage the arteries as the glucose slowly starts to accumulate in the body. Other studies have demonstrated the power of cannabis’ ability to regulate the glucose absorption process. Which will help to increase our good cholesterol and metabolism. 

There is still much contention among the scientific community regarding the validity of these claims.

Most obese individuals that consistently overeat on a daily basis do it because overeating produces a type of high. Thus, triggering the reward centers of the brain; whereas cannabis users have their own reward center “high”. 

This may explain why most weed enthusiasts aren’t typically overweight or obese. Because they don’t have the mental desire to overeat. 

How to Lose Weight With Weed

Lose Weight With Weed

A recent study concluded that frequent marijuana users also had a smaller waist circumference by 1.5 inches. However, if you think you can bypass eating a healthy diet. As well as, incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine and still lose weight. We’re sorry to burst your bubble. 

Cliche as it may be, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Is paramount for losing weight in addition to maintaining mental and emotional health.

That said, there are some additional protocols you’ll want to adhere to get the full range of benefits of the “marijuana diet.” This is to avoid any complications or adverse experiences. 

According to the Journal of Health and Economics, marijuana can influence human behavior. Including instilling a feeling of energy and engagement for physical activity with a nice energizing sativa strain and a good workout playlist. 

Couple that with the fact both exercise and cannabis boost your metabolism, and you’ve got a pretty good recipe for weight loss. As with anything else, you’ll find an activity that vibes with you more than others. Cardio, weightlifting, yoga, biking, hiking, or swimming are great outlets to start.

Weed Diet – Consumption Methods to Lose Weight 

The delivery approach you decide to go with is entirely up to you, and each will have its own unique impact on how it will affect you, but these are the most common choices: 

  • Smoking & Vaping: Smoking is the most common way users consume marijuana, but it’s important to recognize that any type of smoking will cause some damage. Like tobacco smoke, weed releases tars and toxins when you inhale. On the other hand, you can opt for vaping if smoking is your method of choice.
  • Edibles: Since you’re looking to lose weight, you’ll definitely want to avoid the high sugar and high-calorie edibles that put weight on. 
  • CBD Oil: CBD is a cannabinoid just like THC that is rapidly gaining in popularity, but it differs in that it doesn’t get you high. Word on the street is that it can suppress appetite

Choose a Strain That Doesn’t Give You Munchies

Contradictory to another common misconception about weed, not all strains give people the munchies. Strains that are high in Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are great for users looking to avoid eating “high” on the hog as these strains suppress the appetite and the effects of them don’t last as long as other strains — which is ideal for the dieting stoner. 

Additionally, it is thought that THCV can maintain the correct balance of glucose in the body, which reduces a common but pesky metabolic issue known as insulin resistance. 

There is a whole laundry list of ailments and diseases that are linked to insulin resistance including diabetes, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, eye problems, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and kidney disease to name a few. 

Here are some appetite suppressing THCV strains you can try:

Stop Consuming Alcohol 

Another win for the cannabis community is that it has been scientifically proven that cannabis users consume much less alcohol than individuals that refrain from marijuana. 

If you’re a drinker and looking to cut back. It can be extremely difficult since alcohol is deeply entrenched into our society. Regardless of the negative and toxic impact, it has on our body. 

Not only that, but alcohol is loaded with sugar and hell of a lot of calories. Think about it: on a typical evening out with friends, you’ll go to dinner, then drink way more than you should. This is a snag if you’re trying to lose weight.

Juice It!

As crazy as this sounds, yes, you can juice raw cannabis! In fact, it’s comparable in terms of nutritional value to other leafy greens like spinach and kale. Hemp is high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, is a complete protein, and of course, is gluten and dairy-free. 

Cannabis leaves provide a rich source of fiber, essential oils, flavonoids, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. As well as, the seeds are a good source of insoluble fiber, protein, carbohydrates, phosphorous, beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, Vitamins E, C, B1, B3, B6, and essential fatty acids. 

Another benefit of juicing cannabis is that it won’t get you high. It has become so popular that some states like Colorado allow you to buy weed in bulk. Mainly for recreational and medicinal applications. Keep in mind, to get all these nutritional benefits the plant must be juiced in its raw form to get the therapeutic benefits.

Final Thoughts on Weed Diet

While it sounds contradictory that you could lose weight consuming something that is notorious for giving users the munchies. There is sound science and first-hand accounts of how consuming marijuana can help you lose weight.

For those looking to suppress the appetite, strains that are high in Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) would be a great option to cut off unnecessary calories. And if smoking is not your option, consider opting for CBD oils and cannabis juice. However, they will not get you high and will definitely help to cut back those munchies.

True, you’ll have to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits to effectively lose weight. Consuming marijuana can potentially be a great tool for shedding unwanted pounds and uplifting your mood!