Why Does Weed Give You The Munchies
Learn why weed gives you the munchies with Releaf Medical. If you have ever got high off marijuana, you certainly know about the weed munchies. Releaf Medical will not only educate you on why weed gives you the munchies but also how to stop weed munchies. Love them or hate them, the weed munchies are inevitable and here to stay. For those using cannabis for medical purposes, the munchies can be a wonderful life altering green gift from the gods. For others it can be the kryptonite that destroys all their hard work and dedication at the gym. Whether you’re a fan or a foe, the munchies are a very real chemical reaction to marijuana entering your body. Throughout this article we will learn several different scientific reasons why weed gives you the munchies and why we get high and have an insatiable food lust. We will not just break down the responses that activate our gluttony, but a few tricks we have learned through years and years of bong-braking hard work on how to avoid munchies when stoned. As well as the best marijuana strains to induce the weed munchies for those needing help with debilitating illnesses that prevent them from eating. However, before we can understand why weed gives you the munchies, we need to learn why weed gets us high in the first place.
The Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an extensive system of receptors and chemical communications. It is the system responsible for regulating and maintaining homeostasis within our bodies. The ECS is essentially the bridge between the mind and body. Marijuana is made up of over 100 compounds called cannabinoids. The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). When cannabinoids enter the body and bind with endocannabinoid system receptors CB1 and CB2, it creates a multitude of benefits. CB1 receptors help to provide pain relief, regulate appetite, nausea, and promote calming and euphoric effects in the brain. While CB2 receptors help to regulate our immune system and intestinal inflammatory responses.
Why Does Weed Give You The Munchies
When THC and CB1 receptors bind they stimulate neurons in the brain which in turn alter satiety levels upon intake. The binding of the two will also arouse the receptors of the olfactory bulb which is responsible for our sense of smell. While our sense of smell is heightened, it can then enhance our sense of taste. So yes, it is true, weed can make food smell and taste better.
Another major key player in the “munchie phenomena” or to answer the question of why weed gives you the munchies is a hormone secreted from your stomach called Ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that signals the brain that the body is hungry which then stimulates your appetite. When cannabis is introduced to the body it can create an excess surge of ghrelin to be released to the brain.
Dopamine is a major factor in why weed gives you the munchies and why you make poor diet choices and can’t stop eating. Dopamine is known as the “feel good” hormone associated with the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. When you smoke pot dopamine is released in the brain, creating your cravings for your favorite pleasure and comfort foods. This explains why you just keep grabbing more slices of pizza before you head off to finish the entire tub of ice cream. When you’re doing something pleasurable, your brain releases large amounts of dopamine. You feel good and you seek more of that feeling making it almost impossible to stop.
The last culprit we will investigate for the spike in your appetite and to help with the answer of why does weed give you the munchies is terpenes. Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found throughout the plant kingdom. They are responsible for aromas, flavors, and even some colors of various types of vegetation. Terpenes determine the effects and benefits you will receive from different strains of cannabis. Since everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different, we all respond uniquely to different terpenes. This is the reason why we all have different likes and dislikes in smells and tastes. All strains of marijuana are made up of different terpene profiles, but myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene, and pinene are the four specific terpenes associated with jumpstarting your appetite. On the opposite side of the spectrum, humulene is known to suppress the appetite.
Now that we all know why we get a mouthful of the munchies, here are a list of a few strains that can easily be found in the state of Florida known to instigate a ravenous hunger: Sour Diesel, Blue Dream, OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookie, Tahoe OG, Pineapple express, and Granddaddy Purple. Just be sure to go slow and wear loose fit clothing because you’ll need room to expand.
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How To Stop Weed Munchies
At Releaf Medical there are very few products nor tricks we haven’t tried. Here are our best tips on how to stop weed munchies. First, ALWAYS eat or order before you get high whenever possible. Although the munchies may alter your hunger levels, you’ll have better odds at making healthier choices. Next, NEVER go to a grocery store if you’re hungry and high. The endless choices are not just overwhelming, but you’ll have no choice but to create a homemade buffet. Drink a lot of water. Not only does this help with cotton mouth and an irritated throat, but it fills you up, so you have less ability to gorge and is a good solution on how to avoid munchies when stoned. Plan nonfood related activities to do after you get high to keep you busy and your mind off the munchies. Don’t forget to brush your teeth and use mouthwash. Have you ever tried to eat something right after you cleaned your mouth? It tastes as bad as bong water and can kill your calorie cravings. Lastly, for those of you looking to avoid the food coma, try Durban Poison. Durban Poison is a common Florida strain high in Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) which has been proven to control your satiety and glycemic levels. Two other good strains commonly found in Florida to keep your belt from busting are Jack Herer and Cherry Pie. However, keep in mind that everyone reacts uniquely to each strain and their terpenes profiles. Hopefully one of the suggestions listed above will help you with the age old question of how to stop the weed munchies. We can talk all day about the science and benefits of marijuana, but we are really high and our food just got here.
