Does CBD Oil Help with Weight Loss? How it Supports Losing Fat

By  //  February 19, 2023

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Weight gain has serious health risks. Those who are overweight are exposed to many cardiovascular and metabolic diseases like heart disease.

Despite this, being overweight is a very common issue in Australia. Roughly 2 out of every 3 people are overweight or obese in Australia. Weight loss is now a topic at the top of my mind for many. But shedding excess body fat isn’t easy. It can be difficult for people to maintain the dietary and exercise habits needed to lose weight and maintain a healthy level of body fat. CBD offers an answer for many seeking support in losing weight.

It’s an extract from cannabis noted for its ability to lower stress, support recovery, and aid in lowering bodily inflammation.

These are all properties making it ideal to assist overweight people in dropping kilos.

CBD oil can support healthy weight loss. But many are hesitating to use it due to a lack of knowledge about what it does and how safe it is. It aids many users in losing weight by helping them lower stress related to eating and improving their exercise recovery. CBD oil has successfully surfaced as a promising weight loss supplement around the world for the past few decades.

In Australia, it’s gaining more traction than ever after being legalized in 2021. You can now buy CBD online or in pharmacies to benefit from its health-promoting, weight-loss benefits.

What is CBD Oil?

The first thing you need to know before using CBD for weight loss is what CBD oil is. Simply put, CBD oil is an extract derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant. The term ‘CBD’ stands for cannabidiol which is one of the many cannabinoids naturally produced by cannabis that has therapeutic effects for the body and mind. CBD from industrial hemp is considered ideal because oil from this plant is very low in THC. THC is another cannabinoid from cannabis well known for the high it causes and the intoxicating effects it induces.

CBD won’t get you high and is non-toxic. It reduces the risks of hypochondria and anxiety plus helps reduce pain and inflammation. The added benefit of using CBD oil which makes it increasingly popular is that it has very few side effects. This helps make it superior to pharmaceutical drugs which are at high risk of causing toxicity or side effects.

It has a wide range of health benefits – it helps in easing physical pain, supports metabolism, eases stress, depression, and anxiety, plus helps in making the brain healthier.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body to keep the bodily systems in balance. It helps to stimulate different metabolic functions in the body which support the burning of calories, breaking down of extra fat, suppression of appetite, decrease in lipids, and increase in metabolism.

It helps the body to burn extra calories down to the cellular level. It also supports improved recovery from exercise. CBD helps soothe pains and aches from training. Athletes use it to recover faster and enhance their performance over time while supporting better sleep. For obese people, this means less sore knees and joints from working out so you can burn more fat over time.

Weight Gain Causes

An obese person who struggles with their weight has a hidden culprit within their body – a slow metabolism. The metabolic rate of the body determines how much energy a person burns each day. The faster someone’s metabolism, the higher their energy expenditure is meaning they can consume more food without gaining weight. People who are overweight consume more calories than their body burns, leading to excess calories being stored as fat. Metabolism and obesity are highly connected.

Those with a slow metabolism from lack of exercise will convert more of the food they eat into body fat or weight. A slow metabolism rate impedes weight loss which results in a person becoming overweight. Resultantly the person will see high cholesterol, a high blood pressure level, and higher levels of fatigue. Increasing metabolism is key to reducing body weight and keeping off fat. Lowering caloric intake is the other ideal action to help in cutting fat.

CBD for Weight Loss

CBD aids in weight loss because it acts on the natural CB1 receptors present in the brain. It has beneficial effects on weight because it directly helps in lowering stress which is a key trigger for overeating and weight gain. Reducing stress and anxiety in users helps them control their addictions to food and thereby eat less to reduce body fat.

CBD also affects the endocannabinoid system in the human body. The endocannabinoid system helps in regulating sleep, mood, and metabolism, and the two cannabinoid receptors that are already present in the body are named the CB1 receptor and the CB2 receptor.

In understanding cannabinoid receptors, one should learn how they work in the body and brain. CB1 cannabinoid receptors are the densest in the brain and the central nervous system. On the other hand, the CB2 receptors are found mainly in the immune system and tissue of the human body to regulate metabolism and immunity.

People who suffer from obesity have heightened stress and cortisol. It causes increased weight gain and reduced ability to shed fat. CB1 receptors in their fatty tissues could help to stimulate their body into releasing this fat so body weight can be reduced or maintained. CB1 receptors help in activating the body’s extra fat cells and converting them into energy.

CBD works with neurological processes happening in the brain to activate the receptors that help in regulating the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. These are the neurotransmitters responsible for managing mood, sleep, and energy levels.

Users of CBD can expect to sleep for longer while also getting more REM sleep. During REM sleep is when the body repairs the most amount of tissue and brain neurons. Better sleep leads to improved recovery and resultantly higher training capacity. This is another key reason it aids in weight loss. By sleeping better and getting more rest, users can better oxidize fat. Sleep is directly linked to weight. Those who are sleep deficient are more likely to gain weight from calories and have less resilience to daily stress.

Metabolic Benefits

Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells and control ATP or energy production. They are responsible for the conversion of protein, carbohydrates, and fats into energy. They also play a role in storing excess energy in the fat cells for the body’s later use. CBD helps to support mitochondrial functions in the cells which increases the metabolic rate. Through this mechanism, the body burns extra calories and loses extra fat. CBD also helps support beta-oxidation, balances blood sugar levels, and improves cortisol levels.

Research is indicating it may help normalize insulin levels in the body. Insulin is an important hormone in the human body that is released from the pancreas. The key purpose of this hormone is shuttling sugars into the cells and then converting that sugar into energy. By aiding insulin regulation CBD supports the process of getting the weight back down to healthier levels. It’s thought to also reduce the resistance of insulin levels in the body which helps to increase fat loss from exercise.

CBD is considered a suppressant for the appetite because it improves the sensitivity of the region of the brain called the hypothalamus.

This part of the brain controls hunger levels through the ghrelin and leptin hunger hormones. Appetite is one of the leading factors which causes excess weight. It is an excellent tool for supporting healthy weight loss by making users more sensitive to hunger hormones and aware of when they aren’t hungry. This curbs eating habits by reducing appetite.

Is CBD Safe?

There is the misconception that CBD causes a “high” like THC. It doesn’t have any psychoactive properties so can’t get you high. Unlike THC it’s also non-addictive and won’t trigger underlying mental illnesses or psychosis. This makes it much safer to use. Some “full-spectrum” CBD oil will contain traces of THC but not more than 0.35% in Australia. Australian regulation on CBD was updated in 2021 to reflect the safety and therapeutic potential of CBD. It is now legal as low-dose medicine over the counter and won’t contain any THC.

Whether CBD oil can help you with weight loss or not will vary. You can use it safely at high doses daily without the risk of side effects. But not everyone will necessarily see strong results in weight change or fat loss. It requires a concerted effort in dieting, exercise, and disciplined calorie management to truly shed body fat and reduce overall weight in the long term.

Conclusion

CBD oil is effective in helping with weight loss. It reduces stress, improved recovery, and better metabolic health which all contribute to lower excess fat. Because it’s entirely natural and sourced from plants, it’s a unique weight loss supplement. This fact also makes it very low-risk to use daily.

It has minimal side effects and risks and won’t get you addicted. CBD reduces the impact of chronic inflammation, joint pain, and health issues associated with being overweight. It’s also a promising supplement for the treatment of other health problems that may be caused due to obesity.

As it improves sleep, it will support your recovery from training and speed up weight loss. It also reduces the risk of diabetes and metabolic disorders. If you are obese CBD is worth trying to support your weight loss goals.