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But what if we told you that some forms of THC are actually associated with weight loss? And what if we told you this was true even when THC increased appetite?
There’s one study in particular about delta-8 THC that really makes you go “hmmmm.”
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Of course, it helps to know what exactly delta-8-THC is before we go Bill Nye on the subject.
Under a microscope, delta-8-THC is similar to delta-9-THC, which is what you might consider “regular THC.” Delta-9-THC is what causes the typical marijuana-style high. Both forms of THC exist naturally in cannabis.
But delta-8 is different. It’s an isomer of delta-9-THC, meaning it has a distinctive arrangement of atoms and molecules.
D8’s properties are different from D9’s. What that means for the person consuming it is a less intense, more predictable high.
Folks who find marijuana to be overwhelming due to anxiety and paranoia tend to enjoy the mellow ride of delta-8. And folks who want a bit more than CBD has to offer might find delta-8-THC gives them that extra nudge into their sweet spot.
Delta-8-THC is sometimes called delta-8 or D8. We like to mix it up with all of these terms, but they all mean the same thing.
We’ve hinted at some D8 weight and appetite benefits, but that’s not the only reason the cannabis compound is becoming a popular marijuana alternative. Here are some of the main reasons people are using delta-8.
These are only the benefits and uses of delta-8 that have been researched and documented. Like all things cannabis, it may affect each person differently, so individuals are finding their own reasons for using delta-8-THC.
But we’re here to focus on an area that shows promise for personal and therapeutic usage: weight management.
A healthy weight is associated with less risk of disease and longer lifespan. The medical community continuously looks for solutions to help people who are over or under a healthy weight.
One 2004 study observed how delta-8-THC affected food intake, cognitive function, and neurotransmitters in mice. The mice who were given delta-8 ate slightly more food than those who were given delta-9-THC.(1)
Interestingly, although the D8 group of mice ate more, they actually lost weight.
This finding correlates with an analysis that found cannabis users have a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who don’t use cannabis.(2)
Eating more, but losing weight. How could it be?
Although delta-8-THC is different from delta-9, there’s some general THC-related info that may help explain why delta-8 can increase appetite while decreasing body mass.
Regular old THC causes the munchies, but it turns out that delta-8-THC may cause them even more.
What we know from the 2004 study is that mice ate 16% more food over a nine-day period after being given D8. This was more than the D9 group.
This suggests that with more research, delta-8 might become a therapeutic tool for those who face food intake challenges for a number of reasons.
So, what does all of this mean for weight? Does delta-8 speed up your metabolism? Here’s our two-part answer.
Answer #1: Yes, delta-8 increases energy metabolism. The 2004 study found that test subjects given D8 had increased norepinephrine levels. Norepinephrine regulates energy metabolism, which is the body’s ability to turn food into energy.
Answer #2: D8 might speed up metabolism and assist with weight loss. D8’s ability to work with CB1 receptors suggest that it could influence metabolism. Like other cannabinoids, it might do this by blocking CB1 receptors and putting a stop to overactivity in the ECS, which has been linked to obesity.
If you research delta-8 for weight loss on reddit or the internet, you’ll find many stories with many different results.
It’s important to recognize that anything that interacts with your ECS can have different results for different people. Although research has uncovered a lot of facts recently, we’re still learning how the ECS affects weight, appetite, and many other functions of the body. And we’ve barely scratched the surface of how cannabis interacts with your ECS.
But D8 is legal and easy to obtain for adults interested in giving it a try.
Before using delta-8-THC for appetite stimulation, weight management, or any other purpose, chat with your doc to make sure there’s nothing in your healthcare plan that could pose a risk.
Once you have the green light, seek out a high-quality D8 product. Go low and slow with your delta-8 dosage at first and adjust the dose gradually over time.
Also, remember that D8 is a form of THC. So it does have some psychoactive effects and it can cause a failed drug test.
Being a new hemp product, you’ll want to do some homework to find quality delta-8-THC.
At Pure Craft, we use the same nanotechnology and purely-cultivated hemp in our delta-8 gummies that we use in our CBD oil products. That means a fast-acting, unadulterated D8 product without any unnecessary ingredients. They’re vegan, too!
Without the intense high caused by delta-9 and legal restrictions that come with it, delta-8 may be a helpful, accessible option for people striving to stay within a healthy weight range.
But since the research is limited, there’s still a lot to learn about how to use D8 for weight and appetite.
As delta-8-THC’s popularity increases and we learn more about its applications, we’ll have a better grasp on how it can be used for weight management. For now, D8 is a legal marijuana alternative that may be worth considering if you’re interested in its many benefits.
References
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