Most cannabis users think that there's no chance marijuana can be good\nfor weight loss. The herb is notorious for stimulating appetite, more commonly known as \"the munchies.\"\nThe times are changing, though, and new evidence is suggesting that\ncannabis might actually help consumers lose weight rather than gain\nit.
\nThe Connection Between Cannabis and Weight Loss
\nAccording to a\nstudy\nco-conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Harvard School\nof Public Health and scientists studying at the University of Nebraska,\nregular cannabis users generally have smaller waists and a lower BMI\n(body mass index) than their marijuana-free counterparts. This was true\neven after the researchers adjusted for factors including physical\nactivity levels, gender, age and cigarette and tobacco use. The study\nparticipants who used marijuana also had higher levels of good\ncholesterol in their bloodstream, which has been shown to protect\nagainst heart\ndisease,\nas well as lower levels of insulin resistance.
\nA separate\nstudy\nconducted in 2011 and published in the prominent American Journal of\nEpidemiology indicates that, while marijuana users consume an average of\n600 more calories each day than their marijuana-free counterparts,\nobesity rates within marijuana users are actually one-third lower than\nthey are in the general population, which is due to the ability of\nmarijuana to improve good cholesterol, produce a lower BMI and regulate\ninsulin levels.
\nCannabis and Metabolism
\nAnother way that cannabis helps control weight gain is by eliciting a\npositive influence on the metabolic system. When cannabis is ingested,\nthe THC contained in cannabis stimulates the body to produce a hormone\nknown as ghrelin. While it's quite unknown to the general public,\nghrelin is famous among researchers who study metabolism for its ability\nto stimulate appetite. In\naddition to making us hungry, however, ghrelin also helps our bodies\nmetabolize the food we eat more efficiently. With that in mind, it's\nclear that, while THC may increase our appetites, it also stimulates the\nmetabolism to perform as well as possible.
\nCannabis and Diabetes
\nOne of the most important effects of cannabis, however, is its\naforementioned role in lowering insulin resistance levels. Insulin is\nthe hormone in the human body that is responsible for regulating blood\nsugars like glucose. While these blood sugars are pivotal for our\nsurvival and energy needs, too much of them can quickly become\ndangerous, resulting in both weight gain and an increased risk of\ndiabetes.
\nFortunately, marijuana helps control blood glucose, which can actually\ndecrease a person's risk of diabetes. According to one 2013\nstudy,\npeople who used marijuana on a regular basis had 16 percent lower\ninsulin levels than people who never used marijuana. These subjects also\nhad lower rates of insulin resistance -- 17 percent lower, to be exact.
\nIn light of this, it's clear that in addition to helping prevent excess\nweight gain, marijuana may also be a powerful form of diabetes\nprevention.
\nConclusion
\nWhile marijuana is often associated with weight gain, it's now clear\nthat cannabis can actually help people maintain a healthy weight. The\nplant does this by controlling insulin levels, increasing metabolism,\nboosting healthy cholesterol levels and triggering a set of hormonal\nchanges that enhance the way we process food. Because of these things,\npeople who consume marijuana can potentially have lower rates of\ndiabetes, less risk of obesity, smaller waistlines and a lower risk of\nheart disease than those who don't.
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