If inflammation leads to obesity, can cannabis help break the cycle?

Cannabis has grown significantly in the medical world as new uses of the natural herb are researched and validated. This has encouraged the opening of new legal markets for medical marijuana in various regions. It has also helped increase the acceptance of cannabis among the population, as many who originally opposed the idea of ​​cannabis are now adopting it.

Based on anecdotal reports and extensive studies, cannabis has been shown to be useful in dealing with some chronic conditions like depression, insomnia, inflammation, obesity and so on.

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A closer look at inflammation and obesity

Many chronic conditions are linked to inflammation in one way or another. Obesity is no exception to this trend. The condition also comes with various comorbidities. Therefore, when doctors prescribe medication for obesity, the goal of therapy is to treat the accompanying illnesses. These comorbidities include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

Inflammation is linked to the comorbidities that accompany obesity, which means it plays a huge role in the development of the condition. Inflammation is a leading cause of high blood pressure and increases the risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure in equal measure. Another look at obesity also shows that cytokines, i.e. substances secreted by immune cells, play a role in the development of obesity. They cause insulin resistance and other health problems that act as precursors to type 2 diabetes. It is well known that type 2 diabetes often leads to obesity.

Obesity does not develop suddenly as it is a product of consistent lifestyle habits. These habits include a constant high-sugar diet and processed foods that increase blood sugar levels. When glucose levels in the body system are elevated, the body responds by increasing the amount of insulin it produces to remove glucose from the bloodstream.

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The unhealthy cycle of obesity

Producing an increased amount of insulin is the body’s reaction mechanism to prevent high sugar levels resulting from regular consumption of processed foods. Eventually, the body becomes desensitized to insulin, which in turn reduces the body’s ability to respond to the effects of insulin. Inevitably, the blood sugar level in the body rises, causing inflammation and ultimately leading to more insulin resistance. This unhealthy cycle continues and the end product is high blood sugar, which in turn causes obesity.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was also involved in this unhealthy cycle. The ECS works through the unique relationship between endocannabinoids, which directly or indirectly affect cannabinoid receptors in the body. The operation of the ECS can encourage overeating of processed foods and foods low in nutrients, which increases endocannabinoid counts. With increased appetite and more overeating, the unhealthy cycle with high blood sugar and insulin resistance continues.

Cannabis, inflammation and obesity

Studies have shown that there is a unique link between cannabinoids, inflammation, and obesity. These unique effects of cannabinoids on the body system have been used in general for medical marijuana. CBD is one of the important cannabinoids in the matrix of cannabis plants and has an anti-inflammatory effect. The cannabinoid has a US government patent for its anti-inflammatory effects, which shows how much research has been done on the cannabinoid. CBD is also effective in lowering cholesterol and therefore lowering blood sugar. This shows that CBD is useful in reducing the incidence of obesity and its comorbidities.

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The effects of ECS on obesity development could also prove beneficial to the effectiveness of CBD in treating obesity. CBD interacts directly or indirectly with the ECS to facilitate various reactions throughout the body. This effect is used by CBD to help reduce inflammation throughout the body. CBD is also important in reducing the disorderly consumption of processed foods. Hence, by reducing the unhealthy consumption of processed foods, CBD reduces the development of inflammation and ultimately obesity.

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How can cannabis break the cycle?

The usual steps outside of cannabis use to treat obesity mostly have to do with lifestyle changes. An important step that is crucial is changing eating habits to stop the unhealthy cycle and ensure that insulin is effective in removing glucose from the bloodstream. It is also important to develop and adhere to a strong anti-inflammatory eating plan to deal with the unhealthy cycle of obesity.

Cannabis can be very beneficial for reducing obesity and its comorbidities through the effects of CBD. For this reason, it is important to include high-CBD cannabis strains in the diet of such patients. For patients who may have problems smoking cannabis, there are other modes of consumption that will ensure that the target cannabinoid is available for the desired effect. CBD already exists in various product forms such as oils, tinctures, topical creams and transdermal patches.

RELATED: How CBD May Be Fighting Obesity

It is also important to ensure that one consults a nutritionist who is aware of the role of the ECS in promoting obesity. Such a person skilled in the art will be well equipped to advise the patient on which cannabis strains to use to stop food addiction and correct ECS dysfunction. Such professionals are represented in some cannabis dispensaries, where they provide important medical and nutritional advice to patients.

Bottom line

The link between inflammation and obesity arises from a cycle of events that include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. This unhealthy cycle is also exacerbated by cytokines secreted by immune cells, which increases insulin resistance. Dealing with inflammation is critical to obesity control and this is where cannabis can help break the cycle. CBD is very effective in reducing inflammation in the body, which in turn makes it useful for dealing with obesity.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and was republished with permission.