Two studies showed that an
increase in hedonic, or pleasurable taste, rather than a motivation
to eat was increased with the use of cannabis. With exposure to
taste and scent, dopamine is released with encourages the appetite
for the food. Once THC is in the blood stream, it has been found to
increase dopamine levels.(Source)
and (Source)
In a study published in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
a research group led by Daniele Piomelli found that marijuana
triggers the CB1 receptors in the gut, not the brain, to signal that
a fatty food has been ingested. The saying of “You just can't eat
one Lay Potato Chip” is correct in that when a fatty food is eaten,
intestinal CB1 receptors send a message to the brain to stimulate the
creation of endocannabinoids creating a chemical response of hunger
increasing your appetite for fatty foods. (Source)
Another study shows how
endocannabinoids are responsible for pre and post natal survival.
Endocannabinoids are present in cow's milk, soft cheese and breast
milk. The research showed that the cannabinoid receptors are
stimulated by the cannabinoids in milk to encourage suckling leading
to newborn survival. This response may hold a connection in later
life to the encouragement of eating.(Source)
Another
study showed the THC released the hormone ghrelin, which increases
appetite. Both endocabbinoids and ghrelin effect the hypothalamus
part of the brain. AMP-activated protein kinase,
or AMPK helps regulate cell energy metabolism. THC and ghrelin
increase appetite by stimulating the AMPK to allow the hypothalamus
sense of food deprivation thereby increasing hunger.(Source)
Recently in February 2014 a
study was published in Nature Neuroscience studied
the increase in smell with cannabis. The study used the underlying
basis that hunger leads to an increase in sensory perception which
leads to an increase in food intake. The results in the study with
mice showed that odor detection was increased with cannabis due to
CB1 receptors affecting the olfactory bulb enhancing the sense of
smell. This increased awareness to smell gives in turn the increase
to hunger. The mice stayed longer smelling the food and ate
more.(Source)
Cannabis
and Obesity
Though
the study finding show that caloric intake from marijuana goes up
with the urge to eat, another study two studies show that marijuana
users are one third less likely to be obese and have a lower rate of
Type 2 Diabetes.(Source) Read more on this by clicking this link.
Source:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/24/aje.kwr200.abstract?__hstc=9292970.2e518383c30fe9090ca33584378a6435.1409929942141.1411273921013.1411401471685.9&__hssc=9292970.1.1411401471685&__hsfp=210472818
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