The Stoned Munchies: Fabulous Food With Solid Science!
Have you ever wondered whether cannabis actually makes Boulderites hungry? Is there any “real” science to support the “stoned munchies?” As we have always known, the answer is a resounding “YES!”
Diet control as to timing, choices, and quantities are key to good health and to feeling good. And the latest science confirms that in fact smoking cannabis does trigger the stoned munchies. I believe that oil made from whole flower is a dramatic appetite stimulant, while smoking or vaping, which I avoid in any event, has less of an appetite stimulus impact. That is anecdotal only. But NOT subtle!
“Colorful” Foods Are Often Great Foods! From Berries to Broccoli, Peppers to Papaya, Color Is A GREAT Clue
For those who have under-stimulated appetites from a myriad of causes, something that increases appetite is a tremendous boon. Whether it is a loss of appetite from undergoing chemotherapy or from a simple need to gain some weight, a hearty appetite is part of the nutrition spectrum. Additionally, the enjoyment of and desire for healthier food options is enhanced by cannabis consumption. The most recent study involves, for the first time, the use of MRI imaging to observe the hypothalamus brain activity associated with the stoned munchies. The latest science confirms what we already thought.
Here’s the science behind the ‘munchies’ after cannabis use, according to a most recent study.
Colorful Foods Are Frequently Healthy Foods
Washington State University scientists have very recently confirmed yet again that cannabis vapor stimulates parts of the hypothalamus to trigger hunger. Calcium Imaging Technology, similar to MRI imaging brings new confirmation to the munchie madness. Medical utility is tremendous. Whether you want to gain some weight or want to be able to continue to eat while undergoing chemotherapy, the munchies can provide an invaluable medical resource. The irony is that when great nutrition is most needed, our appetites can be impinged, resulting in food generally becoming less appealing.
Researchers at Washington State University have pinpointed a source of the “munchies,” a well-known side effect of inhaling cannabis.
The federally funded study revealed that cannabis activates cells in the hypothalamus, stimulating the appetite in mice that had breathed in vaporized marijuana. The researchers “observed that cannabis activated a set of cells in the hypothalamus when the rodents anticipated and consumed palatable food that were not activated in unexposed mice,” Jon Davis, assistant professor of neuroscience at the university, said in a press release on the study.
The study by 13 researchers at the university and published in Nature.com is the first known study to use calcium imaging – which resembles an MRI of the brain – to observe how brain cells in mice reacted to cannabis smoke.
“We now know one of the ways that the brain responds to recreational-type cannabis to promote appetite,” Davis said.
Researchers saw increased activity in the hypothalamus, an area deep inside the brain that influences basic bodily functions.
“When the mice are given cannabis, neurons come on that typically are not active,” David said. “There is something important happening in the hypothalamus after vapor cannabis.”
It has long been widely known that cannabis stimulates the appetite, including in people undergoing chemotherapy, but the mechanisms behind this effect have remained a mystery. Therapies that try to isolate parts of the cannabis plant often fail to stimulate appetite.
This research from Washington State University represents a significant advancement in understanding the effects of cannabis on the brain and appetite. The study’s use of calcium imaging, akin to an MRI for brain cells, allowed for an in-depth observation of the neuronal activity in mice exposed to cannabis vapor. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging to study the munchies represents a new way to study the physiology of the stoned munchies.
HEALTH TIP! While the munchies may draw us to potato chips and sugar, the same mechanism, with the addition of some conscious self-control, can have us eating berries or broccoli instead of candy. Carrots not candy. And while the use of MMJ to enhance our appetite is a well-established connection, the same desire for potato chips enhances the desire to eat carrots and peppers. Step One: have an appetite. Step Two: direct the enhanced appetite in healthful directions and choices. “Edibles for Edibles” might be the call to arms to both eat more and to eat better. And while it takes a small effort to redirect our appetites, the benefits are huge!
Key findings and implications from this study include:
- Identification of Neural Activity in the Hypothalamus: The researchers observed that cannabis activates specific cells in the hypothalamus. This region of the brain is crucial for regulating various bodily functions, including hunger. The increase in neural activity in this area in response to cannabis exposure helps explain the phenomenon of increased appetite, commonly known as the “munchies.”
- Understanding Cannabis’s Role in Appetite Stimulation: Prior to this study, it was widely acknowledged that cannabis could stimulate appetite, especially in clinical contexts like chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms behind this effect were not well-understood. This research sheds light on the neural underpinnings of this appetite stimulation.
- Implications for Medical Therapies: The findings could have significant implications for developing therapies. Current treatments attempting to replicate cannabis’s appetite-stimulating effects often fail because they do not fully mimic
This groundbreaking study by researchers at Washington State University offers substantial insight into the neural mechanisms through which cannabis influences appetite, specifically focusing on the role of the hypothalamus. Utilizing advanced calcium imaging technology, akin to an MRI for brain cells, the study provides a detailed view of the neuronal activity triggered by cannabis exposure.
The hypothalamus, a crucial brain region involved in regulating various autonomic processes including hunger, thirst, and circadian rhythms, was the focal point of this study. Researchers discovered that cannabis activates a specific set of neurons within the hypothalamus. This neuronal activation is pivotal in the context of appetite stimulation, a well-documented effect of cannabis consumption, often referred to colloquially as the “munchies.” The study observed that these neurons were particularly active when the mice anticipated and consumed palatable food, a response absent in mice not exposed to cannabis.
This neural activation pattern is especially noteworthy because it provides a biological explanation for the appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis, which have been empirically observed but not fully understood at the cellular level. The findings suggest that cannabis induces a state in the hypothalamus that mimics the natural neural response to hunger, thereby promoting food intake.
Furthermore, these insights have significant implications for medical science, particularly in developing appetite-stimulating treatments. Current therapies attempting to isolate components of the cannabis plant for this purpose often fall short, possibly due to a lack of holistic understanding of cannabis’s interaction with brain function. By revealing the specific hypothalamic neurons involved in cannabis-induced hunger, this study opens new avenues for the creation of more effective medical treatments, especially for conditions where appetite stimulation is beneficial, such as in patients undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from eating disorders.
In summary, this study not only elucidates a specific neural mechanism behind cannabis-induced appetite stimulation but also paves the way for potential therapeutic applications that could benefit a wide range of patients.
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