Science Behind The Munchies
Kayla Zadow
Have you ever noticed certain strains have you craving all the yummy snacks in your cabinet? Maybe you even have a couple of go-to strains that you like to consume before enjoying your dinner or ice cream treat at night like I do. But, maybe you never gave a second thought as to why that is?! Well not to worry, because I did some sciencey research for the team and have broken it down into much more digestible ( get it?;) ) pieces for you to read below!
Throughout our bodies we have multiple complex systems, making us function as optimally and efficiently as possible and allowing us to get through our day-to-day. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one such system. It is through receptors in each of our endocannabinoid systems that cannabinoids made by our own bodies and plant-derived cannabinoids, called phytocannabinoids - like THC and CBD - can interact and influence our internal chemistry (Lu & Mackie., 2016). The ECS can be found throughout our entire bodies, and research has most commonly focused on the central nervous system, where CB1 receptors can be found, as well as in the immune system, where CB2 receptors are most dominantly expressed (Reggio., 2010). These receptors are responsible for mediating the effects of cannabis on our bodies.
Specifically, in the brain, within our hippocampus region, we have neurons called Pro-Opiomelancortin neurons (POMC neurons) that control our appetite stimulation and are key drivers in reducing our urge to continue to eat once full (Rough., 2020). There are cannabinoid receptors located on these neurons that can be directly influenced by THC activation when ingested. When THC attaches to these receptors, they activate the neurons to secrete endorphins that stimulate our appetite, telling our bodies that we are still hungry, even if we’re full (Rough., 2020).
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Scientist Tamas Horvath described, “By observing how the appetite center of the brain responds to marijuana, we were able to see what drives the hunger brought about by cannabis and how that same mechanism that normally turns off feeding becomes a driver of eating” (Peart., 2015).
Leafly came out with 3 Fun Facts about Cannabis and Eating, where they break down 3 tips about why cannabis in fact expands the experience of eating to a whole new level. Starting off with taste and smell, the first two senses that we rely on when snooping out a yummy snack. A study recently done on mice, published by Nature Neuroscience, found that when we consume cannabis, the THC interacts with cannabinoid receptors within the olfactory bulb, which is responsible for recognizing all the aromas around us (Wilcox., 2020). When THC attaches to these receptors, they increase their activation, making them more sensitive to various smells, including food, which in turn makes you more inclined to keep snackin' (Wilcox., 2020). Which, to be clear, there is no shame in the snacking game.
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Secondly, I think that there’s just something comforting about eating your fav treats at the end of a long day, and if you happen to consume cannabis like me, you probably also like to incorporate a little sesh to encapsulate the whole experience. And the happiness you get from eating is not all in your head! Scientists have found that eating, naturally increases our body’s production of pleasure hormones like dopamine (Wilcox., 2020). Now, add in your go-to uplifting strain and you get an additional rush of dopamine to your brain. This is due to the THC within the cannabis activating those same receptors, enhancing the production of dopamine, even more, making the overall experience that much more gratifying (Wilcox., 2020).
Lastly, and this one can be big for those looking for a little help rousing their appetite, THC has been shown to be a great tool in assisting our bodies' naturally occurring systems by getting the ball rolling, so to speak, to stimulate appetite. THC does so by increasing the prevalence of the hormone ghrelin, responsible for appetite stimulus, specifically for the consumption of carbohydrates (Wilcox., 2020). Therefore, consuming high levels of THC will in turn increase your internal concentration of ghrelin, increasing your hunger towards high carb foods (aka the best kind). Appetite stimulation can be crucial for folks struggling to eat for any reason.
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Whether you’re looking for some help getting your appetite going, or maybe you’d like a list of strains to stay away from to keep those late-night munchies away, we’ve got you covered! Strains that have terpene profiles high in Myrcene, B-Caryophyllene, and Limonene should be added to your list as appetite-stimulating. To get even more specific strains like; Super Lemon Haze, Jean Guy, Strawberry Cough, Amnesia Haze, Godfather OG, Girl Scout Cookies, and Jack Frost have been extra prevalent in sparking people’s munchies (Rahn., 2020).
Myrcene is an earthy, spicy terpene that has been found to induce relaxing/calming effects. Being the most common terp on the commercial weed market, it can be hard at times to avoid, but you may notice strains like White Widow, Granddaddy Purple, OG Kush, Blue Dream, and Tangie Kush are snacky guys.
B-Caryophyllene, similarly to myrcene, is aromatically spicey, earthy but also woody. Unique to other terpenes, B-Caryophyllene is a cannabinoid, meaning that it is able to directly interact with our ECS! Strains often found to have high B-caryophyllene profiles are Chemdog, Sour Diesel, Girl Scout Cookies, Bubba Kush, Gorilla Glue 4 & Jean Guy.
Limonene, as the name suggests, is a lemon-y terp! Often associated with mood-boosting and stress-relieving properties, this terpene is most often found in OG Kush strains, as well as Sour Diesel, Super Lemon Haze, Jack Herer, Wedding Cake, and MAC, to name a few.
Now you may be thinking, is there anything I can do to avoid the munchies altogether? Will I always get the munchies when I consume? The answer is no, not necessarily, according to research from much smarter folks than I. They've identified that certain strains do have appetite-suppressing properties.
When it comes to munchie suppression, high CBD and lower THC strains seem to be at the forefront of most recent studies (Rahn., 2020). Since THC is the main cannabinoid driver for increasing appetite stimulus, it stands to reason why lower percentage THC strains would produce less of a munchie effect. Strains that have lower THC percentages ensure that less THC is circulating within our endocannabinoid system, reducing the chance of it stimulating hormones like ghrelin and POMC neurons within our brain, that tell the body that we’re still hungry.
In the same breath, CBD is known for combatting many of the “negative” side effects of THC, which, for some, may include the munchies (Rahn., 2020). Scientists have theorized that since CBD mitigates many effects of THC, appetite stimulus may in fact be another example of this. Therefore, consuming strains with little to no THC and higher CBD percentages should keep you in the clear from eating your entire pantry after your nightly toke.
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Standing out on its own, Humulene is a very special terpene. Unlike the others, research has been found to suggest that its anti-inflammatory properties may help suppress appetite and inhibit your munchies (Bennett., 2020)! Most commonly found in strains like Death Star, Headband, Thin Mint GSC, Original Glue, and Candyland.
If you’re looking for some products that we currently carry that are typically high in Humulene, you might want to think about adding one or two of the following guys to your order the next time you’re in! New in, the Balance Pre-Rolls by Solei, are a nice high CBD, low THC percentage option that’s super convenient in 3, 0.33g j’s! Our fan favourite Redecan Redees, have two great options out there for you, in Indica, the lovely Shishkaberry Pre-Rolls, and for those looking for more pep in their step, a great Sativa option, Outlaw Pre-Rolls. Lastly, a wildly convenient minty disposable vape, the Alevio Menta CBD Pen should not be missed.
Another strain to add to your list of munchie reducers may be Cannatonic. A strain bred to be very high in CBD, Cannatonic has been found to leave the mind clear and focused while contributing to bringing homeostasis back to the body (Jordan., 2020). This strain is widely used within the medical cannabis world for consumers seeking treatment of pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, and migraines. Please speak with your medical care team about CBD, if you're considering its medical use. Doctors are honestly getting cooler about weed and, especially, CBD.
Now, if you’ve made it this far, we’ve gone through a lot of information together, some I’ll admit were more interesting than others! I hope you were able to pick up a couple of tips and tricks along the way that you can add to your unique tool kit, to help expand and curate your cannabis journey to fit you perfectly. Remembering how different from each other we are, and that some things will work better for some than others. Wishing you a tasty time, with weed, with food, with everything.
Reference List:
Bennett, P. (2020, July 28). What is humulene and what does this cannabis terpene do? Leafly. Retrieved November 7, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca.news.science-tech.humulene-terpene.
Jordan, D. (2020, July 28). Which terpenes are found in high-CBD cannabis strains? Leafly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/strains-products/cannab is strains- high-cbd-terpenes.
Lu, H.-C., & Mackie, K. (2016). An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biological Psychiatry, 79(7), 516-525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028
Peart, K. N. (2015, February 23). Mulling the marijuana munchies: How the brain flips the hunger switch. YaleNews. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://news.yale.edu /2015/02/18/mulling-marijuana-munchies-how-brain-flips-hunger-switch.
Peters, A. (2020, July 28). Seeking the secret of the munchies: One scientist’s Quest. Leafly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/health/seeking-the-sec ret-of-the-munchies-one-scientists-quest.
Rahn, B. (2020, July 28). 10 cannabis strains that won't make you (as) hungry. Leafly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/strains-products /10-cannabis-strains-that-wont-make-you-as-hungry.
Reggio, P. (2010). Endocannabinoid binding to the cannabinoid receptors: What is known and what remains unknown. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 17(14), 1468-1486. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986710790980005
Rough, L. (2020, July 28). The Science of Munchies: Why does cannabis stimulate your appetite?Leafly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/science -tech/the-science-of-munchies-why-does-cannabis-stimulate-your-appetite.
Wilcox, A. (2020, July 28). 3 fun facts about cannabis and eating. Leafly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/lifestyle/3-fun-facts-about-cannabis-and-eatin g.