Shocking Discoveries: Research Unveils Startling Side Effects and More!

What exactly is CBD?

CBD has been around for so long that you may have missed the details on what exactly it is. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, says Jamie Alan, PhDassociate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

CBD only contains very small amounts of THC, which is the compound in marijuana that will get you high. But CBD won’t actually get you high, says Alan.

It’s important to say this up front: While many people swear that CBD can help with a wide variety of problems, the US National Library of Medicine says there is “not enough reliable information” to say whether CBD helps in a number of situations.

Right now, the data suggests that CBD is likely to be effective for treating seizure disorders, although there has been a lot of interest and some data on its use for pain (more on that in a second).

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What is the problem with CBD and weight loss?

CBD is a “hot item” for weight loss, according to Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, an instructor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an obesity physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “CBD is considered a potential therapeutic agent due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, neuroprotective, and anti-obesity potential,” says Dr. Stanford. “However, we have limited research to speak of its use in humans at this time.”

However, the reality is that “no human studies to date have shown the efficacy of CBD in promoting weight loss,” he says. Dina Peralta-Reich, M.D.Director of New York Weight Wellness Medicine. But CBD is widely used to help people with pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders, which can contribute to weight gain, adds Dr. Peralta-Reich. “It’s possible that CBD could offer benefits to people who tend to eat emotionally due to increased anxiety and stress,” she adds.

The aspect of pain management. could be something that could help you lose weight if you have a hard time staying active due to chronic pain, adds Alan. He National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) points to data on cannabis or CBD for pain that suggests it may be helpful. (It’s just not as robust as it is for seizure disorders, for example.)

There may be something that directly links CBD to weight loss, but there isn’t much going on at this point. A older laboratory study who looked at animal cells found that CBD could help turn white fat into brown fat, which helps burn calories. But since this occurred in animal cells, it’s hard to translate into a potential impact on humans.

Ultimately, Dr. Peralta-Reich says that “there is no substantial medical evidence to support [CBD’s] role as a medicine or aid dedicated to weight loss”.

Allan agrees. “CBD has complex mechanisms in the body,” he says. “There is still very active research trying to understand all of the effects of CBD on the body.”

How to choose a legitimate CBD product

Again, there is no definitive data at this time to say that CBD will be helpful for weight loss. But if he’s interested in checking it out for whatever reason, Alan recommends buying it from a reputable company with good reviews. If they do third-party testing, even better, he says.

How to use CBD

Since we don’t have enough research to say for sure, it’s not entirely clear how much CBD to take from a weight loss standpoint. While Alan recommends talking to his doctor before trying CBD, he says it’s probably good to start with a low dose and see how you feel.

When it comes to managing pain, rubbing a CBD cream or lotion on the area that hurts can help, says Alan.

Are there contraindications to the use of CBD?

There are some possible risks to using CBD (scroll down to see them), but “there are no absolute contraindications,” says Alan. That said, he “strongly recommends” talking to your doctor first before trying CBD for anything.

Are there possible disadvantages of CBD?

Not necessarily, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a list of things to keep in mind when it comes to using CBD. The FDA recommends keeping this in mind:

• CBD can cause liver damage in high doses.
• CBD can affect how other medications you are taking work, which could lead to serious side effects.
• Using CBD with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity, such as those used to treat anxiety, panic, stress, or sleep disorders, increases the risk of sedation and drowsiness, which can lead to injury.
• Studies of animals exposed to CBD have reported male reproductive toxicity, or damage to fertility in males or in male offspring of exposed females.

What side effects can CBD cause?

The FDA also says that CBD can cause side effects that you might notice, including:

• feeling sleepy
• Diarrhea
• Have decreased appetite
• Mood changes, such as irritability and agitation.

Bottom line: Research on CBD for various physical and psychological ailments and symptoms is still limited and developing. Currently, there is no substantial evidence to support CBD for weight loss.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, and her work appears in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to one day own a teacup pig and a taco truck.