Can THCV help me lose weight?
It’s that time of year again. Hopes of achieving our New Year’s resolutions to lose weight begin to fade. We start the year out with the best of intentions, only to fall off the wagon as life happens. Diets can seem overly restrictive, leaving you hungry and unsatisfied.
But what if there was a supplement that helped reduce hunger associated with calorie reduction?
Diets can seem overly restrictive leaving you hungry and unsatisfied
Introducing…THCV
THCV, short for tetrahydrocannabivarin, is a rare cannabinoid, which means that it naturally exists in extremely small quantities in cannabis and hemp plants. While the better-known THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found largely in marijuana, is known for inducing the munchies, scientists are finding that THCV does just the opposite in small amounts.
How does THCV reduce hunger?
Like other cannabinoids such as CBD, THCV interacts with our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS, named after the plant that led to its discovery, is a physiological system responsible for regulating and balancing many processes in the body. This system is credited for regulating memory and learning, appetite, stress response, pain sensation, mood, sleep, inflammation and more.
Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis and hemp
The ECS contains two main types of receptors, CB1 and CB2. Unlike THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis that “give people the munchies” THCV has the opposite effect. Whereas THC activates the CB1 receptor, releasing hunger-promoting hormones, THCV does the opposite, blocking the CB1 receptor and decreasing hunger.
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) may help reduce your appetite and promote weight loss
Those working to reduce their weight and enhance their overall health are looking for any advantage they can find. THCV will not prevent you from eating an entire pizza or quart of ice cream, but it can help you stick to your exercise and nutrition plan—you still have to watch what you eat!
Diet Rules
While there is no shortage of diet plans to follow: Atkins, Keto, Paleo, Intermittent Fasting, etc., there are some practical guidelines that can help you get started:
Rule 1: Eat exactly three meals a day. No snacking!
Rule 2: After each meal, take a break of at least five hours before beginning your next meal.
Rule 3: Do not allow any single meal to last longer than 60 minutes.
Rule 4: Begin each meal with one or two bites of your protein portion.
Rule 5: If possible, don’t eat after 9 pm.
Rule 6: Over the course of the day, drink about ½ ounce of water per pound of ideal body weight.
Rule 7: Eat foods that are as unprocessed as you can. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.
Eating Habits
Our past and former eating habits play a significant role in out ability to lose weight. Unfortunately, even if THCV helps reduce the physical need to eat, you are still left with the need to work through emotional and psychological issues around eating habits. In addition, a person’s diet history may also make it more difficult to lose weight, requiring you to eat fewer calories than a similar person of equal weight. There are many online programs available that help dieters address the psychological component of eating.
How to take THCV
The dosing or amount you take of THCV is very important. THCV is a not-too-distant cousin of THC. At the appropriate doses, THCV, as stated above, acts as a CB1 antagonist and will not have psychoactive properties. At higher than recommended doses, however, it can switch, behaving as a CB1 agonist, much like THC.
As an appetite suppressant the recommended dosage for THCV is about 2-3 mg. taken 1-3 times per day with food.
If your New Year’s Resolution also entails losing weight, THCV may help!
Contact our resident nutritionist to see if THCV is right for you and get some diet and get some diet tips as well.
FAQs
Q: When starting with THCV gummies or tinctures, what’s a good starting dose?
A: We suggest starting with 2-3 mg THCV (either ¼ of a Creating Better Days THCV gummy or one spray of Rare Cannabinoid Company CBD:THCV tincture. Try it once per day for 3-5 days and add in a additional dosage per meal as needed.
Q: Should I take THCV at the same time each day?
A: THCV should be taken with a meal to help increase bioavailability (absorption). Determine the best time of day based on your eating habits.
Q: How long will it take before I notice a difference from taking THCV?
A: Many people report positive results within the first week.
Q: What if it doesn’t seem like the THCV is working?
A: Remember, THCV will assist to reduce your appetite along with good eating habits. Make sure to reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates or food that will fluctuate blood sugar levels. Journaling the effects of the product along with food intake will help identify the correct combination to achieve maximum benefit.
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And, of course, contact our nutritionist if you have any questions!