Why Do We Get Munchies?
Higher Edibles Canna-Corn
We’ve all had our munchie moments but have you ever wondered why sometimes smoking a joint has us shamefully elbow deep in a bag of Doritos at an ungodly hour? To answer this question, we first have to understand how the certain compounds found in cannabis, also known as cannabinoids, behave in the body. Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals found in cannabis, other plants, and are also produced by the body. The cannabinoids produced by the body are called endocannabinoids. We all have a biological system called the endocannabinoid (ECS) system thats exists specifically to process cannabinoids using receptors found all through the body — that includes all cannabinoids consumed from an outside source like a joint or edible or produced within the body itself.
The ECS is a system that regulates and signals cells in the body to perform a certain way in order to keep the body in homeostasis. Homeostasis is a process in which your body self regulates to maintain a balanced and steady state. This includes physiological matters such as your body temperature, digestion, blood sugar, blood pressure, the nervous system, etc. — in regards to munchies, we’re going to be looking at homeostasis and metabolism/hunger.
Certain chemicals and hormones in the body control hunger — two of the most significant ones include the endocannabinoid anandamide and the hormone gherlin. Anandamide plays many roles in the body, like regulating mood and motivation, but has also been shown to affect hunger and feeding behavior. THC and anandamide behavior similarly in the body and when THC is consumed, it binds to an area in your brain called the hypothalamus, which is rich in cannabinoid receptors and plays an active role in appetite regulation. When cannabis is consumed, the close resemblance of THC and anandamide throws your body out of homeostasis, tricking your body into thinking you’re hungry. THC also triggers your body to produce gherlin, the hunger hormone that tells the body it’s time to search for food.
While the appetite stimulating aspect of THC can sometimes inconveniently make us overeat and gain weight, this effect has practical medical applications. Cannabis is commonly used to treat eating disorders such as anorexia; it’s also used to treat other illnesses/treatment side effects that result in appetite loss such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease, etc.