This excerpt is adapted from <\/em>The Essential Guide to CBD<\/span> by the Editors of Reader\u2019s Digest and Project CBD<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n
When it is working properly, the endocannabinoid system (ECS<\/span>) keeps our appetite, satiety, and weight finely balanced. CB1<\/span> cannabinoid receptors in our brain are responsible for signaling that it\u2019s time to eat when we need food, rousing our appetite and sharpening our sense of smell so food is extra rewarding. CB2<\/span> cannabinoid receptor activation, on the other hand, works to reduce food intake and prevent the buildup of body fat.<\/p>\n
Back in ancient times, when only fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables were available to eat, it was easier to naturally keep our ECS<\/span> in balance. But our diet is so out of whack in the modern world that our CB1<\/span> receptors are stuck in overdrive mode, reinforcing an aberrant feed-reward-feed loop from all the sugary, high-fat foods we consume. One study on mice found that when the rodents were fed a diet high in fat and sugar for 60 days, their CB1<\/span> receptors became overactive, which prevented the secretion of amino acids meant to reduce appetite when the system is working properly. On the other hand, our CB2<\/span> receptors \u2014 which are activated by plant-based foods like leafy and bitter greens, olive oil, and various spices \u2014 are essentially undernourished in a typical Western diet that\u2019s heavy on carbs and processed food.<\/p>\n