We don’t need science to tell us that smoking weed and snacking go hand in hand. Nor do we need it to tell us that food is one of the first comforts we turn to without thinking about it twice. That is how it’s always been and the way it will always be.
But have you ever taken a second to wonder why?
The term “munchies” is basically synonymous with marijuana consumption, and for a decent reason. You’ve undoubtedly heard at least one of your weed-loving friends bemoan that they catch a bad case of the munchies when they’re high; many smokers also cite it as a reason for cutting back on their consumption.
But marijuana isn’t the only thing in our lives that makes us crave sugary and salty snacks. Many of those who’ve never smoked weed a day in their lives can probably still attest to experiencing the munchies at some point.
If you’ve felt the indomitable pang to snack on something past the point of hunger, there are plenty of reasons why that could be. Let’s explore some of the most common causes and why they trigger this behaviour.
What to Blame for Your Munchies and Why
Stress
Significant and sudden changes or an upcoming strict deadline can have you reaching for a bag of chips in no time. When you’re stressed, your body is flooded with cortisol, which is a hormone that plays a significant part in your inner fight or flight system. Even in modern times, your body feels the need to refuel after experiencing what it deduced as a stressful encounter.
Marijuana Consumption
If you’re getting ready to consume marijuana, you better have your munchies ready on site! THC (the psychoactive compound in cannabis) stimulates the endocannabinoid system in your brain, thus contributing to your sudden need for chocolate and other goodies. There is also evidence that suggests it stimulates ghrelin, another hormone responsible for making you hungry.
Fatigue
All work and no rest is the perfect recipe for cravings. As mentioned above, ghrelin is a hormone that makes you want to eat, and when you’re tired, your ghrelin levels go up. In conjunction, when you don’t get enough rest, leptin – a hormone that decreases the need to eat – goes down. You don’t need to be a mathematician to solve this equation.
Alcohol
If you’ve noticed that the more you drink, the more you eat, you’re far from the only one. Most of us who enjoy the occasional drink will eventually find ourselves with a glass in one hand and a handful of chips in the other. One explanation for why this happens that when we drink our inhibitions are lowered, and as a result, so is our ability to portion control.
Nerves
When you’re feeling on edge, your body’s invigorated with the energy it needs to dispel. Not only does a snack here or there give your body something to work through, but it helps distract you from the minutiae of what’s making your nervous in the first place.
As you can see, there are several triggers that can lead us to munchies without realizing it. A snack in moderation can be brushed off, but if it’s become a habit, some extra steps might have to be taken to curb our intake.
LIVLI’s MunchAssist can help. MunchAssist is a daily supplement that can help jump-start your metabolism to manage your cravings, reduce bloat and control weight gain. Learn more about its benefits and how to get yours today!