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Could there be a substance that both gives us the munchies and can help combat obesity? There may indeed be, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Monell Center in Pennsylvania partnered with Kyushu University in Japan to study compounds called endocannabinoids. These occur naturally in our body and are similar to THC, the compound primarily responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects.
Researchers studied endocannabinoids in mice, and they say that the chemicals have a one-two punch—in your brain, they increase your appetite. And on your tongue, they enhance the response to sweet flavors. The compounds had no effect on salty, sour, bitter or umami tasting.
It turns out that sweetness receptors are present in the same cells as cannabinoid receptors on our tongues. But how could such an effect contribute to combating obesity? According to the scientists, there are similar sweet receptors in hormone-producing cells in the intestine and pancreas. There, they affect metabolism and the absorption of nutrients. Scientists say that if endocannabinoids also act on those receptors it could lead to new compounds to moderate metabolism. Which might stop the development of the pot belly.
—Cynthia Graber
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
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11 Comments
Add CommentThe more cannabis is studied the more beneficial qualities are discovered.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMaybe a unique strain of marijuana could be engineered so overweight people could smoke there way to fitness... LOL!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDespite its many benefits, one thing marijuana apparently does not do is inform people of the substantive differences in the words 'they're,' 'their,' and 'there.'
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs "pot" a scientific term then?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishotblack.. does your/you're/yeir question really add anything?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe seed of the first plant cultivated by humans - grown by Presidents George Washington & Thomas Jefferson and consumed by Presidents Clinton & Obama - has the most perfect, balanced nutrition for human beings. It grows faster than any weed, so it requires no pesticides: Monsanto hates this. And, it has hundreds of practical uses, aside from curing dozens of diseases, including cancer: Captains of Industry and so-called Medicine hate this even more because consumers could grow their own medicine. One seventh of our economy goes to healthcare! Dick Nixon buried the findings of the Shafer Commission, which recommended decriminalization. So, it is still federally illegal for anyone to produce, sell, or consume raw Indian hemp in any form. Congress has no rational basis for prohibiting this useful, non-toxic, nutritional plant which has been used in Eastern and Western pharmacopeia for thousands of years. Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health, silently endorses the originally-temporary classification as a Schedule I Controlled Substance with "no medical value." If "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" doesn't include cultivating cannabis like our Founding Fathers, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp on which it was written! Currently, it's legal for medical use in 13 states...and counting. Reschedule it!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1. I don't smoke pot or anything else for that matter perfectly fine for others however.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this2. MikeinMain summed it up exactly. What a complete waste.
3. If I could write without mistakes, I'd have no need for an editor and she'd be partly out of a job.
Cheers.
1. I don't smoke pot or anything else for that matter – perfectly fine for others however.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this2. MikeinMain summed it up exactly. What a complete waste.
3. If I could write without mistakes, I'd have no need for an editor and she'd be partly out of a job.
Cheers.
Cannabis is certainly a remarkable plant. Just run a search on "Granny Storm Crow's list- July 2009" for links to hundreds of medical studies and articles about its uses. (No "High Times" articles, incidentally. I prefer PubMed and MedScape, as my sources) Please take the time to educate yourself about this amazing healing herb!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust for the record, there were 2 medications in production to combat obesity, rimonabant (which had already been in use in Europe, but since pulled off the market,) and taranabant. Both of these medications are synthetic cannabinoid blockers. Unfortunately they had many dangerous side effects. There is probably alot of work needed before any real help is available to combat obesity through the endocannabinoid system.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt seems so, using the non-scientific vernacular, but equally descriptive to those not familiar with the formal terminology.
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