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CBD and Sugar Cravings: Can CBD Help with Sugar Addiction?

August 02, 2023 3 min read

CBD and Sugar Cravings: Can CBD Help with Sugar Addiction?

Do you crave something sweet the minute you wake up? Or how about after each meal? Or every second of the day?

If you answered “Yes” to one or all those questions, then it’s safe to say that you have some hardcore sugar cravings.

In fact, you might even be addicted to sugar.

Now, don’t stress out. Sugar cravings are a lot more common than you might think. According to the Addiction Center, “Approximately 75% of Americans eat excess amounts of sugar –– many of whom could be classified as having a sugar addiction [¹].”

And it makes sense. Studies show that sugar releases dopamine in the brain, thus causing us to feel good. Scientists refer to it as the reward system. You eat sugary treats and then boom, you’re rewarded with a positive feeling [²].

But there’s a caveat to eating too much sugar: It can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.

So, how can you curb your sugar cravings?

Some people suggest that CBD might help. While it’s not 100% proven, the research surrounding CBD and sugar addition is complying.

Let’s first look at…

Sugar Cravings: What is it?

Sugar cravings, which can also mean sugar addiction, occurs when you’ve developed a dependence on sugary foods and drinks.

Now, not everyone is addicted to sugar. However, a lot of people struggle with sugar cravings and don’t even know it [¹].

For example, sugar cravings are simply when you have an overwhelming craving for something sweet and sugary. They can occur the minute you wake up, during an afternoon slump, when you’re stressed out, sad, happy, etc.

The issue is that overconsuming sugary foods and drinks can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and a number of other ailments [³,].

So, how can you curb those hardcore sugar cravings?

Well, let’s take a look at how CBD can help…

CBD and Sugar Cravings

Research shows that our body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) plays a very important role at maintaining balance throughout our body. It also helps regulate our metabolism, which is very vital for people with diabetes [,].

In fact, scientists have suggested that “the Endocannabinoid System sets the sensitivity of the insulin response in adipocytes.” Which means, our ECS helps regulate and maintain how our body responds to insulin [].

Now, it’s unclear whether CBD oil has an effect on blood sugar, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it does in some people.

Let’s take a look at…

CBD and Diabetes

According to research, CBD was shown to moderate blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance for participants with Type 2 Diabetes who were not taking insulin. However, more research is needed to confirm these results []. 

Keep in mind that if you do have Diabetes, it’s important that you speak with your doctor before you start consuming CBD. Especially if you’re taking any prescription drugs.

While the evidence of CBD and blood sugar is minimal, there is some evidence surrounding…  

CBD and Addiction

As it turns out, CBD has been shown to help reduce cravings in people who struggle with tobacco, heroin, and even alcohol [].

There is also supporting evidence that CBD helps with anxiety, which can often contribute to overwhelming cravings for certain substances [¹⁰].

So naturally, these results show some promise when it comes to sugar cravings. But again, more research is needed.

Final Thoughts on CBD and Sugar

Since our ECS plays such an important role in maintaining balance throughout our body, it’s not surprising that you’d be curious to try CBD.

After all, CBD has been shown to influence and interact with our ECS in some amazing ways.

If you do decide to give CBD a try for your sugar cravings, be sure to only consume high quality CBD from reputable hemp brands. As always, feel free to reach out to our Leaf Remedys team for any questions you might have. We’re happy to help!

Sources:

  1. Addiction Center: Sugar Addiction
  2. Dailybingeing on sugar repeatedly releases dopamine in the accumbens shell
  3. Harvard: The Nutrition Source Sugary Drinks
  4. Harvard Health Publishing: The sweet danger of sugar
  5. NIH: An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system
  6. NIH: Role of the endocannabinoid system in diabetes and diabetic complications
  7. NIH: The CB1 endocannabinoid system modulates adipocyte insulin sensitivity
  8. Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Pilot Study
  9. Cannabidiol for the Reduction of Cue-Induced Craving and Anxiety in Drug-Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
  10. NIH: Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders