We’ve all heard of the munchies. Depending on how you look at it they’re either a blessing or a curse, however, did you know that different marijuana strains can actually influence your hunger in different ways?
This includes sativa, one of the most popular strains that people will pick up from dispensaries which is often labeled as a “stimulant” that can help boost our energy and overall mood, but how much does it affect our appetite? Keep reading to find out more.
Will Sativa Make You Hungry?
When compared to indica, sativa is often described as being “cerebral”, meaning it will give you more of a head and mind high as opposed to affecting the body, which is why a lot of people will often use it to inspire some creativity when they are coming up with ideas for music or writing for example (see also “How To Boost Your High“).
Because of this, when people relate cannabis and hunger, they are usually referring to indica, not sativa, since it contains higher levels of THCV which actually suppresses the appetite while granting energy-boosting properties.
Sativa strains will therefore keep you zoned in and focused by actually making us feel less hungry than you would otherwise, which is why it is always important to keep a few snacks around you or put some food in the oven before you smoke it so that you don’t forget to eat for the rest of the day.
What About Sativa Edibles?
While it will often take a lot longer for the effects of an edible to kick in as opposed to smoking, the feeling tends to be much more potent and noticeable, and this includes sativa edibles which can elevate a person’s mood tremendously, granting them feelings of euphoria and joy with a strong sense of creativity.
However, as with any strain, you’re going to feel the unique effects of sativa the more of it that you consume, so while you won’t feel very hungry smoking a joint of sativa, you’ll have so much energy and creative ideas that you may forget about eating for a little while entirely after taking a sativa edible, which can make them ideal if you are someone who eats a lot while procrastinating or while stressed when you have something to be getting on with.
Does Sativa Make You Thirsty?
In comparison to indica strains which tend to be higher in CBD levels (see also “Best CBD Coffee“), sativa has a much higher THC content, which is not only the part of the plant which makes you feel high, but scientists have also found that it is what causes people to get “cottonmouth” which is when your mouth is dry and you feel the urge to drink any liquid lying around you.
THC is very similar to anandamide, an endocannabinoid that has been known to affect the salivary glands which keep our mouth feeling dry.
THC therefore acts in exactly the same way by decreasing our production of saliva and making us more thirsty in the process, so if you are planning to smoke or consume an indica strain, make sure to have a cold bottle of water next to you so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Why Does Indica Make You Hungry?
Rather than being high in THCV like sativa, indica instead is extremely rich in CBD which relaxes the muscles and the mind while also tricking our mind into thinking that we’re hungry, even when we might not be.
While this can obviously be a huge downside since it can make it easy to over-eat and put on some pounds when you weren’t intending to, it has also been used to treat people who may be struggling with eating disorders or who need to eat more as part of an exercise routine to put on more muscle.
Food And Drink That Can Enhance Your High
If you do start hearing your stomach grumble while high, rather than sticking with your go-to snacks, why not try out a few different and more unique foods that will blow your tastebuds away while also making the high last a lot longer?
Mangoes are one of the most popular foods people will snack on after, or before they’ve smoked, and this isn’t only because of their juicy flavor that explodes in the mouth with every bite, but also because they contain myrcene and terpenes, which can also be found in cannabis.
Once you consume the mango, the terpenes will enter the bloodstream and begin interacting with the THC, not only elevating your high, but also making it last a lot longer than it would normally.
Broccoli also contains terpenes which can help to enhance the relaxing feeling of the high while also making it last longer.
Nuts are another food that can make the effects of marijuana a lot more noticeable, not because they contain any terpenes, but because they have fatty acids which become attached to the cannabinoids, allowing you to feel the effects much quicker.
In terms of what you can drink to make the effects more potent, tea of any kind is a good choice since it is packed full of antioxidants which mix with the CBD content of the marijuana to help you feel even more relaxed for an extended period.
It’s also very common for people to start feeling tired or at least a little drowsy after smoking a strain or eating an edible, which can end up wasting the experience.
Coffee is therefore another good option to drink since it is full of antioxidants, but also contains caffeine which can help you feel a little more alert and awake so that you can enjoy the relaxing effects for longer.
Summary
If you’re looking for a strain that will help you feel focused and increase your creativity rather than constantly having food on your mind, sativa is the much better option due to its much higher THCV levels which will suppress your appetite, but may still leave you with cottonmouth, so make sure to have a drink beside you at all times.
Hi, I’m Zack Finch and I work as a Budtender for a Health & Wellness center here, in sunny California. I have been using marijuana recreationally for around 6 years now, and have many a time enjoyed the benefit that weed has to offer.
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