In today’s world of growing health consciousness, an ever-increasing number of people actively seek to preserve their wellbeing. A lot of people want to live longer, healthier lives, which includes monitoring their diets and engaging in regular exercise. And who is to blame for them? However, maintaining a healthy weight is essential to a long life. If you’re considering using marijuana to maintain your health, you should speak with an online marijuana doctor who can assist you and provide guidance on how to use the drug safely.
Research has shown that people who maintain a healthy diet generally have longer lifespans and are less prone to major health issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. In addition to improving the way that people with chronic illnesses manage their conditions, a balanced diet can reduce the risk of new problems arising.
Most people are aware, of course, that drinking alcohol often causes weight gain. And it makes sense to inquire, “Does marijuana have calories?” given the increasing social and cultural acceptance of cannabis use.
Does Cannabis have Calories?
In conclusion, raw cannabis plant material does contain calories, albeit in trace amounts. However, there’s a significant distinction between unprocessed plant material and edibles and drinks that have been infused with cannabis.
The raw cannabis flower itself has very few calories. Since the bulk of the plant is composed of fibrous matter, consuming it would only provide a small quantity of calories. Keep in mind that this word “ingesting” refers to truly eating the plant material; smoking cannabis does not add any calories. In actuality, eating a lot of fiber has been linked to weight loss.
However, products like drinks and edibles that have been infused with cannabis may contain a significant number of calories. To improve flavor and potency, these products are frequently formulated with extra ingredients like sugars, fats, and oils. Therefore, depending on the type of product and its ingredients, ingesting a lot of edibles or drinks infused with cannabis may result in a significant increase in caloric intake.
Nevertheless, the calorie count of cannabis-infused products can vary significantly, much like that of any other food or beverage. Therefore, if you want to enjoy cannabis while watching your calorie intake, you’ll need to be aware of portion sizes and carefully read product labels to understand the nutritional information and calorie content.
Does the consumption method impact cannabis calorie intake?
Yes, the way that cannabis is consumed can have an impact on its caloric content. Let us briefly go over some common cannabis consumption practices and their potential effects on weight:
- Calorie Intake from Smoking Cannabis
Smoking cannabis typically involves inhaling smoke from the raw plant, sometimes referred to as the “bud.” Smoking anything eliminates all calorie content, including cannabis and cigarettes, even though eating raw cannabis flowers has very little nutritional value. Therefore, smoking cannabis does not provide any calories.
- Calorie Intake from Vaping Cannabis
Vapers can release the active ingredients of cannabis flowers or concentrated extracts without burning them by heating them. Vaping cannabis does not result in the consumption of additional calories, much like smoking does.
Smoking and vaping may not directly increase caloric intake, but cannabis users may experience an indirect effect if they eat more after becoming high due to the increased appetite or cravings caused by the drug (also known as the “munchies”).
- Calorie Intake from Edible Cannabis
Things start to get interesting at this point. Raw cannabis flowers are low in calories. However, consuming cannabis-infused edibles like brownies or gummies can increase caloric intake significantly. By definition, edibles are likely to contain extra ingredients like sugars, oils, or fats, which increases the number of calories in total. In addition, everything you eat contains calories (the only food that is calorie-free is water).
- Calorie Intake from Sublingual Cannabis
Cannabis-infused sublingual products are absorbed under the tongue. These products, such as tinctures and sprays, usually have very few calories because they are designed to be absorbed efficiently without the need for extra ingredients. Since they are eaten similarly to food, they will contain some.
- Calorie Intake from Transdermal Cannabis
Transdermal products are cannabis products that are applied topically, like creams or patches. Transdermal options have a few extra calories, but typically not many more than sublingual products. Certain transdermal patches are even meant to aid with nutrition, just like conventional multivitamins.
Keep in mind that in order to legally obtain marijuana for medical purposes while residing in West Virginia, you must obtain a WV medical marijuana card online. This will protect you from any legal consequences and you can enjoy the benefits of medical marijuana freely.
Calorie Content in Cannabis Edibles
Edibles have unique effects in addition to taste, which makes them a popular choice for many. For cannabis users who are mindful of their diets and want to cut back on calories, this poses a challenge.
When consuming edibles, there are a few things to keep in mind. You are perfectly entitled to have both your cake and eat it.
First and foremost, the additional ingredients—such as sugars, fats, and oils—that are used in the preparation of edibles have a significant impact on their calorie content. The total calorie content of the edible is also influenced by its potency and serving size. Generally speaking, the more ingredients there are, the more calories there are.
Second, compared to other edibles, some varieties typically contain fewer calories. For example, products like oils, lozenges, mints, and microdose candies are made with fewer calories and are frequently intended to deliver lower dosages of cannabis. Typically, these edibles have fewer extra ingredients, which reduces the total number of calories.
On the other hand, because sugars, oils, and other ingredients are used to improve flavor and texture, baked foods like brownies, cookies, and cakes may contain more calories. Edibles with chocolate as the main ingredient and those with fillings or nuts added may also contain more calories.
Therefore, consumers should think about potency and serving size when selecting edibles. To find out the recommended serving size and related calorie content, always read the labels on products. When it comes to high-calorie foods like brownies or cookies, portion control is crucial for calorie control. You can now have your cake and eat it too, thanks to this.
