Home Marijuana Effects How to avoid munchies while high? 7 Helpful Tips & 9 healthy Munchies

Why Marijuana Gives You the Munchies and What to Do About It?

By Ayad Maher.

How to avoid munchies while high? How to stop the munchies? I've had this problem before, every time I stop at the grocery store, I know I want to get prepared for the munchies, and I end up getting Froot Loops. They used to be my favorite munchies, they still are, but I simply stopped buying them. The most guaranteed way of keeping a distance from your favorite junk foods that are high in empty calories is to not buy them. But there still no guarantees that you will stay away from them. Especially if you were stoned. Oh! The stoner life!

In this piece, I will touch on the following issues:

Why we get munchies after smoking weed? How to Stop Weed Munchies? 7 Helpful Ways to Avoid Unhealthy Munchies! 9 Healthy Munchies for Your High

Here is the 'pickle' - it's around six o' clock in the evening. It's about the time I start chilling and smoke weed, taking a hit or two. Ten minutes later, you will find me attacking my fridge trying to find something satisfying to indulge in - The good news, I usually find something delicious - the bad news, they’re all my roommate's.

Now, in this case, what would you do? You will have two options; you're either go ahead and eat his cereal, or the slice of pizza from last night. Hoping you will remember to replace it later, or you will have to drive all the way to Safeway just, for one thing, the fluffing munchies! So if you were asking yourself how to not get the munchies, I'm sorry to say that there is no way around it

I have this love-hate relationship with this occurring trend. On one hand, it's all extra calories and bad calories that you absolutely don't need in your life. On the other hand, they taste so fucking good. Also, these junk release endorphin, not because they are beneficial for your body, but because your taste buds trigger synapses that make your mind release a happy chemical in your brain. Making you enjoy the sugary fix but it will only be temporary until your stomach begins to digest it and you don't feel so hot.

I told you, it's a 'pickle' of a situation.

What I usually do with my 'roommate situation' is irrelevant, the point I'm trying to get at is: why do we crave the munchies when we smoke weed? Then I'm going to supply some very helpful tricks that I, myself, have performed to ensure staying far away from the unhealthy and unwanted munchies.

Now... Why we get munchies after smoking weed?

Pot takes you back, in a certain sense, and enhance it. Take you into your soul and mind, into the present, the future, and the past. It pushes your mind in absolutely every type of direction, and that include craving your favorite snacks.

From more scientific prospective, however, scientists believe that the psychoactive component of marijuana, THC, causes the 'munchies' effect. THC is a natural chemical that interacts with specific brain receptors called cannabinoids. Right now, we are specifically talking about a particular type of receptor called CB1. In a nutshell, CB1 is the psychoactive receptor in your brain. Check our blog post about THC and CBD, and the Entourage Effect.

The chemical THC only responds with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your brain. These receptors are known to influence the central nervous system and related organs. Which is basically why you feel certain effects from certain strains. It also lowers your blood sugar levels so you generally go for sugar-treats.

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This is crazy, once you smoke weed, and once this unique interaction specifically between THC and the CB1 receptor will intensify your sense of smell and taste and commence the food craving effect. A 2014 research on mice was performed by NatureResearch. The results showed that an increase of the levels of THC in a rodent can make it hungry, enhance its sense of smell, and eventually gave them what so called "the munchies."

An additional study was conducted by the same research company in 2015. Which has proven that the set of neurons located in your hypothalamus named as POMC's are solely responsible for an increase in appetite or something we call the 'munchies'.

You might be wondering: is there a way around the Munchies?

How to stop weed munchies ?

7 Helpful Ways to Avoid Unhealthy Munchies!

Don't get me wrong, munching on some scrumptious delights is always tempting. Sometimes, I even save my appetite until I get high so I can enjoy food more intensely. But if you were, like me, self-conscious about your weight and you want to make sure that your marijuana lifestyle won't affect you in a negative way, you’d want to do something about it. Smoking weed on regular bases can be destructive if you don't use it responsibly, and the munchies are one of the side effects of smoking weed that you need to be mindful about.

Well, my stoner friend, there are few tricks you can implement so you'd be able to avoid overeating. To implement these tips and tricks into your daily life will require both, dedication and patience for a better well-being.

1. Organize your meals, snacks and the portions

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Avoid munchies when high. Be conscious about when and what you eat. Also, don't eat on an empty stomach, it will increase your chances of indulging. Additionally snacking throughout the day is better for you than constricting your eating to three meals a day. Healthy snacking improves overall hunger satisfaction throughout the day.

2. Make sure to pre-plan your activities

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before you start your smoking session. Whether it's going for a hike, hanging out with friends, watching TV, or even daydreaming. Find the activity you enjoy while you high (and trust me you will enjoy any activity when you're high) - But don't smoke and then you're like "now what" - because the first thing you will do is going to your fridge and look into your roommate's junk food. (I've been there, I've done that).

Also, it's a good idea to try to train your brain away from the trend of eating when you are bored or when there is nothing else to do. See, the beauty of getting high is that you can be pretty focused on one thing and only one thing. You are still capable of switching your focus on to something else. It’s a bit difficult, but it’s doable. Once you do that, you're on the right path to a healthier stoner lifestyle. You will find yourself rather enjoying a creative or athletic hobby and forgetting your cravings for potato chips or ice cream.

Let me elaborate a little bit because this is important to be aware of. When you're high, you will have a limited short-term memory capacity. It may sound like a negative thing, but you can use this for your own benefit. First off, it can be great for focusing (increased attention span), because you will simply get engrossed in something and do it for a while without realizing how long you've been doing it, thus keeping you away from the thoughts of deliciously junk foods.

3. Try to take the taste out of your mouth

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Have you brushed your teeth when you're high? It has this satisfying feeling and it will take your mind away from your munchies dream. After brushing your teeth or using a mouthwash, the feel the freshness in your mouth will prevent you from wanting anything may ruin the awesome feel. The mintiness of the toothpaste has also proven to curve your overall appetite.

4. Make sure not to have unhealthy munchies around

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Avoid buying and keeping any type of junk food at your place. Between McDonald's and Subway, choose Subway. Buy fruits, vegetables. They can be good munchies, and when you're high, trust me, you will appreciate everything the same way, even it was carrots or lettuce. Think of your favorite food, mine is ice cream, dairy products from cattle are not meant for human consumption thus 'lactose intolerance' is becoming and growing condition. I could never survive without ice cream so I replaced it with a healthier version made from coconut milk.

Related article: Healthy munchies for stoners.

Apply that process to all of your favorite foods that you just simply cannot do without. Tea, coffee, soda water (flavored or unflavored), or Zero-carb protein shake can be a great replacement. Keeping yourself hydrated will help to decrease your appetite as well.

5. Different strains may give you different experiences

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Ask your budtender. At your local medical or recreational dispensaries, they usually have a list of all the effects each strain may give you, including "increasing appetite" or the craving for munchies - or you can look any strain you're interested in online. List of best strains you can find it here: Can Cannabis Help You Lose Weight and Stay Healthy.

It's also fun to try different strains and discover different high experiences. Just be adventurous.There are no limitations when referring to Marijuana, you can be as mellow as you want or as wild as you want.

6. Exercise

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So you won't feel the guilt and shame of sitting on your couch, smoking weed and eat munchies, this leftover pizza from last night. Do it so you can justify your beloved lifestyle. Have you worked out high, damn it's the best feel every!

It is the 21st Century and methods of exercising have evolved to be more enjoyable while burning just as many if not more calories than at the gym.

You are not required to put in a lot of effort either, we know the main reason people smoke Marijuana is to relax and unwind but that doesn't necessarily mean lazy. Do simple productive tasks like cleaning the house, taking your dog for a walk, leisurely swimming in the pool are a few of the much relaxing yet productive for your overall well-being.

7. Finally, use chopsticks!

Finally, if you're a fast eater, like myself, especially when it comes to munchies, try to use chopsticks. It will slow down your munchies eating process, and eventually you will be a professional chopstick-champion. Eating with chopsticks allows you to:

Enjoy the look off your food

Properly chew and enjoy the meal

Become an expert to use chopsticks

Lastly, none munchies related, Chopsticks can be used to aligning the weed in your joints/spliffs/blunts etc. for a neatly packed finish.

9 Healthy Munchies for your high

Here are few ideas for you:

Water, it's not a "munchie" per se, but it can kill your cravings Make your own cereal, trail mix of type of nuts you like, granola, and milk. If you want to sweeten it up, add some raisins (don't add any sugar). Carrots and hummus Cucumbers and tomatoes cut up with just salt and pepper Jajeek! Yogart + cut up cucumbers and garlic. Granola + yogurt + fruit Pickles; cheap, briny, watery, vinegary, crunchy, low-calorie, a universe of flavor and texture in every bite. Pistachios Fruits in general can be great munchies. I know it doesn't sound as appealing as a donuts or tacos, but once you get yourself into eating a peach or an orange, you will feel so satisfied. My favorites are:

Peach, obviously.



Grapes or frozen grapes.



Citrus



Strawberries



Watermelon

Conclusion

Break the stereotypes of stoners being lazy, watching TV and eating munchies all the time. We are capable of many things as people no matter if we are blazed out of our minds or absolutely sober. If anything we are more resourceful humans for being able to work responsibly under the influence of Miss Mary Jane.

Check the video out and let me know what you think down in the comment.

Also, if you have any creative healthy munchies ideas, please don't be cheap. Share them blow in the comment section.

Stay toasty my friends...

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Ayad Maher is a Cannabis Industry Entrepreneur, Blogger & Activist. eCommerce Specialist and Owner of a 420 Life Style Website; Monroe Blvd, an online smoke shop; 421Store, and an online CBD store; GoodyCBD.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in March 2017 and has been revamped and updated as needed for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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