Does Eating Food Make You Less High?

When we’re hungry, our body lets us know. Our brains receive specific signals, including stomach growls and hunger pains. These are elements of the hypothalamus, an area of the brain responsible for:

• Controlling hunger
• Emptiness of stomach and intestines
• Glucose levels

Hunger sensations are normal. And when you do eat, feelings of fullness indicate your body is satisfied.

An appetite works a bit differently. They’re stimulated by various senses, including vision, smell, and thought. The biggest difference is appetites can occur even when you’re already full.

It’s no secret cannabis consumption will leave you with the munchies (the desire to eat). This process has to do with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Chemical compounds found in cannabis (known as cannabinoids) largely replicate those found within our bodies (known as endocannabinoids). The most notable of these cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the chemical that produces a “high” in marijuana.

THC stimulates our ghrelin hormone, which is responsible for hungry sensations. This hormone naturally sends messages to our brain when we’re hungry. However, it also sends these messages when we’re under the influence of marijuana – even if we’re full.

On top of this, cannabis consumption will enhance the olfactory bulb (the part of our brain responsible for smell). In other words, food will smell better when you’re high and increase your appetite.

Luckily, these processes occur as THC speeds up your metabolism. Therefore, this extra eating usually doesn’t cause significant weight gain.

Most people will tell you to eat after cannabis consumption because the food will naturally taste better. However, this can affect your high.

The effects food has on cannabis’s psychoactivity are dependent on what the food is made of. For example, food that’s rich in omega-3s will increase absorption rates of THC – therefore, decreasing your high.

To help you better understand the difference, here are some pros to consuming food before or after cannabis consumption:

If you’re looking to increase THC’s effects on the brain and body, keep the following foods in mind:

• Broccoli
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Kombucha
• Mango
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tea

A 2019 study reveals that in most cases, eating before consuming cannabis will impact absorption, leading to limitations on its effects and duration. This same study also found that fasting allowed for quicker cannabis consumption, but with reduced effects.

Unfortunately, we don’t have enough research to pinpoint food’s impact on cannabinoids. We do know that high-fat foods will delay onset (when eaten beforehand), but increase the effects. We also know that your body weight and general diet play a major role in how cannabis is absorbed.

Still, the effects of cannabis are less determined by what you eat than by the strain of marijuana you are consuming. Not to mention, how much you’re consuming.

It’s best not to think too much about how food consumption plays a role in cannabis’s effects. If you’re hungry, you should eat regardless of whether or not you’re about to get high.

It may help to eat before consuming cannabis. This can alleviate some of the adverse effects of THC, including lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches.

On the other hand, if you want to boost your metabolism, it may help to eat after marijuana consumption.

Ultimately, it all comes down to your personal preferences. Experiment around with food and cannabis to figure out what’s right for you. And don’t think about the high too much, think about your body.