Does Weed Have Calories?
With the emerging trend of overall well-being, people have become more conscious about their health. They track everything they eat to count their calorie intake in a day. To support their wellness regimen (or just to unwind!), people integrate weed or marijuana into their daily lives. But they are often left wondering: Does weed contain any calories?
The amount of calories in weed varies as per the consumption method you choose. Consuming weed via smoking and vaping is calorie-free, while consuming weed edibles like gummies and candies comes with the cost of calories.
This comprehensive guide will discuss how different ingestion methods affect weed calories, allowing you to choose the right consumption method that fits your goal.
Does Weed Have Calories?
Weed comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant, which contains no to minimal calories. The calories become relevant when edible products are infused with cannabis.
If you are consuming weed through smoking and vaping, you won’t have to worry about calorie content as it is entirely eliminated. The equation changes when it comes to consuming weed edibles.
When weed is added to edible products like candies, gummies, chocolate, brownies, and so on, calories enter the picture. These things contain ingredients like sugar, oil, and flour, which add to their calorie content. Thus, calories are mainly from these ingredients and not from marijuana.
Calorie Content by Consumption Method
The calorie content of weed changes according to the consumption method. Here are different consumption methods for weed that will allow you to keep track of your calories:
Calories from Smoking Weed
When it comes to smoking weed, you do not have to worry about calories as it results in adding zero calories to your intake. During smoking, users consume cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), which are calories-free.
Calories from Vaping Weed
Just like smoking, vaping weed also does not contribute to calorie intake. It involves heating the cannabinoid extracts just enough to consume them and avail potential benefits. However, many people have experienced an immediate urge to eat after smoking or vaping weed, which may increase the calorie meter.
Calories from Sublingual
Cannabis-infused sublingual products like tinctures and sprays contain minimal calories. They are placed directly under the tongue for absorption and do not contain any added ingredients, resulting in next to no calories.
Calories in Edibles
This is where the tables turn. Every time we eat, we consume calories. Weed-infused edibles like brownies and cookies contain many other ingredients apart from cannabis extract contributing to their calorie content.
If you are on a diet, you have to monitor your cravings for weed edibles, as weed brownies and gummies may contain approximately 20 calories per piece, while weed chocolates may have 28 calories.
How Marijuana Affects Caloric Intake: Smoking vs. Edibles
Smoking and vaping marijuana does not result in calorie consumption. The calories come to light when marijuana is mixed with edibles.
When you eat marijuana-infused edibles like cookies, gummies, or even mix marijuana powder in your choice of beverage, you consume calories. The calories are not from the marijuana but from other ingredients in the edible.
So, the answer to the question: Does marijuana have calories? Depends on whether you are smoking it or using it in edible cannabis products.
Does weed make you gain weight?
Limited research on the topic shows that weed products containing THC interact with the brain’s endocannabinoid system, stimulating appetite. This effect is known as “the munchies.”
The appetite increases after having weed in any form, potentially leading to an increase in weight. However, multiple factors other than weed consumption contribute to weight gain, including metabolism level, dietary choices and day-to-day lifestyle.
Conclusion: Cannabis and Calories
To conclude, cannabis itself does not have any calories. The calories affiliated with cannabis depend on its consumption. Smoking or vaping weed products do not contribute to calorie intake.
However, cannabis-infused edibles like chocolate, brownies, candies and gummies contain added ingredients like flour, sugar, and oil that contribute to calories. When tracking calories, know the calorific content in these products to make a healthy and informed decision.
Therefore, choosing the right consumption method is significant for tracking calorie intake when consuming weed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories does weed have?
Weed plant has zero calories. The amount of calories in weed depends on its form. Consuming weed via smoking and vaping results in zero-calorie consumption. On the other hand, consuming weed-blended edibles like chocolates, cookies and gummies results in calorie consumption.
Can cannabis help with weight loss?
The relationship between cannabis and weight loss is a grey area as of now. While some research favors cannabis for weight loss, others disagree with it. Research has shown that cannabis may help in a potential decline in Body Mass Index (BMI).
Does vaping weed add calories?
No, vaping weed does not add any calories. Since vaping is the process of heating cannabinoids to ingest them, which are calorie-free, it adds zero calories to daily caloric intake.
Does smoking weed cause acne?
There is no direct relationship between smoking weed and acne. However, it can indirectly contribute to acne as it may lead to hormonal disbalance and increased sebum production, resulting in acne. Various other factors, like an unhealthy lifestyle, also result in acne.
What cannabis product contains the most calories?
Among cannabis products, edibles are the ones containing the most calories. Edible blended with cannabis, like brownies, cookies and chocolate, contain calories. The calorie content depends on the added ingredients in the edibles.