Every consumable item contains calories and cannabis is no different. While cannabis doesn’t contribute to your caloric intake when you smoke or vape it, eating cannabis-infused edibles does.
But not to worry as sticking to a balanced cannabis routine along with a nutritious diet, exercise, and proper sleep may ensure that its lovers enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Also as a weed enthusiast, you need to have a deep knowledge about it so that you have more clarity and can take practical steps to incorporate cannabis into your wellness journey.
What is the Calorie Content of Cannabis?
Cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, contains a minimal amount (about 2 calories for every gram) of calories. So naturally, 100 grams of cannabis will have about 200 calories.
However, as most people don’t consume raw weed but through smoking and vaping, they don’t consume calories in significant quantities.
On the other hand, cannabis-infused gummies, brownies, and cookies can have large amounts of calories as they also contain other ingredients such as butter, sugar, or flour.
So, the overall calorie contribution of cannabis when taken alone is negligible as compared to when it is consumed in an edible.
Does Smoking Weed Have Calories?
No, calories in weed are negligible if you smoke it as it does not involve ingesting the plant as it is and introduce calories into your system.
Although it can increase appetite and make a person eat more, thereby increasing his/her weight and could also introduce harmful substances when mixed with tobacco or other additives.
Anyway, research shows that smoking marijuana boosts metabolic rates, which causes the body to burn more calories and ultimately lets the users have lower body mass indexes.
So if you want to lower or maintain your caloric intake, smoking cannabis in moderation can be the way to go.
But you should always keep in mind that although smoking weed doesn’t contribute to your caloric intake, the dietary and lifestyle habits that come with it can affect an individual’s overall calorie intake.
How Many Calories Does Weed Have?
Weed contains negligible amounts of calories when consumed in its raw, unprocessed form. However as nobody consumes it that way, the caloric value is not significant in practical terms.
Weed calories come into the picture in the case of weed-infused edibles as they contain other ingredients also such as fats, sugars, and flours that make them high in caloric content.
However, to counter this, you can go for sugar-free or vegan weed edible options that are lower in marijuana calories and may be healthier than traditional weed treats. So, always make sure to check your weed product’s nutrition label before buying and consuming it.
What Are the Methods of Consumption Affect Calories from Cannabis?
Here are some popular ways to consume cannabis and the amount of calories that may come with them:
Calories from Smoking Weed
Smoking weed involves inhaling the smoke from the raw cannabis plant, directly into the lungs, which then enters the bloodstream.
While even the raw cannabis flower contains very few calories when eaten, smoking it does not contribute to your calories at all. So, smoking and vaping weed are two calorie-free ways to consume cannabis.
Calories from Vaping Weed
Vaping cannabis also does not introduce calories into the equation as vaping involves heating the cannabis flower or concentrated extracts to release the active compounds without combustion.
But the users must be cautious as it may increase the cravings or appetite making them eat more and consume more calories eventually.
Tinctures
Cannabis tinctures are alcohol & oil-based liquid cannabis extracts that are usually taken under the tongue (sublingually) or mixed with food & drinks.
While the calorie intake from cannabis tinctures is minimal as compared to edibles as they don’t have any added ingredients and are designed for efficient absorption, calories are still there and must be kept in mind, especially if consumed in large quantities.
Calories in Edibles
A lot of people prefer weed edibles such as cookies, brownies, gummies, etc. as they taste great and offer unique effects to the user.
However, they also have a drawback for the enthusiasts who are conscious of their diets and their calorie intake as weed edibles have higher edibles calories due to the presence of butter, sugar, and flour.
So, it all depends on personal suitability and choosing your weed consumption method accordingly. Also don’t forget to read your weed product’s nutritional label to get a better idea of its calorie content.
Topicals
Weed topicals such as balms, creams, and lotions, are made for external use and are applied directly to the skin. They do not enter the blood or digestive system, so they don’t affect the calorie intake in any way.
Weed topicals are mainly used for targeted relief of pain or inflammation and do not harm overall dietary habits.
Calories from Eating Weed
Raw cannabis flower contains very few calories so it won’t contribute much to your calorie intake if eaten directly. However, as mentioned above, consuming cannabis-infused edibles can boost calorie intake by a significant margin.
Calories from Transdermals
Transdermal cannabis products such as patches are applied to the skin for absorption and do not contain additional calories. Just like daily multivitamins, they are designed to help with nutrition.
Conclusion
Having a good knowledge of the calorie content of cannabis is important to be able to integrate it into your lifestyle effectively.
And by now you know that it’s extremely low and what amount of calories you are taking in through cannabis depends on its consumption method.
So finally by trying out different cannabis consumption methods, types, and lifestyle habits, users can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis while also supporting their dietary goals.
FAQs
Does Smoking Weed Help Burn Calories?
While smoking weed may increase metabolism and heart rate temporarily, smoking does not burn calories on its own. However, studies have found that smoking weed may lead to a decrease in BMI.
Does weed have protein?
No, weed doesn’t contain any significant levels of protein. However, a 30-gram serving of raw hemp seeds contains about 10 grams of protein and 166 calories.
Does weed make you gain weight?
Although weed doesn’t increase your weight directly, it may lead to increased food intake, ultimately contributing to weight gain. However, an individual usually gains weight due to poor metabolism, unhealthy dietary choices, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Does weed have carbs?
Yes, weed has carbs but in minimal amounts and mainly from its fiber content. However, when weed is consumed through edibles, the carb content depends on the other ingredients in the product/recipe.
Does smoking weed help with weight loss?
Yes, some studies have found that smoking weed helps lower body weight, lower BMI, and lower waist circumferences.
On top of that, smoking weed may increase metabolic rates and lower insulin resistance, which could aid in weight loss when done along with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.