The Nutritional Benefits of Raw Cannabis

Cannabis has continued to grow in popularity exponentially since it was legalized in 2018 and can be found in just about every market from the beauty industry to government-run dispensaries. This big comeback has renewed interest in research which has led to some amazing discoveries about this groovy, green medication. Naturally, most people instantly think of dried, resinous cannabis buds rather than fresh leaves and seeds but with more access to plants in recent years, this may quickly change. Now may be the time to stop thinking of marijuana solely as a medicine but also as a plant-based superfood.

The Health Benefits

New studies have shown that raw cannabis leaves, flowers, and seeds provide almost every nutrient that the human body needs. It’s packed with carbohydrates, fat, water, minerals, fatty acids, fibre, vitamins, calcium, protein, and potassium. I’m not just talking about trace amounts either, many now consider it to be one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. On top of this, when fresh it holds on to most of its terpenes which not only give it taste and flavour but also acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungal.

Terpenes: All plants contain terpenes which are aromatic essential oils. They give each plant and herb their recognizable aroma and taste while supplying medicinal benefits. Different strains will contain different terpenes which bring their own set of healing powers.

Chlorophyll: Is responsible for the bright green colour that pigments all leafy plants. This term may have been something that you learned about in middle school science classes but one thing you may not have known is that it has abundant health benefits. It’s effective at preventing DNA damage, treating inflammation, and may even be able to prevent certain types of cancer.

THCA: Before cannabis is exposed to heat it contains phytocannabinoid-derived acids which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiemetic properties with none of the intoxicating effects that make you feel “high”. In terms of reducing nausea, it’s believed that THCA may be more potent than its active form THC and can treat vomiting more effectively.

CBDA: This is the cannabinoid acid in raw cannabis that is converted into CBD. It has many of the same properties as its counterpart THCA while containing an important enzyme to reduce inflammation, fights tumours, and battles nausea. There has been ongoing research that suggests that CBDA could be an effective treatment for aggressive breast cancers which, while requiring more research, is a promising option for the quarter of a million women that are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Fibre: Cannabis may be known for its mind-altering effects but it’s also still a leafy green plant with health benefits. These iconic fan leaves contain vitamin k, vitamin c, iron, calcium, folate, and fibre.

Antioxidants: Free radicals are constantly being formed in the body and without the help of antioxidants they would cause serious harm and even death. These free radicals are brought about by air pollution, alcohol, intake, cigarette smoke, and sunbathing and can lead to things like cancer, and blood vessel disease. This is where cannabis can help, providing high levels of antioxidants to keep your body balanced.

Medicinal Uses of Raw Cannabis

We now know that this plant in its raw form is a nutritional powerhouse but it may have other long-lasting benefits to keep your body as healthy as it can be.

Helps Fight Cancer: The National Cancer Institute has released information that cannabis is not only an effective treatment for cancer symptoms like nausea, and pain but can actually be used to fight cancer cells. Clinical studies show that the cannabinoids in these plants can isolate and remove pesky cancer cells.

Relieves Pain: This is true of cannabis no matter how you choose to ingest it but by eating raw cannabis you may be looking at more relief from pain over a longer period of time.

Will You Get High?

If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy the intoxicating effects of THC then eating this leafy green raw might be the best option to harness its many benefits. Before decarboxylation, the cannabis plant contains THCA and CBDA which won’t cause the feeling of being high. This is only true as long as these acids aren’t heated which means there needs to be a bit of care taken while being prepared. Some people think that the heat generated from a centrifugal juicer may be enough to turn the THCA content into THC which could lead to some mindaltering effects.

Dosage

The suggested dose is about 30g of fresh cannabis leaves per day. If you don’t have a scale you can always throw a handful of the raw leaves into smoothies without fear of having any negative or mind-altering effects. If you have had trouble finding a plant to harvest raw leaves from it is possible to ingest raw cannabis flowers. After grinding the flower into a fine powder use 1/16th of a teaspoon and sprinkle onto meals. It is important to note that you may still test positive in a drug test.

How To Prepare Raw Cannabis

The delicious, green leaves of the cannabis plant can be enjoyed the same way as any other leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. After washing these nutritional greens they can be added to salads, smoothies, garnish, or can be juiced or sautéed with a meal. It’s important to note that marijuana becomes intoxicated when heated to 220 degrees Fahrenheit so a kitchen thermometer is useful if you choose to cook them. The most convenient way to consume this huge amount of nutrients found in the plants is by juicing it. After juicing the raw cannabis it can be added to smoothies or mixed with other fruit juices. To preserve it just add the juice into an ice cube tray and save it for future recipes.

If you are able to get your hands on some raw cannabis it is the perfect addition to a healthy diet. Let us know about your experience with this superfood in the comments.