The facts on juicing cannabis
Kale, carrots, beets, cabbage, spinach, broccoli and cucumber... These are all versatile veggies that are commonly used for juicing. Now, let’s add Cannabis to that list! It’s 2021 and raw cannabis might be one of the hottest new “super-green” to hit the market this decade.
In this month’s newsletter, we will provide you with many facts on raw cannabis juicing and also provide you with a recipe created by our very own, to try at home.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CANNABIS JUICING
Cannabis is becoming more and more accessible to people as legalization slowly expands across the United States (just like our neighboring country). This in turn gives the opportunity to expand our knowledge and consider cannabis as not only a plant-based medicine, but also as a plant-based superfood.
As we know, the flower bud is ideal for smoking, but what do you do with the rest of the plant – this includes fans leaves, sugar leaves, raw flower buds, fresh leaf trim, seeds, stems, stalks and the roots.
Throwing the plant away would be a total waste, so why not make summer juices out of them instead!
RAW CANNABIS: NUTRITION
Like many dark-green leafy vegetables, cannabis leaves, stems, stalks, roots and seeds (like hemp seeds) can provide most of the essential nutrients required by the body. This includes carbohydrates, protein, fat, water, vitamins, minerals and calcium, sodium, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. But what makes cannabis juicing slightly more interesting than other vegetables are its phytocannabinoid content. Unlike kale or celery, Cannabis plants contain the infamous phytocannabinoids: THCA and CBDA that can provide enormous contribution in maintaining our metabolism.
JUICING THE LEAVES
Although cannabis leaves do not produce high amounts of cannabinoids like the mature female flower buds but they still contain enough traces of antioxidants and cannabinoid acids like THCA and CBDA.
One of the best ways to take in as many nutrients as possible from cannabis leaves, is to eat them raw in a salad form or to juice them. Some may argue that in the process of juicing you lose a lot of the nutrition value of the green plant. This may be the case for certain vegetables, but for cannabis, juicing has been a traditional method for extracting cannabinoids for years. There are many studies from the past that show that juicing different parts of the cannabis plant can have many therapeutic potential for treating inflammation and pain. A 2017 study exploring the traditional therapy of Cannabis roots has shown that juicing was used as a therapy for skin burns and postpartum hemorrhage.
RAW CANNABIS CONTAINS CANNABINOID ACIDS
Cannabinoid acids, CBDA and THCA, are the inactive form of CBD and THC. Only through the process of decarboxylation CBDA is converted to CBD and THCA is converted to THC.
CBDA and THCA are found naturally in cannabis plants. When you eat or juice fresh raw cannabis, you are in fact consuming THCA and CBDA. These cannabinoids are both non-intoxicating, meaning it will NOT make you feel “high”. CBDA has been linked to many potential therapeutic applications including anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and pain-relieving properties. THCA – the non-active form of THC - has also been linked to many potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiemetic properties.
RAW CANNABIS CONTAINS TERPENES AND CHLOROPHYLL
TERPENES
Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that contribute to the flavor and aroma of the plant. Like cannabinoids, terpenes also have their medicinal properties including potent anti-inflammatory activity. Different compositions and concentrations of terpenoids can sometimes be used to determine the different strains of cannabis. Juicing or eating fresh raw cannabis will retain most of its terpenes in contrary to traditional dried cannabis form.
CHLOROPHYLL
Chlorophyll is an abundant pigment found in all plants responsible for the green color. It has been studied for many years on its medicinal properties. Unlike dried and cured cannabis flower, raw cannabis leaves – in the juice form – retain most of the chlorophyll.
CONCLUSION
Cannabis can be a great superfood. The seeds alone contain fatty acids including Omega-3; protein, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, C, & E), and minerals (like iron and calcium). Juicing leaves releases antioxidants, minerals and elements like calcium, iron, potassium, carotenoids, zinc and selenium. In terms of plant phytocannabinoids stored in the leaf tissue and trichome heads, the cannabis plant has more variety and abundance than other leafy green vegetables. It shares beta-carotene with carrots, limonene with lemons, and has high levels of anthocyanins with cherries.
In addition to its nutritional value, juicing raw cannabis can retain most of the terpenes and cannabinoids (in their acidic form) which are linked to several therapeutic benefits.
Author: Asrinus Subha
Website: www.writewithme.ca
Instagram: @thepinkbotanist
References:
https://keytocannabis.com/juicing-cannabis-medicine-without-the-high/
https://consultandgrow.com/5-health-benefits-of-juicing-cannabis/