It is no secret that cannabis possesses some incredibly beneficial properties. For thousands of years, the plant has been used to treat a whole host of conditions that affect both physical and mental health. With hardly any dangerous side effects, it has become a go-to option for a lot of patients across the world.

With more states across the U.S. allowing cannabis to be consumed legally, there has been more focus placed upon the nutritional benefits of the flower as a whole. But how nutritionally dense is cannabis?

In this article, we are going to be taking a look at the nutritional facts behind the world’s most controversial plant. Is marijuana a superfood? Or should we be skeptical about how healthy the plant is?

Nutritional Basics

It is common knowledge that the human body requires a certain level of nutrients to survive and be healthy. As a nation, we are regularly encouraged to eat well, exercise and lead a balanced and varied life.

But what is a nutrient, and why are they so vital for us? According to one source, a nutrient is something that “provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.” So with this in mind, cannabis perhaps may not be the first thing to pop into your head!

From leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale to vibrant berries, nuts, and seeds – we are told to consume certain foods to reap the most nutritional benefits.

While in an ideal world everybody would be able to enjoy all the beneficial nutrients on offer, realistically this is very unlikely. For this reason, the most highly recommended nutrients have been broken down into two categories: essential nutrients and nonessential nutrients.

Essential nutrients are things that the body cannot make and that you must consume through diet. This includes certain vitamins, minerals, and the building blocks for carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Non-essential nutrients are things that you could consume through the diet but that aren’t necessary, because your body can use the essential nutrients to make them.

Cannabis and Essential Nutrients

There is a wide variety of essential nutrients, so it may be difficult to imagine that one plant could possess even a quarter of them! Surprisingly, however, the marijuana plant packs a punch when it comes to nutritional information making it arguably one of the most nutrient dense plants to exist.

Yes, that’s right, cannabis can do a lot more than get you high! Marijuana offers a plethora of benefits which can vary depending on the type of marijuana you consume and your method of consumption. And obviously, to obtain these nutrients, you need to ingest the plant — smoking doesn’t work. Let’s take a brief look at the facts:

Hemp

Complete Protein
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
High in Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Cannabis Leaf

Rich source of fiber
Flavonoids
Essential oils
Magnesium
Calcium
Phosphorous

Cannabis Seeds

Protein
Carbohydrates
Insoluble fiber
Beta-carotene
Phosphorous
Potassium
Magnesium
Sulphur
Calcium
Iron
Zinc
Vitamins E, C, B1, B3, B6
Essential fatty acids.

Cannabis as a Superfood

Looking at the facts around marijuana, it seems pretty hard to argue against the clear evidence that it provides many of the nutrients believed to be vital for a healthy life. So as a dark leafy green that is 100% natural, should we start looking towards cannabis in the same way we look at kale, spinach and all of the other popular ‘superfoods’ that have taken the world by storm? (Keep in mind that, in order to obtain nutritionally significant amount of these nutrients, we may have to eat cannabis in comparable quantities to how we eat these other vegetables.)

While it has not yet been determined the exact nutritional profile of cannabis, we have a clear picture of how nutritionally dense it is just by looking at the seeds, let alone the rest of the plant. So how can we begin incorporating cannabis into our day-to-day lives as a superfood?

There are now plenty of ways to consume cannabis, both in its raw form and in its activated form, and both may offer a variety of beneficial nutrients. Let’s take a look at how the nutritional profile of cannabis can change when consumed in different ways:

Smoking Cannabis

While it may be the oldest and most traditional way of consuming marijuana, smoking has become somewhat dated now as so many new and exciting ways of consuming marijuana have emerged. But what about the nutritional benefits when it comes to smoking cannabis?

Smoking is never going to be the healthiest option. It’s probably also one of the least effective ways to reap the nutritional benefits of marijuana, because our bodies are primarily meant to process vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients with the intestines, not with the lungs.

Edibles

The body is meant to process nutrients with the intestines, so eating marijuana is the best way to take advantage of its nutrient profile and ensure you are absorbing everything it has to offer.

Of course, the level of nutritional benefits that come with marijuana edibles relies heavily on the other ingredients that are involved as well. Many manufacturers tend to use sugary and often unhealthy ingredients to enhance the taste of an edible, which of course may add unnecessary calories, and compromise the nutritional benefits of the product.

It would, in this case, be recommended to use the healthier edibles, as there are more and more of these now being brought to the market as people become more health conscious.

Raw Cannabis

Raw cannabis is the latest trend hitting the cannabis industry, and it looks like it may be here to stay! With new research showing that cannabis in its raw form can provide a wealth of nutrients that are lost once cannabis is heated up, more people are opting for a raw cannabis diet!

Not only does raw cannabis provide some fantastic nutritional benefits, but it won’t get you high, which is a massive bonus for those patients who don’t want any psychoactive effects. Raw cannabis is the plant in its inactive state, meaning that THC is still in its acidic inactive state as THCA.

This complete food source is becoming a go-to option for a nutritionally dense cannabis experience, with no high, and no extra ingredients, just 100% natural cannabis plant.

Final Thoughts: Cannabis Nutrition Facts

So what do we think? When it comes to cannabis as a nutritionally beneficial plant, the facts speak for themselves! I suppose the question is why has it taken so long for the world to realize just how much this plant can do?

With so much negative attention being placed on the psychoactive aspects of weed, the real power behind the plant is being lost. Forget your ten different kinds of supplements; you can get some of what you need from cannabis!

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