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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – For a time it was chia seeds, then came Acai berries, agave, almonds, and quinoa. Media has dubbed them superfoods. And as we learn and discover more about the foods we eat, and what they can do, more foods get added to the list that were not there previously.
So what’s next in the realm of superfoods? And what do superfoods have to do with looking up dispensaries near me? The reason might take you by surprise. Cannabis is having its day in the sun, and it may stay there for a good while.
The case for cannabinoids
There is no regulation as to what classifies a food as a superfood. But they are often called such due to their nutrition density. Along with their ability to prevent or help treat specific diseases and maladies. Typically, superfoods should also contain little to no negative elements, such as fat, cholesterol, etc.
So how does cannabis fair when held up to these criteria? Recent research has shown that all humans have an endocannabinoids system, ECS for short. This discovery has led to further research on the role the ECS plays in a broad range of diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. Obesity, inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and more are also affected by ECS. Those with migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and other medical conditions also have reason to hope. Here’s why. Research has found that cannabinoids in cannabis help improve our ECS function. And that a deficiency in our endocannabinoid system results in various physical maladies. This idea was first introduced in a paper by board-certified neurologist, Ethan Russo, MD.
This and other research on the effects of cannabinoids on ECS deficiency are shedding new light on cannabis consumption. This is an aspect of cannabis entirely apart from the psychoactive elements of cannabis most are familiar with.
Health benefits of raw cannabis
Since cannabinoid deficiency may be the cause of many illnesses, the next evolution in superfoods should be an introduction of cannabis into our daily diet. This is according to Dr. William Courtney, MD, a leading proponent of raw cannabis consumption.
Naysayers like to harp on the stoned aspect of the cannabis plant. However, the “high” one gets from eating cannabis foods comes about when cannabis is heated or dried. Neither of which is needed to ingest the cannabis plant in juice form, or as a salad. Cannabis seeds, too, should not be overlooked. And can be used to top off salads, or in a dressing. Courtney goes so far as to suggest that there should be minimum daily requirements for cannabinoids found in cannabis. Similar to how there are daily requirements for vitamin C, etc.
Other health benefits that Courtney attributes to cannabis include anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. The author of The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, Robyn Lawrence, has a lot to say on this topic, too. Her book tackles including cannabis as one would a nutritious vegetable. A vegetable full of magnesium, protein, vitamins, zinc, and antioxidants.
There are other reasons as to why cannabis is gaining recognition as a superfood. Or if not a superfood, since consumption is still roadblocked in various states, at least a super plant. These benefits include reducing one’s risk of Alzheimer’s. As a treatment for heroin or alcohol dependency. As a weight loss mechanism. As a sleep medication or aid. As treatment for migraines and headaches. As pain relief for arthritis. As a possible treatment for Hepatitis C. As a prevention of seizures for those with epilepsy. And as prevention for a wide range of cancers.
Clinical studies are adding to the general consensus that this is a plant we should pay attention to. There are still legal barriers that must fall before we begin to see this plant treated more like a vegetable. But the outlook is looking good for cannabis to soon take its place within the superfood pantheon.