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THCA: The Powerhouse Cannabinoid
I've been talking about THCA for the past year and even cited it as one of the biggest health trends for 2017. It's what I call a powerhouse cannabinoid and Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid, or THCA, is having its moment.
THCA is the non psychoactive precursor to Delta9-THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. To transition into psychoactive THC, THCA must be heated or what is known as decarboxylated.
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THCA's Therapeutic Value
THCA is a cannabinoid that in its raw form holds tremendous therapeutic value. Similar to CBD, it is an anti-inflammatory, nuero-protective, anti-emetic, and has anti-proliferative properties, among other qualities. Anecdotally, patients have indicated it helps with insomnia, pain, muscle spasms and even Alzheimer's. When consumed in its raw form, from the plant itself, it contains a high amount of terpenes and antioxidant content, both of which hold tremendous therapeutic value on their own.
RELATED: COOKING WITH CANNABIS
It's not easy to find reliable sources of THCA and the reality is, the best way to consume it is directly from the trimmings of a live cannabis plant. Lucky for me, we had an upcoming cannabis juicing segment on our filming schedule, so we were given two large bags of cannabis leaves from Nurit, the cofounder of ONA.Life.
Chris and I with 2 large bags of cannabis leaves and 5lbs of frozen sausage (don't ask).
Non Psychoactive Cannabis Smoothie with THCA
Every morning, after exercising, I make a green smoothie to start the day. So, this morning I was excited to wake up and have a ton of cannabis leaves so I could add THCA into the mix. What surprised me most about adding the cannabis was how incredibly flavorful it was, you can really taste the terpenes. I absolutely loved it. Cannabis leaves need to be in my fridge waiting for me every morning from now on.
Today, I will divulge my secret smoothie recipe that keeps me happy, healthy and energized for most of the day. This is my everyday recipe with fresh cannabis leaves added in.
The smoothie in action.
Ingredients
I must admit I am not prescriptive with quantities as I am liberal in my proportions. I pack my smoothies full of greens and fresh organic fruit as well as spices.
1 dash of nutmeg
1 dash of cinnamon
1 dash of tumeric
a smidge of cayenne pepper (be careful!)
a smidge of pink himalayan salt (yes, it's good!)
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon of spirulina or any type of superfood powder
1 teaspoon of local organic unprocessed honey
1 1/2 cup of either vanilla almond milk or coconut water
1 massive handful of organic spinach
1 handful of organic frozen mango (I like this as it makes the smoothie cold)
1 big banana (avocado also adds a creamy, thick texture as a substitute)
1 whole tangerine with the skin (good for the extra terpenes)
1 small apple
2-3 oz. of washed raw cannabis trim-the leaves
How To: Mix It!
I use my Nutri Bullet, but anything like a Vitamix can work well. Throw it all in and mix. Drink your potion right away.
If you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.
