13 Reasons Why Edibles Are Good for Your Health
by Alix Berger
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It’s a universal truth -- the right dose of weed makes you feel good. Whether you’re looking to unwind or spark some creativity, it will jumpstart bliss-causing chemicals. But cannabis has potential beyond a good time. Edibles, in particular, have a plethora of physical benefits, from pain relief to settling your stomach. Let’s dive deep into many of the very real health perks.
Find relief in nature’s Advil
Cannabis eases all types of inflammation, a similar mechanism to conventional drugs like Advil and Tylenol. In fact, weed actually works in a more targeted way. Those OTC medications block prostaglandins while cannabis suppresses cytokines and chemokines. To put that in English, cannabis can identify when and where the immune system is overcompensating with too many white blood cells and down-regulate those responses at the pain points.
2. Get your dose of antioxidants
Both raw and cooked cannabis offers a heavy dose of antioxidants, aka substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells. So that weed candy or infused juice you’re sipping on is reinforcing your immune system. And lord knows we need more backup than ever right now.
3. Balance your weight
Weed gives you the munchies, well duh. This side effect is useful for those looking to gain weight and even recover from illnesses like anorexia. On the other side of the spectrum, cannabis can help with weight loss too. Need proof? In 2012, a study on cannabis and weight, it was concluded that a THC:CBN:CBD compound led to significant weight loss in obese rats. On top of that, the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC) linked usage to stabilizing blood sugars, lowering blood pressure, and improving blood circulation -- all conditions related to excess weight.
4. Keep your nausea at bay
From hangovers to Crohn’s disease to coping chemotherapy, cannabis is tremendously good at easing all forms of nausea. Here’s how it works. THC and cannabidiol improve immune responses while also interacting with cells that play a crucial role in gut functions. This blocks off bacteria and other inflammation-causing agents in the intestines. In practice, an incredible 70-100% of patients found relief from nausea and vomiting with cannabis.
5. Help fight cancer, not just the side effects
Misinformation about this topic has circulated for a long time but the debate is finally settled. A clinical study on living animals concluded that THC is successful for isolating and actually killing cancer cells. Even the National Cancer Institute updated its website a few years ago to inform others. While it shouldn’t be considered a cure-all for the disease, evidence suggests that it can be a great reinforcement.
6. Ward off depression
Depression is a complicated and deeply painful disease. As such, treatment varies widely on a case-by-case basis. Cannabis has earned its stripes for reducing anxiety, but it’s also hugely helpful for coping with depression. Endocannabinoid compounds promote mood stabilization, a common cause of depression.
7. Strengthen your bones
That weed brownie might be strengthening your bones more than the glass of milk you pair it with. The Bone Research Laboratory in Tel Aviv investigated this claim, finding that cannabis strengthens bones in the process of healing. It went on to suggest that bones are made stronger, and therefore less prone to breaks or sprains in the future.
8. Manage your ADD/ADHD
Most in the U.S. currently treat ADD/ADHD with stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. There’s no denying the results of these treatments, but these drugs are also stimulants. They can lead to a wide range of health problems from high blood pressure to lifelong dependency.
Cannabis has been proven to be both an effective and safer alternative. Even though scientists only began exploring this route in 2015, there’s already significant backing. German researchers studied the marijuana’s influence in 30 patients with ADHD. They found that every patient in the study ranked improvements in concentration, impulsivity, and sleep (something most struggle with on stimulant treatments).
9. Improve your sex life
A healthy sex life is just that, healthy. Time after time, more sex has been shown to improve blood pressure, immunity, and heart health. Is there evidence that weed can really get you in the mood? Yes! Apparently, 65% of women reported better sex following intake. And another study published that, “women with frequent marijuana use, regardless of use before sex or not, had 2.10 times higher odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms than those with infrequent marijuana use.” Wow. While these studies are mostly about the ladies, it’s easy to imagine men having a better time too.
10. Maintain a young mind -- literally
Endocannabinoid has many super great properties. One of them is the anti-inflammatory abilities we discussed earlier in this piece. How does that relate to the mind? Cannabis reduces a certain type of brain inflammation that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
More specifically, PET imaging studies have shown that the human brain gradually experiences more inflammation. This leads to a decline in the creation of neurons, aka neurogenesis, that are vital to new memory creation. Stimulating the brain’s cannabis receptors protects against inflammation through directly promoting neurogenesis.
11. Give your lungs a break
A joint, blunt, spliff, bowl, or any other smoking method is fine in moderation. Edibles are a much better alternative for more frequent users. Obviously cigarettes are chock-full of carcinogens you won’t find in weed. Yet, smoking anything in heavy doses can lead to tar build-up in the lungs.
Cooked cannabis has zero harmful carcinogens. In fact, when you eat an edible, it’s first metabolized by your liver which turns it into a totally different type of THC than when smoking it. Ingested THC becomes 11-OH-THC which is much more potent and long-lasting than typical THC, Delta-9THC. Meaning, you won’t need to roll up every few hours either.
12. Maintain blood pressure
We already touched on some ways cannabis can reduce blood pressure as a secondary effect (fighting depression, weight control, and better sex). Yet, it’s also worth mentioning that ingestion alone can help. In 1979, a study found that THC use led to a decrease in arterial blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.
13. Ditch the booze (or other vice)
Is alcohol your poison? Maybe it’s something harder. Either way, weed can support a healthier habit. When researchers surveyed 350 medical cannabis patients, they discovered that 40% were using medical marijuana as an alternative to alcohol. Plus, 26% were replacing illicit drugs and a whopping 66% were replacing prescription drugs.
Now that you have another 13 reasons to try, or continue taking edibles, it’s important to find the right plan. Maybe you want to incorporate edibles into your own cooking routine, or perhaps you’d rather have the goods delivered to your doorstep. Whatever your needs are, the Holistic Chef is here to help. We’ll curate the right products, dose, and recipes to meet your specific lifestyle needs.
Reach out to the Holistic Chef today by email at holisticchefnyc@gmail.com or phone (914) 708-8270.