THCA: The Powerhouse Cannabinoid
I've been talking about tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) for the past couple of years. It's what I call a powerhouse cannabinoid. 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 decarboxylated.
THCA's Therapeutic Value
THCA is a cannabinoid that in its raw form holds tremendous therapeutic value. Similar to CBD, it’s an anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-emetic, and has antiproliferative properties, among other qualities. Anecdotally, patients have indicated it helps with insomnia, pain, muscle spasms and even Alzheimer's disease. When consumed in its raw form, from the plant itself, it contains a large amount of terpenes and antioxidants, both of which hold tremendous therapeutic value on their own.
The best way to consume THCA 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 able to get a hold of large bags of organically grown, freshly harvested cannabis leaves from a top-notch grower.
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 flavourful 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’ll 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’m not prescriptive with quantities, and I’m liberal with my portions. 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 turmeric
- a smidge of cayenne pepper (be careful not to put too much)
- a smidge of pink Himalayan salt (yes, it's good!)
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp of spirulina or any type of superfood powder
- 1 tsp 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 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 NutriBullet, but anything like a Vitamix can work well. Throw all the ingredients into your blender and mix. Drink your potion right away.
