Raw Hemp Salads are a Great Way to Eat Your Greens

As owners of a CBD company, we talk a lot about the benefits of cannabidiol, a chemical compound we extract from hemp leaves and infuse in our range of products, from tinctures to gummies and topicals. Of course, all of our 12Twenty products contain broad-spectrum CBD, which means they include terpenes and additional cannabinoids…basically, all the phytochemical goodness hiding within cannabis plants. Minus the THC, of course, so you can enjoy our product line without fear of failing drug tests.

But guess what? While hemp plants are a valuable source of cannabinoids, they are also leafy greens. Which means that these plants have additional, nutritional value when eaten in their raw, plant-based format. So, today we’re going to share an awesome hemp-leaf salad recipe with you. Plus, we’ll walk you through some of the reasons why raw hemp leaves are a great addition to your healthy diet.

Benefits of Raw Hemp Leaves

We have talked about the beneficial effects CBD use can produce in your body. They have a lot to do with how CBD and other cannabinoids interact with your Endocannabinoid System (or ECS, which you can learn more about here.)

But when you consume cannabis leaves in their raw form, you can actually score some additional benefits. (As a quick review, cannabis plants come in different varieties. They are classified by their THC concentrations: cannabis plants with THC concentrations above 0.3% are considered marijuana. Those with concentrations below that level are classified as hemp.)

Now, for our purposes today, we’re talking about raw hemp leaves, because that’s the cannabis variety from which we source our CBD. Just so you guys know, however, the benefits of raw hemp leaves pretty much applies to all varieties of cannabis plants.

So, let’s take a look at the nutritional benefits of raw hemp: these leafy greens are packed with fiber, vitamin C, iron, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. Raw hemp is also a valuable source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are important for your overall heart health.

Finally, hemp leaves are packed with polyphenols. Current research on these compounds suggest they have anti-inflammatory properties, and may help prevent certain chronic diseases. Two of the most promising protective properties relate to obesity and type 2 diabetes. And, since adding phytochemicals to foods affects shelf life and phytochemical potency, it’s best to get their benefits from a naturally occurring source.[i] Like our new favorite salad green, the raw hemp leaf.

What’s Inside Raw Hemp?

Now that we’ve covered hemp leaves’ nutrient profile, let’s get back to our home base: cannabinoids. In order to extract CBD from hemp, we must take it through a process known as decarboxylation. This is a chemical reaction we use to convert CBDa into CBD.

You see, when you look inside a hemp leaf, you won’t notice CBD. Instead, you’ll see CBDa, or cannabidiolic acid. This chemical precursor to CBD actually has its own benefits. And the best way to enjoy them is to eat raw hemp, since any processing changes its form.

Additionally, you’ll benefit from all of the terpenes we include in our broad-spectrum CBD. Including chlorophyll, which has anti-aging and skin healing benefits, and may potentially speed up wound healing. [ii]

Adding Raw Hemp Leaves to Your Diet

Disclaimer time: raw hemp is quite bitter. That’s right up some of your alleys, we’re sure, but it’s not for everyone. So just keep that in mind while you’re reading our recipe tips. You may need to choose a sweeter dressing to offset the bitterness, if your palette runs in that direction. Or, you may prefer our raw hemp juice recipe, since the addition of fresh fruit, Agave syrup and almond milk makes for a nice, sweet flavor mix.

But if you appreciate a good bitter green (along the flavor profiles of arugula or dandelion greens) then you’re going to love this fresh hemp salad.

Hemp Leaf Salad with Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil Dressing

This is our current favorite salad blend, but the best part of making salads is playing with your favorite mix of fruits and veggies to make each recipe your own. So feel free to experiment and share your favorite recipe ideas with our blog fam!

Salad Ingredients:

Cucumber, arugula, sweet potatoes, avocado, tomatoes, raw hemp leaves, Pepitas (Pumpkin seeds).

Dressing:

- 1 full tincture of 12 twenty CBD oil

- 1/2 cup of organic olive oil.

- 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar.

- 1 teaspoon of cane sugar (or agave or honey)

- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard.

- 1 shallot, Minced.

- 1 clove of garlic or granulated.

- 1 teaspoon of oregano.

- 1 kosher salt and pepper. (Your preference)

Combine the 12 twenty CBD oil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cane sugar, Dijon mustard, shallots, garlic, oregano, salt and black pepper together in a glass jar with a lid. Replace lid on the jar and shake, shake, shake vigorously until thoroughly combined.

[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160559/ [ii] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322361#benefits