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Cannabis Receptors & Food

Researchers discover a food that stimulates human cannabinoid receptors.

May 17, 2011 |
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Cannabis Receptors & Food, 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings

Sources Cited

C.B. Pert & S.H. Snyder. Opiate receptor: demonstration in nervous tissue. Science, 77:1011-1014, 1973.

M. Herkenham; A.B. Lynn; M.D. Little; M.R. Johnson; L.S. Melvin; B.R. de Costa & K.C. Rice. Cannabinoid receptor localization in brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 87(5): 1932-1936, 1990.

C. Brambilla and M. Colonna. Cannabis: The next villain on the lung cancer battlefield? Eur. Respir. J., 31(2):227-228, 2008.

G. Korte, A. Dreiseitel, P. Schreier, A. Oehme, S. Locher, S. Geiger, J. Heilmann, and P. G. Sand. Tea catechins’ affinity for human cannabinoid receptors. Phytomedicine, 17(1):19-22, 2010.

Acknowledgements

Transcript

In 1973, scientists discovered that we have specific receptors in our brain for opiate drugs like heroin and morphine. Since we didn’t evolve shooting up, it stood to reason that there were natural compounds produced by our bodies that fit into those receptors. So we went looking, discovered them, and named them “endogenous morphines,” or endorphins for short. And endorphins are good, they’re our natural pain relievers, released during exercise, the consumption of spicy food, and orgasm. So, there are healthier ways to stimulate these receptors than shooting up heroin.
In 1990, scientists discovered that we have specific receptors in our brain for the active ingredient in marijuana as well, cannabinoids like THC. Since we didn’t evolve toking up, it stood to reason that there were natural compounds produced by our bodies that fit into those receptors. So we went looking, discovered them, and named them endocannabinoids, endogenous cannabinoids. And endocannabinoids are good, they’re one of our bodies ways to ease nausea, ease pain, generally chill us out. The question is, is there a way to get the good without the bad, stimulate these receptors without smoking marijuana.
What’s so bad about smoking marijuana? Lung cancer. Smoking just a single joint is like smoking an entire pack of cigarettes. The worst death I ever witnessed in my medical career, the one that gives me the most nightmares, was a lung cancer victim gasping for breath being drowned by their tumors. It was hideous. Please don’t smoke—anything. Smoke inhalation is bad no matter what the source.
Thankfully, researchers discovered a food this year that stimulates cannabinoid receptors, so you can get the benefits without the risks. Which food was it? Was it broccoli, coconuts, garlic, green tea, mushrooms, or tomatoes? It was the tea.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.

To help out on the site please email volunteer@nutritionfacts.org

Dr. Michael Greger

Doctor's Note

Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. Also, there are 1,449 other subjects covered in the rest of my videos--please feel free to explore them as well!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/veguyan/ Veguyan

    Michael,

    How can we believe in any study? It seems they can always refute each other.

    Veguyan

    By Marc Kaufman
    Washington Post Staff Writer
    Friday, May 26, 2006
    The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

    ScienceDaily (Apr. 17, 2007) — The active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread, say researchers at Harvard University who tested the chemical in both lab and mouse studies.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1294863558 John Furr

      It’s not conflicting data. The 2007 study used cannabis extract. If you want to get that same effect then you should juice a few ounces of marijuana and drink that daily. Unless you heat it the THC won’t be activated and you won’t get high..or in the case of consuming a few ounces you won’t pass out for a few day’s.

      Smoking marijuana does not provide you with nearly enough cannabinoids and you still get all the toxic effects of smoke.

      If you are going to use recreationally then either eat (after heating it..brownies) it or vaporize it to minimize the harmful combustion products.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/veguyan/ Veguyan

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Jan. 29 — Smoking a single marijuana joint may be as carcinogenic to the lung as 20 tobacco cigarettes, researchers here determined.

    ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2008) — A new study finds that the development of bullous lung disease occurs in marijuana smokers approximately 20 years earlier than tobacco smokers.

    ScienceDaily (Aug. 5, 2009) — In a finding that challenges the increasingly popular belief that smoking marijuana is less harmful to health than smoking tobacco, researchers in Canada are reporting that smoking marijuana, like smoking tobacco, has toxic effects on cells.

    • Damien

      All of these, tests were done on Chimpanzees, the only way to “Make” Them smoke a marijuana cigarette is to FILL the room with smoke until they dont breath anything but smoke, further causing respiratory problems, so on so on, the actual effects of Marijuana are much less harmful then smoking Tobaco, i got cancer from smoking tobaco, and got cured by….you guessed it, MARIJUANA

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/veguyan/ Veguyan

    BOTTOM LINE: I AIN’T SMOKIN’!

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

      Thank you for bringing up this important larger point. What does one do in the face of conflicting evidence? The answer is to look at the balance of evidence and ask yourself before making any decision “What does the best available evidence show right now?” Unfortunately, sometimes the media fails to put new study results in context and so you get this kind of intellectual whiplash back and forth. In terms of the purported link between smoking cannabis and lung cancer, although doubts have been raised, the latest review continues to raise strong concerns. It seems smoke inhalation is not good for your lungs, whether from a burning building or bogie.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/DonnaMagrina/ Donna Magrina

    what? one cig of marijuana causes cancer? Breathing air not smoke is definitely better; even so, I have a hard time believing one marijuana cig does all that damage
    …..

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/psychwoman1/ psychwoman1

      That is not what the statement is. The statement basically is that one joint is equal to roughly 20 regular cigarettes.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/herehere/ HereHere

    Anyone who thinks that incense is ‘cleaning the air’ is completely delusional. As the Dr says, any kind of smoke inhalation is not good for your lungs. This is due to the toxicity of small particulates. I heard a lecture about small particulates about 15 years ago from an air quality expert. By the way, to all smokers, it makes your breath, your clothes, your car, and your house smell very bad, too. You can’t really cover up the smell, it still seeps through the other smells, but your nose is used to the smoke, unlike everyone else’s noses.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/justsomedude/ justsomedude

    It seems like eating or drinking cannabis would be safer and healthier. That’s why “a friend of mine” always eats his pot.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/procyan/ Procyan

    So we should you know smoke tea right, heh

  • kerleyc

    Hi Dr. Greger…excellent information, as usual. I’m just wondering are there other foodstuffs which can influence cannabinoid receptors? Thanks…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004054822788 Charles Worl

    decaf or regular!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

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