Mangoes and Weed: Can You Boost Your High? It Depends...

Building a high cannabis tolerance is common among seasoned smokers (or consumers in general), but rather than taking a dreaded tolerance break, it might be just as easy as incorporating mango and weed into your next smoke session. 

On their own, mangoes are a tropical stone fruit high in fiber and essential vitamins like Vitamin A, C, and E. They’re also not known for having any sort of psychoactive effect on consumers, so it might sound strange to hear that some people utilize the fruit to increase the intensity of their high. 

If you’ve been consuming cannabis regularly and for a good amount of time, you may have experienced an increased tolerance level. The joint you smoke before bed just isn’t doing it for you anymore, or you eat twice as much of your edible as usual and still barely feel the effects. 

While mangoes don’t contain any psychoactive properties, they are incredibly rich in the terpene myrcene, which is also found in many strains of cannabis.

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds found in cannabis. They’re responsible for the plant’s taste and hue, but they also affect the type of high you experience with each strain. 

Terpenes work synergistically with cannabinoids like THC or CBN to intensify the plant’s effects. While terpenes like pinene and limonene are known for fighting anxiety and fighting depression, myrcene is recognized for its joyful, euphoric, and relaxing properties. 

Most cannabis connoisseurs are familiar with terpenes and their varying features, but may not know that terpenes are actually present in much of nature that is entirely independent from the cannabis plant. Just as pinene is found in pine trees and linalool is found in lavender, myrcene is found in thyme, basil, and mangoes (although myrcene levels can vary greatly depending on which type of mango you’re working with).

While terpenes are incredibly common in herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables, myrcene is particularly recognized for intensifying cannabis highs. By appearing to increase your blood brain barrier’s permeability, myrcene seems to allow THC to reach your brain quicker and with greater intensity than it normally would, so it makes sense that consuming myrcene-rich mangoes would make a difference.

There hasn’t been much research done on the topic yet, but the high presence of myrcene alone suggests that combining weed and mangoes has some sort of effect, similar to how rolling a joint with some loose pieces of lavender might feel. The suggested method for a winning mango and weed combination is to consume your mango about 45 minutes before packing your bowl. 

Health Benefits of Myrcene

Myrcene is one of the terpenes most commonly found in nature. Loaded with antibiotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and sedative effects, myrcene provides a variety of health benefits to the body. 

• Myrcene might help relieve pain. Studies have shown that myrcene appears to reduce the consumer’s perception of pain by stimulating the body’s opioid receptors. 

• Myrcene may work as a sedative. One of the most widely recognized benefits of myrcene is its sedative properties. The terpene may be able to increase sleep duration by up to 2.6 times. 

• Myrcene may have anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have examined myrcene for anti-inflammatory effects, and the terpene appears to have them. A study done on mice with swollen lungs revealed that myrcene halted the inflammation.

• Myrcene may work as an antibiotic. Myrcene has shown evidence of antibiotic properties, but it may be more likely that the terpene has the most powerful antibiotic effect when in conjunction with other terpenes like limonene or pinene. 

Health Benefits of Mangoes

Even if the combined effects of mango and weed are purely placebic, there are still a ton of benefits that come with consuming mangoes. Here are some of the fruit’s health benefits to keep in mind next time you go grocery shopping for new snacks to eat while high:

• Mangoes are incredibly low calorie. With just under 100 calories per cup, mangoes are a light treat to turn to when you’re feeling peckish. They’re a great snack to add to your smoke sesh rotation, both for their myrcene properties and their low caloric content.

• Mangoes are super rich in nutrients. Although mangoes are a light and low-calorie delicacy, they’re jam-packed with essential nutrients and vitamins for a healthy diet. One cup of mango contains 1.4 grams of protein, 24.7 grams of carbs, and 2.6 grams of dietary fiber. They’re also rich with copper, folate, potassium, magnesium, and much more.

• Mangoes contain a high amount of antioxidants. Packed with polyphenols, which function as antioxidants, mangoes are protective of your body’s cells. An antioxidant-rich diet may counter the damaging effects of illnesses like cancer or diabetes.

• Mangoes support an overall healthy immune system. Because of their high vitamin and nutrient content, mangoes are a good source of immunity boosting. The fruit may help your body produce more white blood cells, which fight disease and protect the skin.

• Mangoes aid healthy digestion. Mango contains dietary fiber, and its enzymes help break down the body’s protein content. This encourages healthy digestion and may work to prevent stomach pains and illnesses.

• Mangoes promote clear skin. Whether you suffer from skin conditions, illnesses, or just the occasional breakout, mangoes might help. Among the many vitamins found in mangoes are Vitamin A and C, which are crucial when it comes to healthy skin. 

Other Foods That May Enhance Your High

Mangoes have shown a good amount of evidence that they may have an intensifying effect on your cannabis high, but they’re not the only food that may contain this ability. Here are some other high-enhancing foods to keep in mind when making your grocery list:

1. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are high in B vitamins and carbohydrates, which both promote increased serotonin production. They’re also high in Vitamin E, which is known for fighting the effects of depression. While sweet potatoes may not directly enhance your high, they may boost your mood and keep you feeling happy and energized. 

2. Broccoli

Another vegetable that pairs well with cannabis is broccoli. It contains high amounts of the terpene beta-caryophyllene, which is recognized for reducing inflammation, stress, and anxiety. Like cannabis, this terpene also binds to our CB2 receptors, allowing it to synergize with cannabinoids.

3. Nuts

Packed with protein and healthy fats, nuts are a good snack in general, but they also happen to work well with cannabis. Nuts’ high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids bind to cannabinoids and help them through the blood brain barrier, just like myrcene.

4. Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices contain a variety of terpenes, which have varying effects when paired with cannabis. Herbs like thyme and sage have pinene, which open up lung passages and increase cannabinoid absorption, and other herbs and spices can aid with depression, anxiety, and stress. 

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