A Kick from the Kitchen
Putting food and Cannabis together is a powerful combo, but there’s an old theory that says pairing the two might have another strong, unexpected effect. The premise is that eating a mango right after you smoke some weed will significantly increase the effect of your high, and this theory of putting the munchies first in order to intensify your high isn’t solely restricted to mangoes.
Anecdotal evidence is all over the internet stating how the high levels of beta-caryophyllene in broccoli, tryptophan in sweet potatoes, or fatty acids in nuts can be harnessed to synergize and amplify the potency of Cannabis. So let’s take a look at where this idea comes from. Is there any science to it, and most importantly, does it work?
Smoking the Science
The origins of this legend link to one of the most dominant terpenes in the world of weed: myrcene. This naturally occurring chemical compound is often prevalent in strains considered particularly stony or labeled as “indica” in stores. We’ve also come to understand that these compounds are responsible for the effects of Cannabis beyond the reach of just THC. Myrcene is currently thought of as influencing the impact of anxiety on a person, as well as having analgesic and antibacterial properties. Most importantly, for us, myrcene is thought to have an effect on what we call the blood-brain barrier, a cellular wall that allows for the transportation of chemicals from our bloodstream to our brains.
Certain evidence points to a connection between large amounts of myrcene and how swiftly these neurochemicals pass through the cells and reach our brains. This would mean that the effects of consuming myrcene-rich mangoes and Cannabis together would produce a robust and more effective delivery as the boost of myrcene carries that intoxicating canna-cocktail over the defensive wall and into the end zone.
Does it Work?
As of now, we don’t have any firm studies that link these two things as a definite psychoactive power couple. Of course it’s also important to remember that just like different harvests of Cannabis produce different levels of THC (and myrcene), so do mango crops. For example, the levels of myrcene present in many of the currently available strains of Cannabis, such as a Blue Dream or OG Kush, can often have 0.7% myrcene in a gram.
On average, the National Institute of Health states that mango pulp contains 0.09 mg/kg of myrcene, meaning you’d need “well over 1,000 mangoes to achieve anything approaching 1 gram of myrcene.” While consuming a large amount of fruit might have an effect on the brain’s intake of Cannabis, wolfing down that many fiber-rich mangoes in order to test this theory would give you a wicked stomach ache. There might be a small rush from eating a mango after you smoke, but that could very well be the joy of beating off cotton mouth with a sweet, juicy snack.
In the end, further study is needed on myrcene’s effects to better understand how it might influence the blood-brain barrier and help people achieve faster and more effective relief. However, most experts agree this falls under myth. If you’d like to experiment for yourself, most experts suggest consuming your mango raw, not cooked, to retain its terpenes, and the fruit should actually be consumed about an hour before you start smoking to give your body time to absorb the nutrients.
