Looking to get the most out of your smoking experience? Eating mangoes could be the answer to a longer and stronger buzz.
We all hear a lot of food ‘myths’ growing up. You may have heard how eating carrots can help you see in the dark, or that eating the crusts on your toast will make your hair curly. However now, it’s being said that eating mangoes before you smoke cannabis could intensify your high. Yes, that’s right – this delicious fruit could be the perfect accompaniment to your smoking session.
First and foremost, mango is a refreshing and healthy snack. They are low in fat, high in fiber and are packed full of vitamins A & C. They also contain various other vitamins and minerals like B6, folate, iron and small amounts of zinc.
But what are the effects of eating a mango before or after you smoke? And is there any science behind the humble mango’s anecdotal abilities? Let’s take a look.
What happens when eating mangoes and smoking cannabis?
The theory is that if you eat fresh mango around one hour before smoking cannabis, the effects of smoking will be intensified. It’s also said that eating a mango can help your buzz come quicker and last for longer than usual.
But why is it that mangoes in particular are responsible for this feeling? Well, mangoes contain a higher levels of a particular terpene called myrcene. Myrcene is known for interacting with THC when the two are combined.
Because myrcene enters our bloodstream when we eat mangoes, just like THC does when we smoke cannabis, the two combine and this results in a different effect. Therefore, it doesn’t really matter if you eat the mango before or after you’ve smoked – you will still get the same result in the end.
How many mangoes you need to eat to feel this effect depends on various factors, including the size and weight of the individual. Anecdotal evidence says that the lengthened high you will feel by combining the two leads to a calm and mellow feeling.
Does science support these claims?
A 2018 study shows that mangoss do indeed contain high amounts of myrcene. How much myrcene is in a single mango depends on 3 things – where the mango was grown, how long ago it was picked and how ripe it is.
Another paper, written by the British Journal of Pharmacology, proves how myrcene can have anti-inflammatory effects – especially when combined with CBD. The same paper also reveals how it can be analgesic and have sedative effects when combined with THC. The same paper tells how myrcene is also found in cannabis in small amounts. Because of myrcene’s sedative properties, hypothetically it can result in the ‘couch lock’ which many people who smoke cannabis experience.
Final Thoughts
Given the evidence at hand, the jury’s out on this one. Tons of anecdotal evidence exists to say that mangoes and cannabis are a combination for a stronger, longer buzz. The science behind how myrcene has sedative effects, particularly when combined with THC, also adds some weight to these claims.
However as of yet, no specific studies have been undertaken on the interactions of myrcene obtained when mangoes and smoking or ingesting cannabis. So all that’s left is to grab some mangoes from your local grocery store and put it to the test!