Flavonoids aren’t unique to cannabis. In fact, they’re just one of the over 200 bioactive compounds discovered in cannabis. They do matter, though, which is why they’ve been getting so much attention.
Flavonoids are various compounds that naturally occur in fruits, vegetables, and cannabis strains. They’re a large family of plant compounds widespread throughout the human diet.
In total, six different types of flavonoids are found in food. Your body breaks down each kind in a different way. As dietary flavonoids go, they naturally occur in drinks like tea and wine, chocolate, vegetables, and fruit.
The interest in flavonoids grows every day. These flavonoids help your body warn off everyday toxins and are rich in antioxidant activity. They may also lower the risk of some chronic health conditions. Plus, they’re a great way to help the body stay healthy.
Why are these benefits so overlooked, though? The legal stress behind cannabis and hemp makes it hard to research flavonoids that naturally occur in cannabis. Still, we’re able to collect clinical trials and studies from over the years.
What are flavonoids, and why are they so much more popular nowadays? Why do CBD and cannabis brands advertise that these compounds are in their products? In this guide, we look at everything you need to know about flavonoids. Let’s dive in!
What are Flavonoids?
An incredibly diverse family of phytonutrients, the benefits of flavonoids are, well, plentiful. Firstly, they’re one of the compounds that help give fruits and veggies their vibrant colors. With over 6,000 different types, they’re the most abundant phytonutrient on the planet.
So, because they’re the pretty, lively thing in veggies, fruits, and other plants, flavonoids are responsible for attracting bees, butterflies, and pollinating birds. They’re responsible for a lot more than that within the human body, too.
Over the past few decades, flavonoids have gained attention from scientists and people interested in preventative health. The potential for certain types of them to reduce a number of health risks, reduce mortality, and obesity, means that there’s much promise in such a small compound.
There are six subclasses of flavonoids widespread throughout the human diet, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Today, though, we’ll focus on the ones in cannabis strains.
Cannaflavins – the Flavonoid of Cannabis
Now, we know so far flavonoids are abundant in nature, so much so that they’re found throughout hemp and cannabis strains. The benefits of medical marijuana and cannabis, in general, never seem to stop!
Flavonoids found in cannabis, known as cannaflavins, have their own set of health benefits. Scientists were able to identify both Cannaflavin A and Cannaflavin B and their powerful antioxidant properties.
Scientists in the cannabis space aren’t the only ones interested in their potential benefits, either. Why? They go far past just providing antioxidants. Research thus far indicates that they may be able to help you maintain a healthy weight, cancel out damage from living on the wilder side of things, and even help prolong life.
Other studies suggest that regular consumption of the hemp compound may provide a lower risk of chronic diseases. These include neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Even further research expresses the medicinal properties of them. Studies indicate their benefits extend to migraine, headache, and other pain relief.
What have we learned thus far?
- Flavonoids are what give all vegetation its vibrancy and color
- There are six different types found in the human diet
- Cannflavins are found in cannabis
- Research suggests an endless list of benefits, with the potential to prolong life and preventative health
Another Reason Flavonoids Matter in Bud
Now, they have an insane amount of benefits on their own, but how do they compare to other compounds found in weed and hemp?
Well, researchers note how the compounds in cannabis are synergistic with each other — and flavonoids are no different.
Called the entourage effect, this synergy intensifies the effects of each compound. We have a vast network of cannabinoid receptors, known as our endocannabinoid system, this synergy of flavonoids is influenced by terpenes, cannabinoids, and other cannabis compounds.
This explains why certain strains can produce a different effect than others — the synergy of all the moving pieces creates the effect provided. Depending on the combination of flavonoids, terpenes, cannabinoids, and other compounds, you could experience something at least slightly different with every new strain you try.
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