A Short Word on Nano CBD
Winter 2019
Cooking With CBD Vegan and GF Socca Bread!
Cannabis Culinary Arts
With Alex Lotero
CBD & Drug Interactions
What is Homeostasis?
Alex Lotero, Private Chef
Khara- Jade Warren
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Joyce Overly
CONTENTS
CBD and the interactions with Prescribed Medications
page 15
page 18
TABLE
Charlie Piermarini, C-PA
Photography Courtesy of Pixabay/Unsplash Interested in Advertising? Email us at be@beplant.org
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Cannabis CUlinary arts
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Alex prepping dishes for "The Elevated Dining Experience"
With Alex Lotero, Private Chef When it comes to the culinary arts lifestyle, it is a dream lived for Private Chef, Alex Lotero. He began his journey as a professional chef in 2009. After gaining much experience while working at a prestigious level, Alex decided he needed to shift his life to pursue his other passions. In 2017, he took a two-year break to focus on becoming a full-time undergraduate student as well as a personal trainer. However, there remained a void within Alex throughout this time. This emptiness came to his attention after being invited to be the first chef to do a farm table dinner at Harpke Family Farms in South Florida in August of last year. It was this moment that reminded him how much he missed cooking and inspired him to get back into it. With such a heavy workload from school, Alex, unfortunately, couldn’t pursue his cooking passions right away.
“The fall semester of 2018 was very intense for me and I was unable to do any cooking,” Alex stated in our interview. “However, when the semester ended, I told myself I would do pop-up dinners every month beginning in January and see where it takes me. As of now, I am riding the wave and enjoying the ride. I still have a semester left in my undergraduate, and I am determined to graduate in May with my bachelors in exercise science.” Having such a strong devotion to cooking, Alex makes the time to continue his practice as a private chef when he can make the time outside of school and personal training. We even had the honor to have Alex as our private chef for our Non-profit event, Be Plant Be Smart Miami. It wasn’t just his food, but his whole deliverance was alluring to experience and witness. Not only are Alex’s completed dishes arranged with such a finesse presentation, but how he preps the food is also done under a graceful and refined poise. “I was fortunate to work in some great kitchens that taught me to work with a lot of finesse and grace,” Alex stated. “Also coming from a military background, being disciplined in how I work and carry myself is important to me. The ethos I learned serving as an infantryman in the U.S. Army translated very well into my role as a chef.” At our event, Alex had prepared delicious CBD-infused dishes including pure terpene gel. It seemed like such a natural touch for him to include cannabis into his edible art and that piqued my curiosity on how long he had been formulating cannabis-infused food. Alex confirmed that he has only recently included cannabis in his practice.
All dishes prepared by Alex at "Be Plant Be Smart Miami"
“I seldom even smoke cannabis,” Alex stated. “Two things led me to start experimenting with it. The first being: I wanted to find a way to introduce cannabis into my lifestyle to help manage my PTSD better and also find a way to get off prescription drugs.” He attempted smoking cannabis previously and it only exacerbated his anxiety so, instead, he formulated his own edibles as medication. He had much better success with this method. After this, he began to include infused dishes in his private chef practice. “What led me to use cannabis in my pop-ups was the show ‘Bong Appetit,’” Alex explained. “I was fascinated with the fact that I can make elevated cuisine that was infused.” Located in Miami, FL, he realized that medicated food is still in the early stages on the East coast, which was a perfect time for him to jump into the game while it was still fresh.
Vegan dish created by Alex at Be Plant Be Smart Miami
“In realizing this, I wanted to create a dinner series that highlights and showcases cannabis and hemp in food through an elevated style of cooking,” Alex explained. “And that’s when ‘The Elevated Dining Experience’ was born. It’s obviously a play on words.” The terpenes he includes in some of his work are True Terpenes brand. He mainly uses isolated terpene gels (i.e. myrcene, beta-pinene, linalool, beta-caryophyllene) to provide the dish an extra layer of flavorful essence and nuance. His current favorite flavors include myrcene and beta-caryophyllene, which we had the opportunity to sample during the Be Plant Be Smart, Miami event. Our team agreed unanimously that they added an abundance of flavor to the already decadent dish. Keeping himself inspired by master chefs such as Brian Polcyn, Chris Cosentino, and Rene Redzepis, Alex knows that out of all of his endeavors and interests, cooking is his true purpose. Despite his heavy workload with school and maintaining himself as a personal trainer, he continues to keep his passion for cooking alive, knowing this is what he will carry to the end. “To be honest, this journey has taught me a lot,” Alex stated. “Taking a step back, walking away, pursuing other interests, and eventually finding my way back in the kitchen showed me the path to success isn’t always linear. I have always had a passion for food and cooking, but it wasn’t until I left and came back that I realized it is also my purpose in life. Whether I achieve that through pop-ups, private dinners, or a brick and mortar I’m not sure yet. What I can tell you is that I’m riding this wave, seeing where it takes me, and enjoying it.”
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We were truly honored to experience Alex in his element and we feel that he’s already made it to the big time with The Elevated Dining Experience. Thank you for sharing your passion with us, Alex!
@patrick.bateman76
Culinary piece created by Alex, "The Elevated DIning Experience"
Join us at our first annual summit on February 29, 2020, in the San Diego Area. We are bringing healthcare professionals, consumers, and brands the opportunity to dive deep into the topics of phytocannabinoids use and benefits for both people and pets! Register here: http://bit.ly/beplantsummit Sponsorships and exhibition spaces are available! Contact Kaleena via email be@beplant.org for more information.
What is Homeostasis? Charlie Piermarini, PA-C, Founder/CEO Restorative Care of Arizona P.C. As CBD grows so does that word, but what does it mean and how does CBD affect it? By definition, homeostasis is the tendency for physiological processes to maintain a stable environment. The human body is always working hard to maintain homeostasis. A great example of this would be your internal body temperature. Your body works diligently to maintain your body temperature as close to your normal set point as possible, only allowing a variance of a few tenths of a degree before certain body systems are activated to bring back it back to normal. As we know, CBD, being one of the more than 100 active compounds of the hemp plant and along with the other phytocannabinoids, can help our body maintain homeostasis. The mechanism of how CBD and the phytocannabinoids achieve this is complex and still being discovered. What we do know is that CBD achieves its positive effects through the vast and ever-reaching Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and its receptors. The ECS has receptors everywhere from the central nervous system, digestive system, heart, brain, lungs, reproductive organs, and many other sites. The ECS plays an important role in digestion, inflammation, pain, cognition, stress management, memory, and much more. Our body makes its own endocannabinoids (2-AG and AEA) that work as messengers within this system and, just like any other system, there are enzymes that help to break these down and regulate their activity. When our ECS becomes dysfunctioned, our endocannabinoids are not working as well and maintaining homeostasis. When CBD is used, it helps to decrease the enzyme activity that breaks down the endocannabinoids and allows them to work longer at the receptors. CBD also binds to various other receptors outside the ECS that have been linked to pain, stress, and inflammation. Reference: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00127#
Our body makes its own endocannabinoids (2-AG and AEA) that work as messengers within this system and, just like any other system, there are enzymes that help to break these down and regulate their activity. When our ECS becomes dysfunctioned, our endocannabinoids are not working as well and maintaining homeostasis. When CBD is used, it helps to decrease the enzyme activity that breaks down the endocannabinoids and allows them to work longer at the receptors. CBD also binds to various other receptors outside the ECS that have been linked to pain, stress, and inflammation. Reference: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00127#
I am currently going through a "routine cleanse" which includes altering and refining my daily diet intake. I've decided to give in to buying myself bread. I'm gluten intolerant though I still sometimes cheat (I love sourdough!). But no more! If I want it bad enough, I force myself to make it. This recipe is now my go-to when needing to satisfy my bread cravings. All-natural, simple, vegan, and gluten free! And yes, it is CBD-infused! RECIPE Ingredients 1 1/2 cups chickpea garbanzo bean flour 1 teaspoon sea salt (or Pink Himalayan salt) 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 1/2 cups water 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (I used Beezy Beez Honey CBD olive oil)
by Melissa Baller
Cooking with CBD
CBD infused Socca Bread (vegan & gluten free)
@cookingwithcbd
Instructions 1. Whisk chickpea flour, salt, parsley, and pepper together in a bowl. 2. Whisk in water and 3 tablespoons olive oil until combined and smooth. The batter will be thin and runny. 3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in nonstick, 8-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. 4. Add 1/2 cup batter to the skillet, tilting pan to coat bottom evenly. 5. Cook until crisp at the edges and golden brown on the bottom, for about 2-3 minutes. 6. Flip socca and continue to cook until second side is browned, about 2 minutes more. 7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool or oven at 200ºF to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter and oil. 8. Top it with anything you wish! I added avocado, quinoa, and salsa as my toppings, and ate it like a wrap. Enjoy!
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CBD & Drug Interactions Joyce Overly Currently, little is known about how CBD and other plant cannabinoids could affect each of the medications available in the marketplace. The only existing information comes from extensive FDA medical studies on Epidiolex, the federally approved treatment for a few rare forms of epilepsy which used pure CBD. What is known is that CBD will interact with the body’s Endocannabinoid System, its neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system, and a group of liver enzymes that are responsible for breaking down drugs and toxins that enter the body. Simply put, while CBD can deliver a variety of health benefits, it could also be responsible for either reducing or increasing, in a harmful way, the desired impact of the prescribed medicine. Researchers point to the following types of medications that need to be carefully monitored by your health professional if you choose to take CBD: blood thinners, sedatives, chemotherapy, and anti-seizure medications. Blood Thinners Studies have shown that CBD and other plant cannabinoids can increase the effects of drugs used for blood-thinning (e.g. warfarin or Coumadin) or drugs with a risk of blood-thinning (e.g. ibuprofen) by slowing down how the body metabolizes these drugs. This can increase the risk of bleeding.
Sedatives By interacting with neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system, CBD can increase the effects of medication intended to be used for sedation; such as anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants; or even increase the side effects and potentially cause you to feel more sedated or drowsy. In some rare cases, the drug combination may become toxic or even interfere with your respiratory system. Anti-Seizure Medication While CBD is widely known to be an effective treatment for epileptic seizures, a 1992 study found that a low dosage of CBD will not deliver the desired benefits. It will, however, still inhibit the liver enzymes and result in prolonged concentrations of clobazam and norclobazam, which can actually result in more aggressive seizures. Chemotherapy Drugs Most chemotherapy drugs are formulated knowing that the drug will be metabolized at a certain rate before entering the body. However, CBD inhibits this metabolism process, which can result in higher concentrations of the drug to enter the bloodstream than intended. While CBD has shown to have certain cancer-related benefits related to pain, when combined with chemotherapy treatment, the amount and type of cancer medication administered must account for the presence of CBD. Blood Pressure Medication Studies have shown that CBD can cause changes in blood pressure. High doses can cause orthostatic hypotension (a condition in which your blood pressure falls significantly when you stand up quickly) and syncope (fainting, loss of consciousness). Note: High doses are typically those higher than 1 gram, but further studies need to be undertaken.
Finally, everyone responds to drugs differently. Some people may be hypersensitive to a particular substance, while others may have little to no reaction. Ultimately, how our bodies process medication―and the effect it will have―is heavily influenced by genetics, age, and body size. Many more medical studies need to be undertaken to sort through the multitude of variables that can impact how a person may react to the combination of CBD and prescription medication; such as the type of CBD (isolate, broad-spectrum, full-spectrum), the purity of the CBD, the dosage and length of time taken, how it is taken (ingested, topical, sublingual, etc.), when you take the CBD in conjunction with your prescribed medication; and at this time only limited research is available. Recommendations Below are a few consistent recommendations found throughout the medical literature: Always check with your medical professional prior to starting any CBD regiment. As mentioned earlier, prescription doses or the medication itself may be able to be modified to take into account the use of CBD; but you should be under the care of a medical professional while taking both CBD and your prescriptions. Follow the “grapefruit rule” which suggests that the citrus fruit can impair how your body absorbs certain drugs—mainly cholesterol medications, blood pressure drugs, and allergy pills. That same mechanism also applies to how CBD interacts with your body; grapefruit and CBD both inhibit the same set of liver enzymes. Therefore, any drug or medication that is advised to not be consumed with grapefruit juice, should also not be consumed with CBD. For further reference, check out the list of some drugs that can interact with grapefruit juice that’s listed on Drugs.com. References: National Institute of Health (NIH): National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI): “Epilepsy Behavior Case Report”, 2018; Anderson, L.,” Drug Interactions with Grapefruit Juice”, Drugs.Com, 2019; District of Columbia, Department of Health, “Medical Cannabis: Adverse Effects & Drug Interactions”; Ries, Julia, “CBD May Possibly Interfere With Your Daily Medication”, HuffPost, 2019; “What CBD and Grapefruit Have in common”; Devitt-Lee, Adrian, “CBD-Drug Interactions: Role of Cytochrome P450”, Project CBD, 2015; “CBD Drug Interactions”, CBDsafely.com, 2019.
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A Short Word on Nano CBD Khara-Jade Warren Nano-emulsification is a big word for something really, really small. It’s also the latest trend in CBD. So, how can we tell if it’s cutting-edge science or just a cleverly marketed scam? If you’ve been wondering whether you should trade in your trusty tincture for the futuristic realms of nano CBD, here’s the scoop in a nano nutshell for you---minus the scientific jargon and smoke and mirrors. “In truth, nano CBD products are about as technologically-advanced as creamy balsamic vinaigrette.” ~ Genevieve R. Moore PhD Essential, both work on the same principle. Just as your favorite salad dressing recipes call for ingredients like honey, mustard, or egg yolks, which are natural emulsifiers—meaning they help stabilize oil-in-water mixtures—nano CBD is nothing more than tiny CBD particles suspended in an emulsified solution. In fact, the most common emulsifier used is lecithin, which is the same fat in egg yolks that works great to keep salad dressings from separating. Not so Dr Spock after all.
A bit like those argumentative family members at Thanksgiving dinner, oil and water don’t mingle well. So, nano CBD producers claim that, since our bodies are 60% water, by shrink-wrapping our CBD molecules in a handy water-friendly form (because there’s actually no such thing as truly water soluble oil), they’re turning the dial way up on our CBD benefits. Many companies claim 5-10 times faster and more effective uptake. The basic science behind that is sound and it is true that a well-manufactured, quality nano CBD product is capable of delivering higher volumes of CBD to your bloodstream faster than a tincture. However, there are also a few reasons to be cautious of the claims nano companies are making, at least for now: 1. “Allergen of the Year,” anyone? One of the reasons nano CBD performs better in absorption comparisons is the addition of chemicals like propylene glycol (PG), commonly used for its “penetration enhancing” properties, and named “Allergen of the Year” by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.
By coating each miniscule droplet of CBD in PG or other additives like ethanol or lecithin, nano CBD manufacturers are able to keep their proprietary “salad dressings” stable by preventing the oil particles from merging and separating from the water base. We have to ask ourselves whether we really want ingredients like this in our CBD? After all, it’s wise to treat our CBD products the way we treat our food (after all, they’re both going into our bodies). Rule of thumb: the fewer ingredients and the more natural and organic they are, the better. If we wouldn’t actually eat it on our salad, maybe we should avoid chugging it in our CBD? 2. Scientific smoke and mirrors We already know the CBD world is rife with misinformation and dishonesty, and jargon is one of the tools “wellness” companies commonly use when they’re trying to distract us from the truth and sell us something at all costs. If CBD companies are using words you don't understand, they’re probably doing it on purpose. Don’t get fooled by big promises and bigger words. Do your own homework!
Smaller doesn’t mean better when it comes to CBD... yet! It is true that a lot of work has and is being done on nano-emulsification—and not just for CBD. This isn’t a brand new technology, and it may well be the case that in future many CBD companies make use of this science to good effect. However, not enough research has yet been done on shelf-stable nano-emulsified CBD to justify the potential downsides, not to mention the high cost! We’re probably better off looking for a great quality tincture and ensuring you’re taking and it correctly (hold and swish), as well as getting the right dosage. References: https://www.foriawellness.com/blogs/learn/best-nano-cbd-oil-benefits-hemp-spray-organic https://www.svnspace.com/journal/what-is-nano-cbd https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/what-is-nanotechnology-cbd-cannabis/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nanotechnologys-future/ https://www.marijuanabreak.com/cbd-nanotechnology-real-or-fake