Is eating raw tobacco leaves just as bad for the body as smoking or chewing tobacco?

in very small amounts (half teaspoonful possibly less), no. it is very poisonous though and unless the dose is carefully determined ingestion can easily be fatal (nicotine poisoning). however, uncured raw tobacco will not have the carcinogenic nitrosamines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or other additives of processed tobacco, also if it is organic it will be free of pesticides and radioactive and toxic metals from fertilizer (the plant has sticky hairs that the chemicals used in growing it stick to).

in addition to having high amounts of vitamins, minerals and high quality protein. fresh raw tobacco has recently been discovered to contain high amounts of cembranoids, which are strong anticancer "flavoring" compounds (quite ironic). these are degraded and mostly lost in processing, but because cembranoids may play a role in addictive qualities of tobacco, raw ingestion may actually be more addictive.

interestingly, tobacco was once eaten long ago (and in some places still today) for shamanic purposes (as hallucinogens, to facilitate near-death experiences). commonly drunk or snorted as extracted juice or boiled paste (extremely dangerous). I wouldn't advise eating without CAREFUL research.
 
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