Hemp (from Old English hænep) is a commonly used term for high growing varieties of the Cannabis sativa L plant. While hemp is commonly confused with marijuana, as it belongs to the same family, the two plants are quite different. Most notably is the level of THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Hemp contains less than 1% of the psychoactive drug while marijuana contains up to 20% or more. Hemp thrives nearly anywhere, tolerating a variety of growing conditions. It's rarely affected by pests or disease, making hemp quite hardy. While hemp seeds are grown in many parts of the world, its major producers include Canada, France, and China. Hemp has been prohibited from cultivation in the United States since about 1950. Despite its value, the U.S. government doesn't recognize the differences between industrial hemp and marijuana. In fact, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, classifies all varieties of Cannabis as marijuana, making industrial hemp just as illegal regardless of its use.
Hemp is refined into products such as hemp seed health foods, hemp oil, wax, biodegradable plastics, resin, rope, body products, clothing, pulp, paper, textiles and fuel. Hemp seeds have been used in bird seed mix as well. A survey in 2003 showed that more than 95% of hemp seed sold in the EU was used in animal and bird feed. Oil extracted out of hemp seeds can also be used as an ointment to regenerate and nourish the skin. Hemp oil can penetrate the skin quickly compared to other oils. This helps in preventing skin from sagging due to aging as essential fatty acids completely penetrate the outer skin layer, thereby, encouraging healthy moist skin. Eating hemp seeds in any form could aid, if not heal, people suffering from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed has been used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away. If you want to keep your heart healthy, you should try and consume a lot of hemp seeds, as they are rich in essential fatty acids. You can reduce the chances of a fatal cardiac arrhythmia or a heart attack if you substitute saturated fats with foods like hemp seeds, as they contain healthy fats. Moreover, it produces phytosterols, which help in reducing the amount of cholesterol in the body, thereby removing fat buildup in the arteries.
Hemp seeds can be eaten raw, ground into a meal, sprouted, made into hemp milk (akin to soy milk), prepared as tea,and used in baking. Products include cereals, frozen waffles, hemp milk ice cream, hemp tofu, and nut butters. A few companies produce value added hemp seed items that include the seed oils, whole hemp grain (which is sterilized by law in the United States, where they import it from China and Canada), dehulled hemp seed (the whole seed without the mineral rich outer shell), hemp flour, hemp cake (a by-product of pressing the seed for oil) and hemp protein powder.
Technically, hemp “seeds” are really not seeds at all, they are actually a fruit. Tiny and round, sort of like itty bitty sunflower seeds, they have a pleasing, mild and slightly nutty flavor. Unlike sunflower seeds they aren’t crunchy but instead are a bit more like sesame seeds, but even softer in texture. Hemp seeds sort of taste like pine nuts, but have an even mellower, milder flavor. Because hemp seeds have such a milk unobtrusive flavor, they keep a low profile and can easily hide out in a wide number of dishes. Smoothies seem to be the easiest way to sneak it into your diet and it works extremely well in soup and oatmeal, or you can simply sprinkle them on your salad. As of 2011, hemp seeds are not known to cause any interactions with common medications, but you should talk to your doctor or naturopath about any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are taking before adding hemp seeds to your diet.
Hemp is an incredible vegan source of biologically available and easily digested protein which helps in strengthening the immune system. 3 tablespoons of hemp seed is the equivalent of 11g of protein! This source of protein will not cause bloating or gas like some other proteins does. If you are allergic to soy, hemp is a great alternative. (Soy contains high amounts of phytic acid that prevents your body from absorbing minerals) It contains all 10 essential amino acids. It also contains a healthy anti-inflammatory 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fat. This won't help you correct your omega balance if it's off but it gives you the right balance to start with. In this ratio is an especially beneficial type of omega-6 fat called GLA. Hemp might be the only edible food source of this anti-inflammatory building block. GLA is extremely important for achieving optimal health.
Hemp seeds are also rich in disease-fighting, plant-based phytonutrients and anti-aging antioxidants such as vitamin E. It provides a rich array of minerals including zinc, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron.The richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids.
Hemp should be on everyone's "must-eat" list of healthy foods. By simply incorporating hemp seeds into your diet on a regular basis you can be sure of achieving optimal health. Consuming hemp seeds is absolutely safe and there are no known side. However, you should always remember that excess of anything is bad, so make sure that you consume just enough so as to give you a healthy body. Hope, after reading all the hemp seeds health benefits, you would take good care of your health and start consuming hemp seeds even if you don't like them. Look for shelled hemp seeds in the refrigerated section of natural food stores. Since the oils in hemp seeds can quickly go rancid, they are best kept cool and used quickly. Heating hemp seeds will destroy the nutritional benefits of the fatty acids, so add hemp seeds to foods after cooking.
**Saving the environment through what we eat series was written to inspire people to change their eating habits in order to save the environment and the world we live in from climate change. Eating more plant-based foods can stop deforestation, soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, help slow climate change and secure global food supply.
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