Hemp Seed
Hemp seed, long an overlooked superfood for its misunderstood association with marijuana, is now starting to make a big impact on the health food scene with both consumers and scientists alike.
Hemp is one of our oldest and most versatile plants and has been documented as far back as the 28th century BC. Cannabis sativa, which is the Latin term for "useful hemp" has made a comeback in the food and textile industries.
Hemp seed has grown in popularity in the United States since the early '90s, but it may surprise many to know that this ancient food can be traced back thousands of years to Chinese, Egyptian, Persian and other cultures, where it was a highly revered food source.
Although it's still illegal to grow hemp in the United States, and has been since the 1950s (though hemp proponents across the country are working to change this), hemp can be imported legally from Canada and other nations, where the growth of industrial hemp is allowed.
Hemp Seed: The World's Forgotten Superfood?
It is clear from its discussions in ancient texts (like China's agricultural treatise, the Xia Xiao Zheng, from the 16th century BC) that hemp was once highly valued. Today, however, the nutritional makeup of hemp, described by some experts as a "superfood," is often overlooked in favor of other plant foods. But hemp seeds are in fact ripe with an impressive nutritional profile, including:
Essential Amino Acids and Fatty Acids: Hemp seed is different from other plants in that it contains all the essential amino acids and the essential fatty acids that humans need. Further, the amino acids are in a highly digestible form, and the fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) are present in an ideal ratio of 3:1, which is very close to the ratio recommended by the World Health Organization.
Adding to the benefit, hemp seed is one of only a few sources of beneficial gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA).
Protein: Hemp is about 33 percent protein, in an easily digestible form that contains 10 essential amino acids. This high protein content is comparable to that in soy, and higher than is found in nuts, other seeds, dairy products, meat, fish or poultry.
Fiber: Hemp seed flour has a fiber content of 40 percent, which is the highest of all flour grains.
Trace Minerals and Antioxidants: Along with the protein, essential fatty acids and fiber, hemp seed is also rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, and minerals, including magnesium, iron and zinc.
Potential Health Benefits
The beneficial components in hemp seed, namely the high content of fatty acids and phytosterols, are known to play a positive role in a host of diseases, and, according to a report by Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D., may help:
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Promote heart health
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Reduce the risk of cardiac arrest
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Maintain normal cholesterol levels
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Treat certain cancers, including colon, breast and prostate
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Delay the neurologic effects of Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's diseases
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Treat rheumatoid arthritis
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Prevent and treat osteoporosis
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Reduce inflammation
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Treat atopic eczema and psoriasis
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is truly unique. Approximately 80 percent is polyunsaturated fat – the highest of any vegetable oil. Specifically, it contains the essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid (omega 6) and alpha linolenic acid (omega 3) in an ideal ratio for absorption by the body. These EFAs cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from our diets. Hemp seed oil also contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), from which omega 6 is naturally converted. Modern day diets and sluggish enzyme activity often impair this conversion and cause GLA deficiency. Hemp seed oil solves this problem. No other single source oil has this ideal combination of EFAs.
EFA’s are well researched in the literature and are attributed to many health benefits. Some of these include: reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, attention deficit disorder, depression and many others.
Nutrition experts generally recommend that for EFAs to do their job effectively and provide optimal cell function, daily requirements must range from 7 to 11 gm of linoleic acid and from 2 to 3.5 gm of alpha linolenic acid. This can be obtained from one tablespoon of hemp seed oil. However, individuals who consume a diet high in saturated or trans fats will require more, as will people who are overweight or under a great deal of stress.
The hemp seed is 35 percent oil, the richest source of EFAs in the plant kingdom. It is also the king of protein! Of all plant based sources, its 25 percent protein content – comprised of all eight essential amino acids - is second only to that of the soy bean. The protein in hemp seed is readily digestible, being primarily composed of edistin and albumin which are the components of human blood plasma. Hemp seed derivative products are ideal for ensuring that there is adequate complete and assimilable protein in the vegetarian diet.
Info from:
sixwise.com
naturalhealthweb.com
for a more complete and scientific paper:
ratical.org
TRY OUR RECIPIES FOR HEMP HUMMUS AND HEMP MILK !
