Thank goodness they are at long last allowed in Australia as a food. Hemp seeds are the most nutritious seed in the world. They are a complete protein and have the most concentrated balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins and enzymes combined with a relative absence of sugar, starches and saturated fats.
Hemp Seeds are one of nature’s perfect foods – a true ‘Super Food.’ This is one of the most potent foods available, supporting optimal health and wellbeing, for life. Raw hemp provides a broad spectrum of health benefits, including: weight loss, increased and sustained energy, rapid recovery from disease or injury, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced inflammation, improvement in circulation and immune system as well as natural blood sugar control.
Hemp belongs to the genus Cannabis sativa and has been cultivated for thousands of years as a source of fiber, edible seeds, edible oil, lubricant, and even as a fuel.
Benefits of Hemp Seeds
Hemp Seeds are a perfect and natural blend of easily digested proteins, essential fats (Omega 3 & 6), Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, iron, zinc, carotene, phospholipids, phytosterols, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin D, vitamin E, chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and enzymes.
All amino acids essential to optimum health are found in Hemp Seeds, including the rarely found Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). The 17+ grams of omega fats supplied by Hemp Seeds provides sufficient, continuous energy throughout your day.
Many users also experience these health benefits:
- Excellent source of essential fatty acids including Omega 3, 6 and GLA in the perfect balance.
- More digestible protein than meat, whole eggs, cheese, human milk, cows milk or any other high protein food
- Rich in Vitamin E
- Can be eaten by those unable to tolerate nuts, gluten, lactose or sugar; there are no known allergies to hemp foods.
Hemp foods reduce inflammation and benefit those with arthritis, cardiovascular disease, psoriasis–even tuberculosis. By improving circulation and reducing inflammation, hemp products may be particularly beneficial for diabetics.
As a rare source of GLA, hemp seeds may be beneficial to those too ill to synthesize this EFA from other fats.
Hemp oil contains plant sterols which may reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer.
Essential Fatty Acids in Hemp Seeds
The oil contained in the hemp seed is 75-80% polyunsaturated fatty acids (the good fats) and only 9-11% of the lesser desired saturated fatty acids. Hemp seed oil is reputed to be the most unsaturated oil derived from the plant kingdom. The essential fatty acids (EFAs) contained in hemp seed oil are deemed essential because our bodies do not naturally produce them. This means that they must be obtained from the food we eat.
Most health organizations agree that the human body needs a 3 or 4:1 balance of omega 6 over omega 3. Hemp seeds are the only seeds where this ideal balance occurs. It does not occur in flax, almond, walnut, soybean or olive oil. Daily use of flax seed can lead to dangerous imbalances since flax seed oil has a balance of 1:4 instead of a healthy 4:1 omega-6 over omega-3.
EFAs are involved with producing life’s energy throughout the human body and without them, life is not possible. In general, North Americans have a high dietary deficiency in EFAs due to their high intake of processed foods and meats.
Extensive studies have demonstrated that many common illnesses are related to deficiencies or imbalances of specific fatty acids in the body. Symptoms are often related to a lack of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and their derivatives, the postaglandins.
The oil component consists of preferred ratios of all essential fatty acids (EFA’s):
With 78% essential fats hemp oil greatly exceeds soy oil at 40%, canola oil at 30%, olive oil at 10% and other oils. Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fats may reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke. The 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 EFA’s in hemp oil is thought to be the best in nature for promoting cellular health. Hemp oil contains more “Omega 3” EFA components (19%) than are found in any fish and in most fish-oil supplements.
Hemp Seeds for Optimal Energy
It has been proven in several clinical studies that dietary supplementation with EFAs or their metabolites (such as GLA) will often prevent or even cure many forms of illness. Hemp Seeds are about 1/3 oil and 1/4 protein — for cellular health and energy.
Hemp Seeds greatly exceed most energy bars for energy and provides this energy in a better form – not sugar and saturated fats.
Four tablespoons Hemp Seeds(42 g), enough for a meal on cereal, fruit, yogurt or salad, contains:
- 240 cal energy
- 15 g essential fats(11.4 g Omega 6 and 3.6 g Omega 3)
- 2.7 g mono-unsaturated fat
- 2.1 g saturated fat
- Hemp Seeds greatly exceed most energy bars for protein and provides a complete spectrum of vital, natural proteins. 4 Tablespoons contain:
- 15 g protein
- 2.5 g fiber
- 4.5 g carbohydrates
- no cholesterol
Hemp Seeds as an Ideal Source of Protein
And hemp seeds contain all the required proteins in the best proportions for human nutrition!
Hemp protein is also a complete source of all 20 known amino acids including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) which our bodies cannot produce. Approximately 65% of the protein in hemp seed is made up of the globulin protein Edestin, and is found only in hemp seed. Edestin aids digestion, is relatively phosphorus-free and considered the backbone of the cell’s DNA. The other one third of hemp seed protein is Albumin, another high quality globulin protein similar to that found in egg whites. Hemp protein is free of the tryspin inhibitors which block protein absorption and free of oligosaccharides found in soy, which cause stomach upset and gas.
Hemp Seeds are a more digestible protein than meat, whole eggs, cheese, human milk, cows milk, or any other high protein food. They have a better spectrum of available proteins than soybeans–without the soybean anti-nutritional factors.
They are an excellent protein product for everyone – mothers, babies, body builders, convalescents, the elderly, EVERYONE.
Cellular Health
There are many long-term health benefits that can be experienced. Hemp Seeds are one of the best balanced sources of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids. Hemp Seeds contain only small amounts of saturated and mono-unsaturated fats which can be easily converted to energy.
- Hemp Seeds iare also an unsurpassed source of the whole spectrum of required proteins, it promotes vigorous cellular development with diverse health benefits:
- Reduced cholesterol and blood pressure after three months — with decreasing probability of stroke.
- Reduction in the inflammatory characteristics of many hundreds of diseases.
- More rapid recovery from disease, from radiation treatment and from injury.
- Improvement in circulation: Diabetics may notice warmer, then less discolored, feet.
- More effective immune system with reduced incidence of all types of disease.
- Recommended Intake
The recommended minimum daily intake of Shelled Hemp Seeds is a 42 grams (4 heaping tablespoons) serving. Larger individuals or those suffering with chronic health conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, acne, eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, circulation problems, intestinal problems, constipation, obesity or prostate problems (to name a few) may want to consider taking 55 grams (5 to 6 heaping tablespoons) a day.
So, to sum it up: a handful of hemp seeds a day keeps the doctor away!
Written By: Ray Thorpe & Henry Dowd
Nextwave
