Hemp Seeds – Miraculous Superfood

Hemp is one of the most versatile plants on the planet and is a very fast grower. Its utilization is very diverse and the plant itself has many variable uses. Its fibre is very durable and has been utilized by human kind for over 50.000 years. Fabric, paper, bioplastic or biofuels are amongst some of the commercial items made of hemp. Hemp seeds occur in buds of the plant and are part of the reproduction process of the plant.

Hemp seeds were one of the five grains of Ancient China and during the times of famine in Europe were an important nutritional element that helped people to survive harsh times. Lately, the hemp seeds have been rediscovered and are flooding the commercial markets. For being rich in antioxidants, protein, vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fats and fibre are meant to be more nutritious than any other edible plant based food in the world. The high protein presence and strong fibre density clear up our clogged up system. Hemp seeds are an excellent all-rounder.

Nutritional facts

At about 40 grams of raw seeds you can find:

• 140% of daily amount of manganese (2.8 milligrams)
• 22% of daily amount of iron (3.9 milligrams)
• 75% of daily amount of magnesium (300 milligrams)
• 34% of daily amount of zinc (5 milligrams)
• 77% of daily amount of vitamin E (15.4 milligrams)
• 41% of daily amount of phosphorus (405 milligrams)
• 7% of daily amount of copper (0.1 milligram)
• 2 grams of fibre
• 9.2 grams of protein
• 3.3 grams of carbohydrates
• 12.3 grams of fat
• 161 calories

Positive health impact of eating hemp seeds

• Improved heart condition – eating seeds helps to reduce blood pressure and keeps the cholesterol levels in balance.
• Strengthen the immune system by reducing the inflammation – a well-balanced ratio of Omega 6 and Omega 3 oils (3 to 1) has immunomodulating, anti-ageing and antioxidant effects on our body.
• May help to reduce weight – researchers agree upon the effect of consumption of fibre-rich foods on our body weight control. In other words, seed consumption helps to get control over the access hunger.  
• Fight the Arthritis as well as joint pain – the oil present in hemps seeds has anti-arthritic effects and relieves the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
• Improved digestion – rich presence of insoluble and soluble fibre maintains regularity of your gastrointestinal system.
• Nail, skin and hair health support – hemp seed oil enriches the inner skin cells which helps to achieve healthy skin growth by keeping the skin moisturized      

Daily dosage is very similar to nut consumption. One or two tablespoons are pretty much enough to meet your daily dosage. Due to some digestion issues which may come with the consumption it is recommended to start up slowly (one teaspoon/day) while gradually increasing the amount. Give your body time to build tolerance to the new highly nutritional diet. It’s also vital either to consult the daily amount with a specialist or carefully read the recommended dosage on the packaging and never exceed it. 

CBD is obtained from the flowers and leaves of hemp plants. If you purchase hemp seeds or hemp seed oil don’t expect to get the health benefits of the CBD products.

Raw seeds

They are not only very tasty but also have a distinctive nutty taste which makes them to be an ideal complement of fresh vegetable salads, granola or breakfast cereals or can be added to your favourite flapjack. In this form they are also an amazing protein booster. Many top notch athletes prefer to consume them in their raw form. Hulling the seeds (also called hemp hearts) means taking off some nutritional properties. The shell of the seeds contains insoluble fibre which is strongly absent in our everyday diet. Buying protein powders then means that you’re shortening your body of some amount of fibre which occurs only in the shells. 

Gluten-free breadcrumbs replacement

De-hulled seeds can be eaten roasted, raw or baked. Due to their softer texture can be added to bread recipes, dairy product replacements, used in baking and cooking or in a confectionary as sweet treats (cakes, fudges, ice creams etc.). Those who suffer from gluten allergies use them as a replacement of breadcrumbs!

Protein booster

Protein hemp seed powder is a fine powder which is made of pressed whole seeds to get rid of the oil. It’s a protein mega-hit and is an essential ingredient of porridge, cakes or shakes.     

The result of cold-pressing the hemp seeds is hemp seed oil which is an edible substance full of unsaturated fatty acids. The oil can be used orally as well as topically.  

An excellent choice for Hemp skin care. That perfect balance of fatty acids is almost the same as lipids present in our skin. Applying hemp oil on our skin helps to keep it moisturized as well as reduces the signs of ageing. Interestingly, direct skin application cuts down on epidermal damage caused by severe weather conditions such as heat, cold and wind

When used in the kitchen consider it rather as a finishing type of oil to be added as a dressing to fresh vegetable salads or to use as an ingredient for baking. It’s not advised to use it for frying as it overheats very quickly.

The best way to maintain longevity of your seeds (once the packaging has been opened) is by air-locking them and keeping them in the fridge or freezer. In cold and dark environments they will last up to one year. Storing them in an open packaging at room temperature without an air-sealed container shortens their lifetime as it leads to the loss of their fatty acids.

Hemp seeds are not just for healthy diet enthusiasts. If you're an environmentalist you should think of becoming a fan of hemp products too. The plant is highly sustainable and refrains from soil depletion in comparison with some other plants. Do we hook you up?