Hemp Seed Nutrition
When many people hear the word hemp seeds, they immediately think of marijuana. Hemp seeds come from the hemp plant called Cannabis sativa, which is the same species as the marijuana plant. These seeds, however, contain only tiny amounts of the substance that gives marijuana its drug effects (THC). These seeds provide you with many incredible nutritional benefits, which is why they should be a significant part of your regular diet. No matter your thoughts on the marijuana plant, everyone should consider adding hemp seeds to their shopping list. How to Consume Hemp Seeds The hemp seed is relatively small and can be consumed in many different ways, including the following:
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Raw – Just grab a handful of these seeds and snack on them anytime. They have a mild flavor that many people enjoy.
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Cooked – You can add them to other dishes or cook them up and toss them into a salad.
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Roasted – Roasting hemp seeds is surprisingly quick and easy, and when done, they make a great snack.
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Oil – You can buy hemp seed oil in many health food stores and use it as a supplement.
Nutritional Makeup of Hemp Seeds
While commonly called hemp seeds (or hemp hearts) they are nuts. Like many nuts, they have high amounts of healthy fat. In this case, the hemp seed has more than 30% fat, including a good balance of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A quarter of the calories in these little seeds come from a high-quality protein. This is an excellent way to add protein to your diet without having to turn to meat and other better-known sources. In addition to the protein and fat, you’ll get high levels of vitamin A (3800 mg), vitamin E (90mg), phosphorus (1160 mg), sodium, magnesium (483mg), calcium (145 mg), iron (14mg), zinc (7 mg), sulfur and potassium (859 mg) when you consume these seeds.
Contains Amino Acids Shown to Encourage Heart Health
An extensive
study looked at benefits of consuming arginine at higher levels could help to reduce a particular type of inflammation linked with heart disease. The study found that those who consumed more of this amino acid had significantly lower levels of this inflammation-causing protein. Reducing the likelihood of having heart problems later in life. Hemp seeds contain high levels of arginine. In addition, arginine helps to produce nitric oxide, which has been
shown to lower blood pressure because it allows your blood vessels to dilate and relax more naturally. Lower blood pressure is also necessary for avoiding heart disease. Multiple studies (
1,
2 and
3) have been done on animals with hemp seed. These studies found that hemp seed can help to reduce the overall risk of blood clots, and improve recovery after a heart attack. Hemp seeds are an essential item for helping to keep your heart healthy.
Reduce Symptoms of PMS & Menopause
Millions of women spend thousands of dollars to combat the pain and discomfort associated with PMS, and millions more to help get through menopause. A more effective and more natural alternative, is to turn to hemp seeds. Many of the unpleasant symptoms associated with PMS are believed to be caused by a sensitivity to a hormone called prolactin (see study
here). A nutrient found in hemp seeds called Gamma-linolenic acid has been shown to produce prostaglandin E1, which studies have found helps to reduce the effects of prolactin. This means that simply adding hemp seeds to your diet when you are expecting to experience PMS symptoms can help to dramatically reduce their severity. This has been confirmed in several studies (
study 1,
study 2,
study 3).
Improved Digestion is Possible
Consuming whole hemp seeds can help to provide you with a good supply of healthy fiber. You’ll get 20% soluble fiber and 80% insoluble fiber, which can help aid in your digestion process. Studies have shown that getting enough of each type of fiber can help to keep the beneficial digestive bacteria at their proper levels as well as help waste pass through the body. The studies can be found here:
1,
2,
3,
4. When it comes to getting fiber from hemp seeds, you need to make sure you are consuming the whole seed. Hemp seeds are commonly sold just as hemp hearts (without the husk). While hemp hearts are still quite healthy, they have very little fiber in them since it is all found in the outer shell.
Lose Weight with Hemp Seeds
Linked to the high levels of fiber, hemp seeds can help you to lose weight. This is because consuming even a fairly small amount of hemp seeds can help to make you feel fuller for longer. This will help you to avoid overeating and make it easier to reduce the overall calorie count you take in each day.
Adding Hemp Seeds to Your Diet
Whenever discussing the health benefits of health benefits, it is important to be completely clear. Hemp seeds do not have the levels of THC that marijuana does, and it absolutely cannot get you high in any way. In addition, hemp seeds are completely legal in all 50 states. There are no restrictions on who can legally consume hemp seeds because there are no health concerns (though there are many health benefits). Whether you enjoy them raw, add them to your favorite dishes, mix them in a smoothie or add hemp seed oil to your supplement routine, you will get many great health benefits. Give it a try for a few weeks and you’ll feel the difference.
