Hemp - Superfood Or Super-fad?

I was reluctant to add hemp to our segment on super-foods because, honestly, I wasn’t that educated on hemp as a food product. I knew hemp is used to make canvas, boat sails, clothes, paper, ship rigs, twine, fish nets and so much more. But a super-food??

I buried myself in research studies and independent articles to see if there was any substance qualifying hemp as a super-food. I was surprised at what I learned.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁- 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗷𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗮?

It is important to know that hemp is different from the marijuana plant. You could call hemp, marijuana’s cousin, if you looked at it as a family relationship. Yes, they are family, but they are both different in more ways than one. Hemp is a taller plant than marijuana. Most of its leaves are located toward the top of the hemp plant, keeping closer together as it grows. Additionally, the hemp plant has the ability to be grown in a wide range of conditions. It does not need the same care as the marijuana plant. Moreover, it grows quicker and easier than the marijuana plant.

𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗣 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦-

High in digestible protein: Hemp contains all nine essential amino-acids making it a complete source of protein and an excellent dietary source of easily digestible, gluten-free protein.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): Hemp seeds is the only food source with all the essential fatty acids, and contains them in nearly perfect proportions 3 to 1 (Omega-6 to Omega-3). This balance between Omega-6’s and 3’s is what the body needs; fats are important to health, given that they are the right kind of fats and the proper balance. EFAs are essential to tissue growth and help regulate many internal functions.

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀 & 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀:

Vitamin B9- essential for the production of healthy red blood cells.

Vitamin B1(Thiamine)- helps convert carbohydrate and amino acids into energy for proper functioning of the heart, muscles and nervous system.

Vitamin B3(Niacin)- aids in the functioning of the digestive system, skin, and nerves; conversion of food to energy.

Vitamin B6- aids in the production of antibodies in the immune system.

Phosphorus- vital for bones, teeth and nerve cells.

Magnesium- contributes to bone health.

Copper- required by our bodies for absorption, storage and metabolism of iron.

Iron- is necessary for making new cells.

Zinc- assists enzyme activity in all our cells.

Potassium- aids the body’s growth and maintenance.

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗦-

𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲-

The seeds contain high amounts of the amino acid arginine, which produces nitric oxide in your body.

Nitric oxide is a gas molecule that makes your blood vessels dilate and relax, leading to lowered blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease

𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀-

Hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered in the optimal range.

𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻-

About 25% of calories in hemp seeds come from protein, which is relatively high.

In fact, by weight, hemp seeds provide similar amounts of protein as beef and lamb — 30 grams of hemp seeds, or 2–3 tablespoons, provide about 11 grams of protein.

𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗠𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲-

PMS symptoms are very likely caused by sensitivity to the hormone prolactin.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in hemp seeds, produces prostaglandin E1, which reduces the effects of prolactin.

𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-

Fiber is an essential part of your diet and linked to better digestive health.
Whole hemp seeds are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, containing 20% and 80%, respectively

𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘-

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, just one tablespoon of hemp seeds weighing 30 grams (g) contains 166 calories and 14.62 grams of fat (the good kind). Despite their relatively high calorie and fat content, many nutritionists claim hemp seeds can help aid in weight loss due to their high fiber, low carbohydrate profile.

𝗗𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗣 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗖 𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗕𝗗?

The short answer is not really. The seeds may contain trace amounts of both THC & CBD but in such negligible amounts you would never experience any psychotropic effects from eating hemp seeds. And don’t worry about failing a drug test by eating hemp seeds. The potentially trace amount of THC found in hemp seeds will not yield a positive result on a drug test.