There are many advantages to using hemp products. Hemp clothing is more durable than cotton and gets softer as you wash it. Hemp foods are extremely nutritious packed full of Vitamin E, Omega 3 and GLA.
There are also many environmental advantages, Hemp uses little fertilization, resists pests (uses little or no pesticides), uses half as much water to grow as Cotton, one acre of land can produce 250% more Hemp than Cotton. Can grow almost anywhere and the leaves return healthy minerals to the soil.
The nutritional composition of hemp seed is quite unique and exceptional! Whole hemp seeds contain approximately 36% dietary fat, 26% high quality and digestible protein and 31% carbohydrates comprised mainly of dietary fiber, in addition to an interesting array of vitamins and minerals.
Hemp seeds’ dietary fat is primarily composed of polyunsaturated fats or the “good fats”. Hempseed oil’s fatty acid profile is comprised of 80% polyunsaturated fats, 11% monounsaturated fats, 9% saturated fats and zero trans fats.
Health organizations have recommended that fat intake should make up 20% to 35% of your total calories. They further recommend that most of your fat intake should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, while limiting the in take of trans and saturated fats. Hemp seed dietary fat meets this recommendation. Hemp seed contains zero trans fat and is cholesterol-free. You do not have worry about your heart and cardiovascular system.
Hemp seed contains one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's). EFA's are vital for good health but cannot be manufactured by our body, and so they must be present in our diet through the foods we eat. EFA's are both important components of cell membranes and are precursors for substances in the body involved with regulating blood pressure and inflammatory responses.
Hemp seed uniquely contains naturally-occurring Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Stearidonic Acid (SDA). GLA and SDA are direct metabolites of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFA's, respectively. These two metabolites are important for anti-inflammation and auto-immune functions in our bodies.
Hemp seeds are a source of high quality, plant based protein. Analysis of hemp food proteins has resulted in a Protein Rating of 402 and above, meaning that the protein content in hemp foods is not only present in high amounts, but also of a high quality! Hemp protein is free of trypsin-inhibitors. Trypsin is a key enzyme that breaks down peptide bonds in proteins, enabling more efficient protein uptake in the human body.
Trypsin inhibitors which are found in other protein rich sources like soy can cause flatulence. Hempseed and foods not only contain a high quality protein, available in high amounts, but they are also free of inhibitors that impede protein digestion making hemp highly digestible.
Hemp protein is very high in dietary fiber. Fiber helps to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning properly. The dietary fiber found in hemp is primarily composed of insoluble fiber.
Hemp is inherently gluten and lactose free. Gluten is a type of protein found in most grains commonly used in cereals and baked goods. Most people allergic to gluten have a similar reaction to lactose and soy.
Hemp foods naturally have zero gluten and lactose content.
A Source of Vitamins and Minerals.
Each vitamin or mineral does a specific job in the body and some of them do extra work in teams, to keep body cells healthy. Some of the vitamins and minerals present in hemp that benefit our health and well being are:
- Good source of folate (Vitamin B9) Folate is essential to numerous bodily functions including the production of healthy red blood cells and cells that line the digestive tract. It is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth since folate is necessary for the creation and maintenance of new cells, and for DNA and RNA synthesis. Folate is also essential for the prevention of neural tube defects of a fetus during the first few weeks of pregnancy• Good source of thiamine (Vitamin B1) Thiamine plays a critical role in the energy metabolism of all cells. Thiamine aids conversion of carbohydrates and amino acids into energy and is essential for proper functioning of the heart, muscles and nervous system.
- Contains riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Riboflavin is necessary for energy metabolism in our bodies. It is also essential for body growth, reproduction, red cell production and supports normal vision and skin health