Hemp Seeds Nutrition Benefits
What are hemp seeds?
Hemp seeds are obtained from the Hemp plant also known as Cannabis (marijuana) but before you panic and wonder if you’re on the right blog 😀 wait, don’t go!
Yes, hemp seeds are from the cannabis family but are from a different variety to the “cannabis” you know about. This variety has a much lower concentration of THC, the psychoactive compound that is present in the cannabis that gets users “high”.
Hemp seeds can be purchased in two forms: Shelled and unshelled.
When unshelled, they are small brown round crunchy balls about 4mm in length.
When shelled, they are referred to as hemp hearts and are soft.
Hemp seeds are very nutritious and can be eaten raw or roasted.
Why was I interested in hemp seeds?
As a vegetarian, it is difficult to get Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats in my diet. Hemp seeds are a rich source of both omega 3 and omega 6 which are essential for good eye, skin and brain health.
What nutrients do hemp seeds have?
Hemp seeds are packed with many unusual nutrients that you may not get from your normal diet, especially if you’re vegetarian.
According to healthline.com and WebMD, hemp seeds are good sources of:
- Omega 3
- Omega 6
- Protein
- Vitamin E
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Manganese
- B Vitamins
Getting these amino acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) as well as the other nutrients can be difficult from a vegan or vegetarian diet, so it would be good to add these to your diet.
What are the nutrition benefits of hemp seeds?
HEMP SEEDS MAY BE GOOD FOR SKIN
Hemp seeds are a good source of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats which may help to improve skin condition.
Hemp seeds have a ratio of 3:1 of Omega 6 to Omega 3 which is thought to be an optimal ratio.
This may relieve the symptoms of eczema and improve itchy or dry skin.
These fats may also help with acne and keeping your skin hydrated hence younger looking.
HEMP SEEDS PROMOTE HEART HEALTH
Hemp seeds could be beneficial for reducing cholesterol and blood pressure because they are a great source of arginine and gamma-linolenic acid according to healthline.com.
Magnesium found in hemp seeds may regulate heartbeat and potentially prevent coronary heart disease.
HEMP SEEDS MAY BE GOOD FOR YOUR HAIR
Hemp seeds are very good source of protein, especially for vegetarians, which provide all nine essential amino acids – which is rare with plant sources of protein.
Eating protein can be greatly beneficial for your hair. If you do not consume enough protein, your hair may start thinning.
HEMP SEEDS MAY BE GOOD FOR BRAIN HEALTH
The optimal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 may be beneficial for cognitive health.
The brain mostly comprises of fats i.e Omega fatty acids and consuming hemp seeds may provide the building blocks required to keep the brain in good health.
HEMP SEEDS MAY REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF PMS
Hemp seeds may help with the symptoms from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) such as mood swings, stomach cramps, tiredness, bloating etc.
The gamma-linolenic acid in hemp seeds helps in minimising these symptoms.
HEMP SEEDS MAY HELP WITH DIGESTION
Eating unshelled hemp seeds has a lot of fiber which can help with digestion.
How do I eat hemp seeds?
You can eat hemp seeds raw or roasted.
Hemp seeds can easily be added to your diet. Add them to your cereal, oatmeal, yoghurts, smoothies, milkshakes or even salads.
You can also add hemp seeds when baking bread or cakes.
Hemp milk can also be used by vegans.
How many hemp seeds do I eat daily?
I would suggest eating about 1-2 tablespoons of hemp seeds daily. I consume just about 1 tablespoon a day as I tend to consume many other foods that provide some of the nutrients above.
Is there a risk to consuming hemp seeds?
Risks of consuming hemp seeds include:
May interfere with medication (anticoagulants)
Should not be consumed by pregnant women
Should be avoided by people previously dependant on cannabis
May cause digestion problems such as bloating, nausea, constipation if consumed in large amounts.
How do I store my hemp seeds?
Hemp seeds should be stored in an airtight container or the fridge in a cool dark and dry place.
Consume them regularly so that they do not become rancid. Hemp seeds will keep for about 3-4 months if stored outside in your pantry, so I would suggest storing them in the fridge.
Hemp seeds nutrition benefits
I hope you enjoyed my blog post on the nutrition benefits of hemp seeds. It contains information from a lot of sources mainly from my reading and research online about hemp seeds, listening to podcasts etc. Please feel free to comment incase you have any more information to add, subtract or any questions 🙂
