Hemp seeds are nutritional powerhouses packed with plant-based goodness. They are a superfood with many benefits and incorporating them into your diet can help you achieve optimal health.
Since they are the seeds of the Cannabis Sativa plant, there is a misconception that they contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. However, they contain only trace amounts and have no psychoactive impact.
Hemp seeds have a mild, nutty flavor and add a delicious crunch to meals. Unsure of how to eat them? You can enjoy a handful as a snack or sprinkle them on salads, stir-frys, oatmeal, yogurt, or soups. They are great when blended into smoothies and add a delicious creamy texture. You can replace your whey protein powder with hemp protein, a high-quality alternative. You can even easily make hemp milk at home for healthy plant-based milk.
While there are many more, read on to learn 8 reasons why hemp seeds should be part of your diet.
Packed with Protein
Over 25 percent of the calories in hemp seeds come from protein, and they pack 10 grams of protein per ounce. Eating a protein-rich diet helps with satiety, muscle building, and maintaining a healthy weight. Adding hemp seeds to your food will help you feel fuller longer, reducing your need for snacking.
Reducing reliance on meat and dairy and choosing plant-based protein sources reduces your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Additionally, because the animal agriculture industry is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, eating more plant-based foods is one of the most important steps you can take to fight climate change.
High in Fiber
Fiber is important for good digestion, lowering cholesterol, and controlling blood sugar levels. Hemp seeds are very high in fiber, packing in a whopping 16.8 grams per 56-gram serving. Hemp seeds contain soluble fiber, which turns to gel in your intestines and slows digestion for maximal nutrient absorption, and insoluble fiber, which doesn’t break down in your gut and helps your intestines pass food. For optimal gut health, it’s important to eat both. Including fiber-rich foods into your diet allows you to feel more satiated, which can help you eat less and maintain a healthy weight. It also keeps your blood sugar stable and your energy levels consistent.
Rich in Healthy Fats
Hemp seeds contain two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). Omega-3 fats are incredibly healthy and help fight cognitive decline including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease. They also help prevent vision loss, heart disease, inflammation, auto-immune diseases, and metabolic syndrome.
Omega-6 fat is an important nutrient for brain development, maintaining bone health and metabolism, and keeping your reproductive system healthy.
Additionally, the hemp plant is used for a variety of products including biofuel, clothing, construction materials, paper, organic body care, and plastic composites. CBD oils with differing chemical compositions is also extracted from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant and has numerous health benefits, as exciting new research is showing.
Rich in Minerals and Vitamins
Hemp seeds contain many essential vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, sulfur, magnesium sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. It’s very high in vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that fights aging, according to the National Institutes of Health. Hemp seeds also contain high levels of zinc, which is important in plant-based diets because anti-nutrients such as phytates reduce the bioavailability and absorption of zinc from plant foods. In fact, zinc is one of the essential nutrients that can reduce the duration of the common cold, and it also helps with general immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. You can take strong CBD pills which are extracted by hemp flowers which have goodness of Hemp.
Hemp Seeds Keep your Heart Healthy
Hemp seeds are beneficial for your cardiovascular health and may reduce the risk of heart disease due to the high amounts of arginine. Arginine helps produce nitric acid, which relaxes blood vessels, and the consistent inclusion of arginine in your diet is proven to lower blood pressure over time. Additionally, hemp seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid that reduces inflammation, which leads to an increased risk of heart disease.
They Keep your Skin Healthy
The gamma-linolenic acid found in hemp seeds helps stimulate skin cell and hair growth and is proven to help with dry skin and dermatitis. Hemp oil also fights signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, and the healthy fats in hemp seeds help your skin stay supple and moisturized, keeping you looking youthful.
They Help with PMS and Menopause
The fatty acids in hemp seeds can even help regulate hormones and inflammation, which reduces bothersome symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause. The former is triggered by sensitivity to prolactin, and gamma-linolenic acid is known to reduce the effect of this hormone. With up to 80 percent of women suffering from PMS, this is exciting news.
Digestive Health
Aside from its high fiber content, hemp seeds are also rich in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), which is very beneficial for gut health. SCFAs fight cancer cells, strengthen the colon and reduce intestinal inflammation.
The soluble fiber in hemp seeds is helpful in creating a good environment for the good bacteria in your gut and is beneficial in maintaining an overall healthy colon flora balance. The insoluble fiber even adds bulk to your stool, helping with regular bowel movements.
With so many amazing benefits, hemp seeds are an incredible and tasty addition to your diet and help you reach optimal health. Try including them in your diet regularly, and see for yourself why they earned the title “superfood.”