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Hemp seeds are quickly disrupting the rankings when it comes to plant-based superfoods. Also known as hemp hearts, they come with several benefits for your body due to their high nutritional value. This explains why hemp-infused foods are increasing in numbers on store shelves and features in various menus. What makes hemp valuable is its high concentration of minerals and vitamins, gives it a rich nutritional profile.
There is no doubt that hemp seeds are taking the nutritional industry by storm. Much of its popularity results from the increased legalization of cannabis. The wide acceptance of cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes enables many people to enjoy the benefits. There are plenty of trustworthy canada weed dispensary platforms that offer you incredible cannabis products.
However, in this guide, we will give you a deeper understanding of hemp seeds, what differentiates it from marijuana, and the benefits that users get by adding it on their diet:
Is Hemp the same as Marijuana?
Since hemp seeds come from cannabis plants, many users tend to believe that they are similar to marijuana. They use various hybrids to produce personalized cannabis plants for their needs. Well, this is not true. One of the significant differences between them is their chemical composition. Hemp contains traces of THC amounting to only 0.3%, but marijuana can pack up to 30% of THC. THC is the chemical that is responsible for the ‘high’ feeling of cannabis.1
1 Hilderbrand, R.L. (2018). Hemp & Cannabidiol: What is a Medicine? Missouri medicine, [online] 115(4), pp.306–309. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140266/.
What are The Benefits of Adding Hemp Seeds to Your Diet?
Nutritious
Hemp seeds are popular because of their nutritional profile. They contain high concentrations of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential healthy fats for your body. Despite how small the seeds look, they contain an array of minerals and vitamins such as zinc, magnesium, iron, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Furthermore, hemp seeds contain plant-based protein. What’s fascinating is that they can give up to 30 grams in 3 tablespoons, which almost double those from flaxseeds or chia. This means that they can deliver all the 10 essential amino acids that should be part of your diet.
Good for Your Skin
Today, hemp is a common ingredient in most cosmetic products, including lotions, and lip balms. Some bathing soaps manufacturers are also now including hemp in their products. What makes hemp suitable for use in caring for the skin is that its oil infiltrates the inner layers of your skin, encouraging strong cellular growth. As a result, you get smooth and soft skin.
Acne is one of the most common skin diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. However, research finding sheds a ray of hope to the victims of this disorder. A study indicates that hemp seeds can help in fighting skin conditions such as acne.
3. Prevents Heart Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality. While medications for managing this disease are available, non seems to be effective as hemp. Hemp seeds contain a high concentration of arginine, a type of amino acid that helps in lowering blood pressure and dilating the blood vessels, thus preventing heart diseases.1
Hemp seeds are also healthy sources of Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and offer a balanced ratio of omega fatty acids (3/6), which is good for optimum heart functioning. Considering that there is no synthesis of fatty acids in the body, you need to obtain them from supplements or diet. Adding hemp seeds to your diet offers you an incredible way of achieving this.2
1 Rodriguez-Leyva, D. and Pierce, G.N. (2010). The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed. Nutrition & Metabolism, [online] 7(1), p.32. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2868018/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].
2 Pharmacy Times. (2009). Omega Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Health. [online] Available at: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2009/december2009/otcfocusomegasupplements-1209 [Accessed 18 Oct. 2019].
Helps in Digestion
Digestion is an essential process in the human body. So, keeping the digestive system running smoothly is crucial. Fiber is one of the foods that play a significant role in digestive health. In simple terms, it is the fuel that your colon cells need to stay healthy. Besides, fiber retains water and makes the stool bulky easing digestion. For this reason you need fiber to keep the bowel movements relaxed and regular.
Hemp seeds are good sources of dietary fiber. They produce both insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber provides the required nutrients during digestion, and insoluble fiber adds weight to stool, making the elimination of waste through the gut easy.2
1 Pharmacy Times. (2009). Omega Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Health. [online] Available at: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2009/december2009/otcfocusomegasupplements-1209 [Accessed 18 Oct. 2019].
2 Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), pp.1417–1435.
5. Weight loss
If you are not comfortable with your weight, then shedding extra pounds can give you the self-esteem you desire. Apart from exercising, and keeping of carbohydrates intake, you need to supply your body with the right amounts of fatty acids and proteins. Hence, you need ingredients that are low in carbs and rich in proteins. For these reasons, hemp seeds are suitable for weight loss since they have a perfect blend of iron, fatty acids, proteins. Magnesium, zinc, and fiber.
6. Helps in Managing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Many women suffer from symptoms of PMS emotionally and physically. The symptoms include breast pain and tenderness, irritability, depression, and more. According to research, the cause of the symptoms can be the high levels of prolactin hormones. So, managing the symptoms means reducing the excessive production of the hormone, something which hemp seeds can help with.
Hemp seeds contain high amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that is part of fatty acids that reduce the effects of prolactin, thus decreasing the symptoms linked to PMS. 1
Furthermore, GLA can also help in managing other conditions affecting women undergoing menopause. It helps in treating inflammation and regulating hormone imbalances. 2
Conclusion
Like you’ve seen, there are many benefits of adding hemp seeds to your diet. Including hemp to your diet allows you to enjoy the many nutrients that it contains, and the nutrients help to keep your body functioning. With many ways of consuming hemp, adding them to your diet shouldn’t be an issue. Some of the ways of taking hemp products are consuming them raw or add them to salads.
The use of hemp seeds and legalization of cannabis comes with a lot of benefits to the users. Getting the products is not only easier, growing them is now possible. Everything you need when
starting is available online. If you want to grow hybrid indica strain, buy the best seeds at Canna Cabana for fast growth and good yields.
1 Rocha Filho, E.A., Lima, J.C., Pinho Neto, J.S. and Montarroyos, U. (2011). Essential fatty acids for premenstrual syndrome and their effect on prolactin and total cholesterol levels: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Reproductive health, [online] 8, p.2. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21241460.
2 Saberivand, A., Karimi, I., Becker, L.A., Moghaddam, A., Azizi-Mahmoodjigh, S., Yousefi, M. and Zavareh, S. (2010). The effects of Cannabis sativa L. seed (hempseed) in the ovariectomized rat model of menopause. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, [online] 32(7), pp.467–73. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21069097 [Accessed 18 Oct. 2019].
Author’s Bio
Tammy is a cannabis and health industry consultant who frequently writes about the latest trends in the industry. She has been writing for a long time now. Through her writing, she hopes to influence as many people as possible to help maintain better health and lifestyle. She is reachable at tammy@cannabismails.com