Download Better hemp Nutrition,Simplified

B et te r h e m p
N u t ritio n, S i m p l ifie d
1. What is Hemp? Hemp is a non-drug variety of the
cannabis sativa family that has been grown for hundreds of
years. Hemp is an oilseed, not a grass. The hemp plant has
many uses – a quality plant food source, skincare, and
detergent as well as a raw materials source for everything
from building materials to clothing and bedding.
2. What is the difference between Hemp seeds
and Hemp seed oil? The hemp seeds (also referred to
as “Hemp Hearts”) contain protein, fats, and fiber. The
hempseed oil contains only the fats. There are great reasons
to consume both as part of a nutrient dense diet.
3. Does Hemp contain good fats? Indeed it does!
Hemp is a great way to get in ‘essential fatty acids’ (meaning
ones we need to consume from food because the body
doesn’t make them) as well as ones that are good to get from
food to support the body’s optimal functioning. Hemp Hearts
and hempseed oil contain good fats with what’s considered an
optimal ratio of essential fatty acids (omega-6:omega-3 at 4:1)
without being a source of dietary cholesterol.
4. Does Hemp contain protein? You bet! Hemp hearts
and hemp protein powders are an excellent, whole food
source of plant proteins. By containing the essential amino
acids necessary for the body, hemp earns a special place
among plant foods as a ‘complete’ protein (like quinoa and
soybeans). We know that the body can create proteins as long
as it gets the essential amino acids, in sufficient amounts,
from different foods but it’s great that some foods contain
some amount of all the essential amino acids at once. This is
different than when some foods are touted as having “protein”
but really have some of the amino acids which will help the
body create proteins when consumed in a day with foods that
provide the amino acids it does not.
5. Does Hemp contain fiber? It does! And it contains both
types of fiber – soluble and insoluble – making it a great
choice for heart health, immune health, digestive health and
more. Specifically, hemp’s fiber content helps regulate
cholesterol levels as well as helping to reduce overeating
(because fiber helps to improve fullness).
6. Does Hemp contain carbohydrates? While hemp
contains fiber, which is listed on a food label under
carbohydrates, hemp seeds do not contain any other
significant source of carbohydrates. Hempseed oil does not
contain any fiber or other carbohydrates.
7. Is Hemp heart healthy? There are numerous clinical
studies indicating that Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of
healthy people, and those at high risk of — or who have —
cardiovascular disease. Hemp foods contain Omega-3. Rich
in heart healthy minerals: Hemp Hearts contain dietary iron,
zinc, and magnesium which all play key roles in protecting the
health of the heart muscle, the circulatory pathways and the
blood.
8. Is Hemp gluten-free? Hemp seed naturally does not
contain gluten. However, the presence of only one barley or
wheat kernel amongst 50,000 hemp seed can potentially
result in a positive test for gluten. Since farmers don’t typically
seek to control nature – it’s important to evaluate the source of
hemp you are consuming to determine it’s gluten containing
potential if you are choosing to or have to avoid all gluten. I
asked my partners at Manitoba Harvest how they handle the
gluten issue and here is their reply:
“As the world’s largest hemp food manufacturer to grow, make
and sell our own line of hemp foods, this one gluten kernel could
inadvertently be introduced at any point. A single wheat or barley
kernel could be introduced during harvest, seed cleaning, or even
during delivery to our facility. This potential concerns us greatly.
Manitoba Harvest strives to deliver the highest quality hemp
foods. With our valued customers in mind, we have worked
diligently to provide the most accurate product specifications. We
are aggressively looking for processes and methodologies that
would provide us with the certainty that our products are indeed
gluten free. Until we are able to provide consistent and accurate
controls, we are erring on the side of caution. Instead of stating
our products are gluten-free (which implies an absolute), you will
see the following on our packages instead.
9. Are Hemp seeds better for you than chia or flax
seeds? Let’s not be silly. All of nature’s nuts and seeds can
be a part of a healthy, delicious nutrition plan – I don’t claim
that one is better than another. Hemp delivers protein, fats,
vitamins, minerals, and fiber without additional carbohydrates
so it definitely adds great nutrition as well as taste and texture
to any meal or snack. Hemp can be cooked and doesn’t
require being ground up, so it’s easy to use. My partners at
Manitoba Harvest have a great chart showing how hemp
compares to a few other seeds nutritionally on their website.
10. What’s the CBD content in hempseed oil?
Please be clear that CBD extracts are related to the medicinal
marijuana industry NOT the hemp industry. Industrial hemp
contains less than 0.03% THC and therefore is not a
significant source of CBD. Besides, CBD extracts comes from
leaves of cannabis plants. In Canada, where we source most
of our hemp foods from, it is illegal to harvest the leaves of
Industrial hemp.
11. Will eating Hemp make me and my kids
“high”? Is it the same as marijuana? Hemp and marijuana
are much like a sweet pepper and a hot pepper, or a
Chihuahua and a Great Dane. Hemp and marijuana are both
part of the cannabis plant family but are VERY different. For
better clarification, I asked my partners at Manitoba Harvest
Hemp Foods to share their specific product information as an
example: “our products contain 0.003% Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) and will NOT cause a psychoactive effect nor will our
products cause a false positive drug test.”
12. Can I cook /bake Hemp seeds? YES and it’s a
16. Are Hemp foods safe for pregnant women?
13. Should I skip Hemp because I heard Omega-6
fats are bad for you? Well, you would have to skip a lot
17. I am trying to choose the best protein powder
– I like a plant-based option, like Hemp, but will
it be absorbed and is it good for me as a
workout recovery fuel option? First, know that I
delicious way to add nutrients and texture to different recipes.
That said, hemp hearts are not intended for frying at high heat
and nor should you cook with hempseed oil at a high
temperature.
more than hemp and in doing so you would be doing your
body a big disservice. We (nutrition educators) haven’t made it
simple to understand about what is a good fat or bad fat and
why – especially when it comes to omegas, so let me address
that here. There are fatty acids that the body must get from
food because we don’t make them and we need them for
optimal health functioning. Omega-6s are one class of those
fatty acids – we call them “essential fatty acids.” In fact,
physiologically we need more omega-6 fats than Omega-3s!!
However, our diets – due to processed foods including highly
refined foods, manufacturer desire for cheaper versions of
fats, and chemistry lab projects – have swayed too far on the
omega-6 side and less of the omega-3s. So many health
advisors have communicated a need for more omega-3s to
correct this imbalance. While this makes sense, and is
effective to correct an imbalance in the diet, it does not mean
to avoid whole food sources of omega-6s. One of the main
reasons, is that in nature, we don’t have “Omega-6” foods and
“Omega-3 foods” we have food sources that contain fatty
acids – a combination of omega-3s and 6s, as well as
non-essential but healthy for us fats. So what you should
avoid are poor quality fats. And what you should consume are
foods, like hemp, that contain healthy fat profiles. Hemp’s a
good choice because it contains both omega-6s (including a
hard to get in fatty acid GLA that is important for hormone
health as well as healthy hair, skin and nails) and omega-3s –
in fact, it contains them in the ratio many experts believe is the
optimal one for better health (4:1 – omega-6:omega-3).
14. Does Hemp have an impact on estrogen? Hemp
foods do not contain phytoestrogen properties, so hemp does
not have a direct impact on estrogen. That said, the healthy
profile of essential fatty acids and amino acids as well as the
fiber, vitamins and minerals contribute to hemp seeds positive
impact on supporting hormonal health.
Yes. Hemp contains numerous nutritional benefits, including
folate, so it is a safe and delicious additional to expectant
mothers’ diets.
never say “best” or “perfect” when it comes to food choices ☺
That said, hemp protein & hemp protein powders ( if they are
AKA like Manitoba Harvest products) are whole food sources
of NonGMO plant protein. They provide all the essential amino
acids including edestin and albumin globular proteins that
dissolve easily contributing to a high digestibility score.
Moreover, hemp protein is also highly digestible because it
contains no known allergens like lactose. Hemp protein is free
from oligosaccarhides that can cause flatulence. Hemp
protein also contains GLA and omega-3s – fatty acids that
help promote a healthy inflammation response and are helpful
in post workout recovery nutrition. We need more information
on bio-availability (absorption) and at this time peer-reviewed
scientific data on the absorption rate (or speed of digestion)
for hemp protein is currently underway.
18. Can Hemp help my dry, irritated skin? There are
several things that can trigger skin irritations and several
different types of skin issues. Topical applications of a
skin-nourishing oil like hemp may help skin irritations. Also,
shifting to a hemp soap or detergent from soaps and
detergents that contain chemicals or alcohol and other agents
that can potentially dry or irritate the skin may help as well.
For skin irritations that occur regularly or are ongoing, nutrition
plays a more central role. Hemp is a plant source of essential
fatty acids (“essential” because the body doesn’t make them
so we need to get them in through our food choices).
Sufficient intake of essential fatty acids – both omega-3s and
6s – has shown to help optimize skin and digestive health.
What’s more, hemp contains GLA, a critical omega-6, which
helps address hormone balance, as well as hair, skin and nail
healthy growth.
15 Are Hemp foods suitable for [XYZ] diet? Working collaboratively with your health care professional is the best strategy for
analyzing what foods you should be eating as part of a specific diet plan. Hemp is a vegan, raw, whole food that contains no known
allergens so it works with a wide range of diets. Hemp’s nutrition make-up of protein, good fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals makes
hemp foods a delicious compliment to any diet.
Diet
Diet Description
Why hemp fits
Paleo
Foods presumed to have been eaten by early
humans/hunters & gatherers. Consists mostly of meat,
fish, veggies & fruit. Excludes dairy, grain and anything
processed.
Plant based protein and omegas. A lot of people on paleo
diets are also adding intense workouts so magnesium
content helps muscle recovery and fiber may help
eliminate toxins.
Vegetarian or Vegan
Excludes meat and many animal products.
Vegan = excludes any food or ingredient that comes
from an animal.
Plant-based protein – and omegas. Wide range of
nutrients without any additives or isolates found in
traditional meatless alternatives. Low in carbs and a
good source of fiber.
High protein, low carbs
(Atkins, South Beach, etc)
Low carbs. Focus on protein and fat.
Protein that’s low in carbs. (any carbs come from fiber
which would be beneficial). Good fats that may help with
inflammation.
Simplistic, whole foods
Foods that have not be processed or refined as little
as possible. No additives or preservatives.
Hemp has nutrients the way nature intended. Most
products are raw as well...
Elimination diets or
allergen friendly
Allergy free foods – including gluten free.
No known allergens in hemp foods. For gluten free diets,
need to distinguish between gluten sensitive vs. celiac...
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si m p l ifie d
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