The Amazing Power of Hemp Foods

It’s Day Two of Hemp History Week and today we’re looking at: Amazing Hemp Foods!

It’s not just the world’s oldest and most versatile crop, hemp is also easy on our eco-system.  Hemp can be grown without pesticides, herbicides, and with reduced fertilizers, unlike other crops (like cotton for instance, which is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world).  Hemp also uses less water than other crops (like cotton) when grown as a fiber.  It prevents soil erosion (by root-binding), adds nutrients back to the soil, and produces oxygen (lowering Co2 levels in our atmosphere – decreasing global warming).

Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the (hemp) fields? – Henry Ford

Besides having an abundance of ecological advantages, hemp is also one of the single most nutritious food item on the planet.  No other single plant source has all the essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, and complete proteins in as perfect ratios to meet nutritional needs as hemp.  Further hemp is a great source of dietary fiber (a whopping 35%), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and in particular vitamin E.  Not to mention it’s low in saturated fat (less than 8%), and because of it’s globulins, hemp is one of the most easily digested foods as well.

There are a plethora of hemp foods, such as hemp seeds, oils, milk, protein powders, and flour.  Pressed seed cake, or hemp meal (the remnants after the oil has been pressed out), can also be used as feed for animals.  Experiments in Kentucky have revealed that, “hemp-fed cattle require less feed and digest it more efficiently.  Hemp seeds are also the preferred seed among birds. It is said to improve the frequency and mood of canary song.”

Happy people and happy animals.

But what about the THC in hemp foods? Won’t that show up on a drug screening?

Most US States prohibits the cultivation of cannabis which contains large amounts of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) because of it’s psychoactive properties.  The hemp available today is based on a naturally selected strain of the plant which produces effectively no measurable THC.  This means that hemp foods contain less than 0.01% THC.   In other words, you won’t get high from eating hemp foods- even in large quantities.

Generally speaking, eating hemp foods is not likely to cause interference with federal drug-testing programs.  There are some very isolated cases in which persons who consumed hemp encountered unconfirmed positive samples on drug screenings.  Those cases are seldom and depend largely on below-standard cutoff limits (parts per billion) of THC.  It is similar to eating poppyseeds and testing positive for trace amounts of opium, it’s pretty rare.

Find out more information about hemp safety and drug testing at www.testpledge.com.

So, want to add some of this super-food to your diet?  Here’s a few ways:

Hempseeds. These bad boys can be eaten raw, added to salads, soups, smoothies, cereals, or a million other recipes.  They have a light, nutty flavor.  You can find them either shelled or hulled in most natural food stores or online.  Please, since they are loaded with unsaturated fat, store your hemp seeds away from light and heat.  I keep mine in the refrigerator, so should you.

Hemp oils. Most commonly used as a supplement, hemp oil has been found to be superior to olive, flaxseed, and fish oils.  Like hempseeds, hemp oils are kept in the refrigerator section in most natural foods stores and should be stored in the same.  Keep the bottles tightly sealed and consume within 1 to 3 months for optimum freshness.  Hemp oils are rendered unfit for consumption by heating above 150 degrees C (300 degrees F) and should not be substituted for other oils in cooking or frying.  That said, hemp oils make excellent salad dressings by adding a lovely nutty flavor to them.

Hemp Protein. High protein and fat-free, hemp protein powders make a quick meal or recovery drink after a grueling workout.  Like other protein powders, hemp can be mixed into smoothies, juices, soy yogurts, non-dairy milks, or even water.  I’ve made protein pudding out of mine, using only enough water to get a pudding like consistency.  Delightful!  Most natural food stores (and most mainstream supplement stores) carry hemp protein powder in the protein supplement section or you can find it online.

Hemp Nuts. If crunchy little snacks are your thing, these are for you.  Similar to soynuts, these crunchy snacks are perfect on their own but can also be added to granola, trail mix, cereals, salads, or even soups.  They taste similar to sunflower/walnuts.

Hemp Milk. Not all non-dairy milks are equal.  No other non-dairy milk gives you the nutritional profile that hemp can.  Smooth and creamy, hemp milk can be substituted anytime dairy milk is called for.  It’s perfect for your morning cereal, cooking and baking, or just in a cup.  You can find hemp milk in the refrigerator section of natural food stores, or in sealed cartons on non-refrigerated shelves.

As a side note, because you can make hemp milk you can make hemp milk ice cream.  I love hemp milk ice cream!  I’ve been Tempt(ed), and it was GOOD.

You can also find Hemp Waffles and Hemp Cereals, yum!

Manitoba, Nutiva, Ruth’s Hemp Foods, and Living Harvest, are just a few of the companies who produce hemp foods.  If anyone has any other favorites, feel free to leave the company in the comments!

Happy (vegan) Hemp Eating!