Hemp, Hemp, Hooray!

Hemp, Hemp, Hooray!
Lynn Tryba
a bowl of hemp seeds and vials of oil

Hemp—a cultivar of the Cannibis plant—has been around a long time. Its history dates back more than 12,000 years to China.

It's been used to make everything from paper and rope to clothing and fuel. When refined without its psychotropic chemical—tetrahydrocannabinol or THC—it also makes an excellent nutrition source and health booster.

As the stigma associated with hemp in the US subsides, health-conscious consumers will find lots of reasons to love this high-protein, heart-healthy, healing superfood.

Health Benefits of Hemp

  • Super-Protein

    With 6 grams of protein per tablespoon, hemp seeds are richer in protein than beef or fish. Add some hemp seeds to cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt to pack a crunchy, protein punch to your meal.

  • Immunity Booster

    Whether you choose it as an oil or milk, several studies have shown that hemp naturally boosts the immune system.

  • Hemp’s Omega 3s

    Hemp oil is naturally rich in heart-healthy omega-3, with as much as 2.5 grams in a tablespoon. That compares with just 1.3 to 2.3 grams of omega-3 in salmon.

    And, because it’s not harvested from our often mercury-poisoned waters, these omega-3s are mercury free.

    Hemp oil is also rich in omega-6 and omega-9. These fatty acids aid in heart health and lowering cholesterol.

  • Healthier Hair, Skin, & Nails

    Because the oil in hemp is very similar to that in our bodies, it’s able to more easily and deeply penetrate our hair, skin, and nail fibers. People who take hemp oil routinely comment on their thicker, shinier hair, softer skin, and stronger nails.

  • Erase Eczema

    Scientists at the University of Kuopio in Finland who studied the effects of hemp seed oil patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema) report “a remarkable reduction in dryness, itching, and an overall improvement in symptoms.”

Sources

“Hemp seed oil: The new healthy oil” by John McKiernan, www.naturalnews.com

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hemp
hemp seeds
immunity
omega 3
skin care

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Baked Apple Stuffed Crumble

Baked Apple Stuffed Crumble
Prep Time
15 minutes, plus 30 minutes cook time
Number of Servings
Serves 4
Ingredients
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Line a large baking dish with tinfoil. Pour in [q:1/2] cup water.
  3. Wash apples and cut off the apple tops to about [q:1/4] way down (you want a large enough opening for the crumble to fit). Remove as much of the core and seeds as possible without cutting through to the bottom.
  4. Set apples on tinfoil, and bake for 15 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, prepare the crumble by placing the rest of the ingredients in a blender. Blend to a crumbled consistency (scraping down sides as needed).
  6. Transfer crumble to a bowl and set aside.
  7. Once the apples are done, remove from oven, add [q:1/4] cup more water to the bottom of pan. Then, stuff each apple with the crumble.
  8. Bake for another 15 to 18 minutes. Serve warm.

Yuri’s “No-Name” Berry Smoothie

Yuri’s “No-Name” Berry Smoothie
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of berries
  • 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1-2 Tbsp organic peanut/almond butter
  • 1 Tbsp maca powder
  • 250-500 ml almond milk
Directions

To prepare simply add all ingredients into your blender, whip them up, and enjoy!

Crunchy Red Cabbage and Green Apple Sesame Slaw

Crunchy Red Cabbage and Green Apple Sesame Slaw
Number of Servings
2 Servings
Ingredients

Ingredients for the Salad:

  • 3 cups thinly shredded red cabbage
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple, shredded
  • 2 Tbsp hemp seeds

Ingredients for the Dressing:

  • [q:1/4] cup tahini
  • 3 Tbsp water
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • [q:1/2] tsp sesame oil
  • [q:1/4] – [q:1/2] tsp sea salt (to taste)
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Directions
  1. Whisk dressing ingredients together and set aside.
  2. Dress the shredded vegetables and hemp seeds with dressing; you can use as much as you like, but make sure you coat everything well (a half cup will probably suffice). Serve.

Nut-Flavored Hemp Milk

Nut-Flavored Hemp Milk
Number of Servings
Serves 4
Ingredients
  • [q:3/4] cup hempseeds
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp agave nectar
  • [q:1/8] Tbsp Kosher salt
Directions
  1. Add ingredients to FourSide or WildSide Blendtec jar in order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select "Whole Juice."
  3. For commercial-style hemp milk, strain milk through nut milk bag or cheesecloth to remove pulp.
  4. Serve or store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Info
285 Calories,11 g Protein, 0 mg Cholesterol, 20 g Carbohydrates, 8 g Total sugars (7 g Added sugars), 13 g Fiber, 16 g Total fat (2 g sat), 129 mg Sodium, [nut:5] Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus, [nut:3] Iron, [nut:2] Zinc, [nut:1] Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Homemade Nature Bars

Homemade Nature Bars
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Kamut cereal puffs (Nature's Path) (or rice puffs if gluten-free)
  • [q:1/2] cup of dates, pitted and soaked, then mixed into a paste
  • [q:1/4] cup of millet flakes (or oatmeal)
  • [q:1/4] cup sunflower seeds, unsalted
  • 2 to 4 Tbsp coconut flakes, unsweetened
  • 2 Tbsp toasted, salted hemp seeds (see note below)
Directions
  1. Start by soaking the pitted dates for about 15 minutes to 1 hour (use warm water to prep faster), drain but reserve the water. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together. The mixture should stick together; if not, add just a little water from the dates and mix again. It should not be wet, however.
  2. On a portable flat surface, a dish or cutting board, lay a sheet of parchment paper and scoop out the mixture. Shape into a rectangle and flatten as tight as possible. Cover and place into the fridge for 1 to 2 hrs (or even until the next day). (Makes 5 to 6 bars, depending on how you cut them; double the ingredients for a larger batch.)
  3. Remove from fridge and cut into smaller rectangular pieces lengthwise. Wrap individual pieces in small squares of parchment paper. Then it's best to place them back into the fridge so they hold their shape better.

Omegas & Skin Disorders

Omegas & Skin Disorders
Mark Wallace
A spoonful of hemp seeds and a bowl of hemp seed oil

Unlike harmful fats that our bodies seem to hold onto far too readily, the body cannot produce essential fats. Their importance lies in the fact that they regulate every bodily function at the cellular level, including water retention, sodium balance, and fat metabolism.

While a fat-free diet is not necessarily associated with every disease state, the fact is that many diseases have increased while fat intake has declined. Since we’ve become afraid to eat fat, an estimated 80 percent of Americans now consume a diet deficient in EFAs.

Benefits of Omega 6

Linoleic acid (LA) is the foremost omega-6 fatty acid. After LA is absorbed, the body converts it into gamma linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (AA), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

GLA and AA are important as raw materials for production of some of the prostaglandins, the hormone-like substances that control the functioning of most of the body’s life-sustaining systems. Because the body cannot store prostaglandins, sufficient levels of EFAs must be consumed daily to meet the body’s prostaglandin requirements.

GLA helps to combat allergy symptoms and inflammatory diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, and asthma. GLA also can promote weight loss by increasing the body’s fat-burning ability.

Omega Balance

Throughout most of history, humans have consumed a healthy balance of essential fatty acids—approximately twice as many omega 6s as omega 3s. But with all the processed foods made with omega 6s in the United States today, that ratio has shifted to 17 to 1.

Hemp seed oil

Hempseed oil is the only essential fatty acid (EFA) with the ideal ratio of omega 6 to omega 3. Dark green in color with a smooth creamy texture and mild nutty flavor, hemp oil is excellent in salad dressings.

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Contributor
The Taste for Life Staff
Tags
omegas / fatty acids
hemp seeds
skin care

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