Everything You Should Know About Hemp Seeds | Top 10 Nutritional Benefits
- Environment
- February 19, 2020
Hemp seeds are essential in the drug and medicine industry as because it is one of the best sources of plant-based proteins, essential fatty acids, and fiber content. They do have the ability to improve heart health, trigger digestion, build muscle mass, treat anemia, eliminates insomnia, and subsidizes weight loss problems. So, before we dig any further, lets first take a close look and try to understand:
What are Hemp Seeds?
Hemp, popularly known as industrial hemp is a genetic variant of Cannabis Savita Plant. They are cultivated for its bast fiber or its edible seeds, here bast fiber means the hairy material from a plant which is the inner bark of a tree. When it comes to Hemp, people get confused about their contribution and compare it with a cannabis plant that acts as a source of Marijuana and Hashish. Regardless of the fact, all the three products – Hemp, Marijuana and Hashish contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) composition.
The amount of cannabis used for the formation of Hemp contains less amount of THC compared to that used in the production of Marijuana and Hashish. To understand better how they differ from each other, we will have a look at:
Chemical Structure of Hemp Seeds:
Hemp is an angiosperm that belongs to the cannabis family and can be easily grown in temperate climates, good soil conditions, fertilizers and water with no pesticides and herbicides. The crop is harvested for almost 120 days ( 4 months ) until it reaches a height of 10 – 15 feet.
Hemp seeds roughly contain 30% carbohydrates, 25% protein, 15% insoluble fiber, carotene, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, and zinc. It is renowned to be one of the best sources of essential fatty acid with the perfect balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
The composition variation of hemp seed is divided into several factors, some of them are listed below in a tabular format:
1.1 Proximate Analysis of Hemp Seeds:
SL.NO | PARAMETERS | CONTENT(%) |
1 | Moisture | 3.07 |
2 | Oil | 32.21 |
3 | Protein | 23.9 |
4 | Ash | 4.32 |
5 | Fiber | 17.3 |
6 | Carbohydrate | 28.5 |
1.2 Physical Properties of Hemp Seed Oil:
SL.NO | PARAMETERS | VALUE |
1 | Physical state | Liquid |
2 | Colour | Bold yellow |
3 | Odor | Pleasant nutty |
4 | Taste | Bland |
5 | Congealing point | 15-72°C |
6 | Refractive index (40°C) | 1.46 |
7 | Specific gravity (20°C) | 0.89 |
1.3 Chemical Properties of Hemp Seed Oil:
SL.NO | PARAMETERS | VALUE |
1 | Acid value ( mg KOH / g of oil ) | 2.15 |
2 | Iodine value ( g / 100 g of oil ) | 163.5 |
3 | Saponification number ( mg KOH / g of oil ) | 190.2 |
4 | Unsaponifiable matter ( % of oil ) | 0.26 |
5 | Peroxide number ( Meg / Kg ) | 7.2 |
So, from the above data, you can see how Hemp seeds act as a source of essential nutrient factors as compared to other members of the cannabis family.
Importance of Hemp seeds as Medicines:
As per history, various parts of the cannabis plant are been processed for the formation of Hemp, Marijuana, and Hashish which do contain THC components in specific quantities. THC is a compound that can create a hazardous impact on your body is found in greater quantities.
But in Hemp seeds, the amount of THC is low as compared to other drug forms such as Marijuana and Hashish which is why Hemp seeds are treated as healthy super-food. Hemp seeds are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in the ratio of which is known to be an anti-drug against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune deficiencies.
These bright green color Hemp seeds contain about 90% polyunsaturated fatty acids. With this we have developed a good understanding of why Hemp seeds are considered the best source of fatty acid, so now let’s look into their benefits:
Top 10 Nutritional Benefits of Hemp Seeds?:
Talking about the benefits, Hemp seeds have been used for more than thousands of years in the medicinal industry. They are used in various traditional medicines and dietary supplements due to their positive effects and are very viable in treating different health conditions. Let’s look into the health benefits of Hemp seeds in more detail below:
1. Rich in Protein Content:
The reason why Hemp seeds are used in medicinal industries is because of its rich protein content. It contains as much protein as soybeans (which is also a good source of protein) i,e. In every 30 grams of seeds or 3 tablespoons of Hemp seeds can contain protein content of 9.46 grams.
They are considered the best source of protein containing all the nine essential amino acids. A human body cannot form all the nine essential amino acids that are the building blocks of protein, so this is the reason Hemp seeds are absorbed through diet in order to get enough protein content. The arginine present in Hemp seeds due to the presence of amino acids improves heart health.
2. Improves Heart Health:
Hemp seeds have a greater impact when it comes to heart health as it possesses a wide range of curing options including a proper balance of cholesterol or fatty acids level in the body. Hemp seeds do contain the proper ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that is about 3:1.
As per the research suggest, Hemp seeds are one of its kind which contains the perfect balance already. For the normal functioning of the body, saturated fat level in the body is very essential as it
- Prevents atherosclerosis
- Reduces heart attacks and strokes
- And many other heart-related problems.
Hemp seeds have high fiber content which helps to straps off excess cholesterol from the artery walls.
3. Boost Digestive System:
As per an engineering journal, a report says that Hemp seeds are a wonderful source of dietary fibers that are both soluble as well as insoluble. The main role of insoluble fibers is to bulk up stool and easing the passage through the digestive path, hence reducing the symptoms of both diarrhea and constipation.
On the other hand, soluble fibers are subjected to slowing the process of glucose absorption and increasing digestive and gastric juices. The combination of this type of fibers in your body can help you avoid mild to serious health issues.
4. Helps Relief Insomnia:
One of the most important and vital roles that Hemp seed plays in the presence of high mineral content with the inclusion of magnesium which tends to create a soothing and relaxing feel throughout the body.
The presence of magnesium in the body has different health benefits and hormones that are responsible to induce sleep.
A study was recently published stating that Serotonin is produced when magnesium is administrated in the body and travels all the way to the brain which in turn is converted to Melatonin (a powerful sleep aid that gives you soothing and relaxing feel). This is the reason why Hemp seeds are recommended for Insomnia patients.
5. Hemp Oil can Relief Skin Disorder:
Studies suggest the perfect balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in your body helps your immune system to stay fit for the long run. Hemp oil and Hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids.
The ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 you get from Hemp seeds is in the ratio 3:1 which is of the optimal range.
Applying Hemp oil to your skin will help you prevent skin-related issues such as:
- Eczema
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Lichen Planus
Based on these above-stated diseases, Hemp oil can act as a great source of supplement and can contribute healthier, stronger and cathartic skin that is more resistant to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
6. Treats Anemia:
You can find iron in Hemp seeds which is considered as one of the major mineral content that is an integral part of the formation of red blood cell construction in the human body.
If your body is deficient in the formation of iron, then chances are that you might suffer from Anemia.
Here is where absorption of Hemp seeds comes into play as it contains the proper amount of iron content to prevent your body to suffer from Anemia.
7. Boost Muscle Mass and Muscle Growth:
Are you a bodybuilder or a person who is trying to gain some good amount of muscle fibers? Hemp seed protein powder is what you need to gain muscle mass.
Yes, you heard it right, Hemp seeds contain all the nine essential amino acids that are considered to be the building blocks of protein in your body and protein is the key element needed for muscle growth and repair.
Here are the nine essential amino acids we were talking about:
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
8. Hemp Oil Relieves Arthritis:
Researchers and many other engineering portals claim that Hemp oil can play a vital role in treating someone suffering from Arthritis. Almost 15% of Americans are suffering from this chronic pain.
The most common types of Arthritis are:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):- This is a type of autoimmune disease caused in a person’s immune system that tends to attack their joints forming inflammation. This type of arthritis generally affects the hands and feet of a person and leads to painful, stiff, and swollen joints.
- Osteoarthritis (OA):- This is a type of arthritis that affects the joint cartilage and bones leading to pain and stiffness. These are common issues that may arise in the human body affecting hip, knee, and thumb joints.
Hemp oil is something that tends to play a vital role in the immune system of a human body by managing pain and inflammation. Scientist believes, using Hemp oil could play an important role in chronic pain management.
9. Heals Hair, Skin and Nails:
From Hemp seeds, we can get Hemp oil which is extensively used in cosmetic and skin care products due to its reassuring effects on various skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, skin inflammation, and many more.
Here are some of the effects that Hemp seeds try to improve:
- Hypertension: The presence of nine essential amino acids in Hemp oil tends to the formation of protein induction called hydroslylate which will lower blood pressure thereby preventing the risk of stroke and heart-related disease.
- Reduces Alcohol and Drug Recurrence: Hemp oil is also known as cannabidiol oil which is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis Savita plant can also be used as a shield to combat alcoholism and restraint cocaine cravings.
- Regulates Hormones: Hemp: Seeds do contain gamma-linoleic acid that acts as a hormone regulator for those suffering from thyroid and pancreas. It also helps regulate hormonal imbalance as well.
10. Reduces Stress and Anxiety:
Anxiety, stress and mood swings are common symptoms that one or the other is affected with. Hemp seed oil can a valuable anti-dose for chiropractic patients and tend to cure mood disorders.
If you are having a rich in protein diet then it will help you overcome the disorder and hemp seed oil contains all the vital minerals and proteins required to relieve stress and anxiety.
These are some of the vital and most important points listed above to give you in-depth knowledge about its benefits.
Now, we just cannot talk about all the benefits rather than stating some of the side effects that it might cause, so here you will get to feature some of the few side effects, that Hemp seeds might cause you:
Side Effects:
There are minimal side effects associated with Hemp seeds, if you are suffering from some sort of drug interaction then chances are that it may increase bleeding risk if taken alongside anticoagulants.
Another thing that you should keep in mind, if you are pregnant or carry a baby its recommended to take consultation from your medical practitioner who will guide you with the proper medication during this stage.
Now we are done with all the possible outcome that a Hemp seed can provide us with and we are close to the last possible stage of our conclusion, let’s find out:
Why you should consider using products of Hemp seeds?
As you are aware of the fact, that Hemp seeds are a powerful source of protein with all the nine essential amino acids containing the perfect ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid of a 3:1 ratio.
These Hemp seeds are considered to be the world’s most nutritious plant and a vital source of protein for vegans and raw foodists. Hemp seeds are also used in several food products and supplements including Hemp milk, Protein powder, butter, unsaturated products, and many more.
Not only food products, but using Hemp oil keep you away from skin-related issues to name a few:
- Eczema
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Lichen Planus
They help you prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and several other pains associated with your joints.
These Hemp plants are considered to be the most resourceful and sustainable plants on the planet with its whole lot of positive and nutritional features.
With its several benefits, Hemp seeds are powering the global environment with its nutritional aid.