Meet Another Member of the Power Seed Trio - Hemp Hearts

We’ve recently talked about flax seeds and chia seeds with their amazing nutritional
benefits.
There is one more member of this power seed trio you need to meet: the hemp seed. Yes, it is the seed of that infamous plant which is illegal to grow in the United States. Hence, most of the hemp foods we eat are produced in Canada.
There are different varieties of the hemp plant (cannabis sativa, L.).
Some are grown for their high THC content, the psychoactive component, which is found in the flowers and leaves of the plant. Other low THC varieties are grown for the fiber used to make rope and clothing, and for the highly nutritious seeds. The
levels of THC in these seeds are so minimal that they are not measurable so there is no worry about positive drug tests for those who only eat the seeds of the hemp plant.

With that concern out of the way, let’s get to the heart of the matter, the hemp heart itself. Hemp seeds prepared for human consumption are shelled mechanically which removes the hard outer covering leaving only the tender, tasty “heart”. There is no further processing so hemp hearts are considered a raw food. Due to that fresh,
raw nature of hemp products, they keep best in the freezer and should be used within 12 weeks of purchase.
Pesticide or herbicide residue is not an issue because the hemp plant is so hardy that it outgrows any weed or bug rivals, making hemp a perfectly eco-friendly crop, and hemp seeds and oil very naturally organic.
Why is hemp such a valuable food source? Essential fatty acids cannot be produced by the human body; they must be obtained from your diet.
As the name implies, they are essential to your health and well being. The typical North American diet contains 10 to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, yet nutritional scientists recommend maintaining a ratio of between 2:1 to 4:1, a much higher relative omega-3 consumption.
Many clinical studies implicate this imbalance as a key factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders and have demonstrated the benefits of a balanced dietary
omega-3/omega-6 intake. Such benefits include a reduced risk of atherosclerosis,
sudden cardiac death, and some forms of cancer, alleviation of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, mood improvement in bipolar disorders, and optimized
development in infants. Hemp is one of those foods that provide us with the much needed fatty acids in the ratios that most benefit us.
Hemp oil contains the most essential fatty acids (EFAs) of any nut or seed oil, with the omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs occurring in the nutritionally optimal 1:3 ratio.
Dr. Gero Leson, an environmental researcher and consultant who has specialized in the food and technical uses of agricultural crops such as flax, hemp, and coconut, says “Hemp food producers claim, with good reason, that hemp nuts and oil provide the human body much of what it needs without the caloric ballast of nonessential nutrients.”
Hemp hearts are a streamlined way to get what you need and can be very valuable to those of us who need to lose weight, yet increase good nutrition.
Not only do they provide the essential fatty acids we often lack in our diet, but the seeds also provide a reasonably well-balanced protein, significant amounts of vitamin E complex compounds, and trace minerals.
One of the unique features of hemp seeds versus other good seed sources of fatty acids, is that 65% of it’s protein is globulin edistin.
Without a biology lesson, suffice it to say that this is a huge boost to our ability to make antibodies.
Hemp food products now available on North American retails shelves include cold pressed hemp oil, hemp milk, salad dressings, nutrition bars, granola, nut butter,
protein powders, chips, flour, breads, cookies, meatless burgers, pasta, and frozen desserts. It is the combination of nutritional value, flavor, and culinary versatility that distinguishes hemp seed and oil from the respective flax products, which are also nutritious additions to a healthy diet.
One example of this culinary versatility is that like chia, hemp hearts do not require grinding to release their nutrients like flax seed does. Simply sprinkle the deliciously
nutty flavored hemp hearts on your cereal or salad, or eat them by the spoonful. They are tender and chewy and packed with healthy nutrition.
Now that you have been introduced to all three members of the power seed trio, try to incorporate them into your diet for increased immunity, increased low calorie nutrition, and decreased inflammation in your body.