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Hemp Seeds: Nature's Perfect Food
Hemp is considered one of the world's most nutritious plants. Hemp seeds
contain all of the essential amino acids making them an ideal source of protein
for vegans and raw foodists. The essential fatty acids are abundant in hemp
seeds and come in a ratio that is highly beneficial to humans. Magnesium, iron,
and potassium are in good supply along with fiber. Some of hemp seed's supply of
antioxidants comes from its vitamin E content.
Hemp contains:
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All 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) our
bodies cannot produce.
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A high protein percentage of the simple proteins that strengthen
immunity and fend off toxins.
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Eating hemp seeds in any form could aid, if not heal, people suffering
from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact
that hemp seed has been used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by
tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to
waste away.3
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Nature�s highest botanical source of essential fatty acid, with more
essential fatty acid than flax or any other nut or seed oil.
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A perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 Linoleic Acid and Omega-3 Linolenic Acid
� for cardiovascular health and general strengthening of the immune system.
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A superior vegetarian source of protein considered easily digestible.
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A rich source of phytonutrients, the disease-protective element of
plants with benefits protecting your immunity, bloodstream, tissues, cells,
skin, organs and mitochondria.
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The richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids.
Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds
1. A Healthy Heart
 The essential fatty acids contained in hemp can reduce blood cholesterol to
prevent plaque buildup in the arteries. Plaque buildup can contribute to
atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of the arteries and eventually can cause
heart attacks and stroke. The fatty acids help to reduce inflammation that can
cause poor blood circulation and high blood pressure. Therefore hemp can reduce
the workload of the heart, and as a result helps to prevent heart disease and
stroke.
2. A Healthy Mind
Your brain contains lot of the same essential fatty acids which are found in
hemp. Therefore, hemp can help to improve your memory, and prevent diseases such
as Alzheimer�s and Parkinson�s. Hemp seeds can also help to improve your moods,
alleviate symptoms of depression and reduce anxiety and stress levels.
3. Healthy Skin
Hemp oil is often used for cosmetic purposes in products such as soaps, skin
lotions and lip balms. This is because the oil helps to penetrate into the
layers of the skin to promote new cell growth for a softer and smoother skin.
Hemp can also help to clear up skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dry
skin.
4. Weight Loss
Hemp is a natural appetite suppressant, and helps you to feel full longer.
Adding 4 tablespoons of hemp seeds to your breakfast can help to reduce your
food cravings for the rest of the day. On top of that you will have lots of
energy for exercise and other activities to help you lose weight.
5. Digestive Disorders
The high amount of fiber that is contained in hemp seeds can help to keep your
digestive tract clean and healthy. As a result you can eliminate digestive
disorders such as bloating and constipation.
6. Prevent Cancer
A healthy digestive system along with the antioxidants and plant sterols
contained in hemp can help to reduce your risk of breast, colon and prostate
cancers.
7. Diabetes
Hemp seeds are also essential if you are diabetic, or are at risk for
diabetes, as they can help to control your blood sugar levels. This is due to
the healthy fats which help the body to absorb the glucose from the bloodstream
and turn it into energy. As a result, energy levels will increase and sweet
cravings will decrease.
Hemp seeds can be added to your smoothies, sprinkled in cereals, salads and
dips, or you can substitute them for nuts in your baking. They are also great
for making hemp seed milk, for sprouting or to be ground into a meal.
Hemp seed has been consumed by mankind (and animals) for centuries. Indeed,
whole populations have survived off hemp seed in times of famine. In China, at
the cinema, you can still buy roasted hemp seeds in the same way as you can buy
popcorn in the West.
Hemp has 3 unique nutritional factors. It has an ideal balance of Omega 3 and 6
for sustainable human health, it has a full amino acid spectrum meaning it
provides complete protein, and it has a massive trace mineral content - truly
one of nature's superfoods.
Consumption of hemp oil and hemp seed is ideal for people with low essential
fatty acid intake, and also perfect for athletes. It is of course particularly
valuable to the veggie/vegan population, and even more so for veggie/vegan
athletes, who are always looking for complete protein sources.
One of the easiest ways of consuming hemp is in smoothies. Just mix a handful of
organic hemp seed (whole or de-hulled) with fruit and juice of your choice in a
blender. Perfect for children too. Or perhaps make up a little hemp seed milk.
 Other benefits of hemp seed oil include its effect on the skin and the hair,
nourishing both on a cellular level. Hemp oil is easily absorbed by the skin and
those EFA's go straight to work! And of course hemp needs no pesticides or
fertilisers, is low maintenance and grows just about anywhere, making it the
ideal crop for organic sustainable farming in just about anywhere in the world.
Hemp has always had trouble stepping out of the shadow of its dirty cousin
marijuana. While it is closely related to whacky tobaccy, hemp has microscopic
amounts of THC � the chemical in marijuana that gets you high � and eating hemp
foods won�t jeopardize your next drug test. The health benefits of hemp are so
vast that people are beginning to abandon the antiquated stereotypes of the
versatile plant.
Sharon Palmer, author of The Plant Powered Diet, wasn�t wasting her breath when
she said, �I think hemp is the next �it� food � it has been for a while.� The
hemp seed is bursting with Omega-6 and Omega-3, essential fatty acids that have
heart health and anti inflammatory benefits. Hemp seeds are nutty in flavor and
breathe life into salads, desserts, yogurts, cereals, and breads. Hemp seeds can
be turned into butter, milk, protein powder, finishing oil, and soap.
Unfortunately, Uncle Sam outlawed hemp farming in 1958, a shame when you
consider how amazing a crop it is. The plant thrives without pesticides,
purifies the soil around it, and kills weeds. The U.S. is the only country that
bans industrial hemp farming, quelling what could be an agricultural and
financial boon for our indebted country.
Adding hemp foods to your diet is something you should seriously consider, and
below are five health benefits of hemp you might not have known.
Amazing Hemp Seeds Health Benefits
The protein and fiber in hemp combine to slow digestion, which prevents
spikes in blood sugar and therefore sustains your body�s energy. A diet rich in
hemp promotes digestive regularity.
When sprinkled on your cereal or fruit at breakfast, hemp protein and fiber also
help aid in satiety, which will prevent you from snacking and keep you fuller
longer.
The Omega-3 fatty acids in hemp reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease,
lower blood pressure, and may even ward off Alzheimer�s disease. Hemp seeds are
one of the few Omega-3 sources found in plants.
The Omega-6 fatty acids in hemp stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone
health, regulate metabolism, and help the brain function.
Hemp seeds contain essential amino acids, which improves muscle control, mental
function, and normal body maintenance of cells, muscle, tissues, and organs.
There are eight amino acids the human body cannot make and two more the body
cannot make in sufficient quantity, so they are essential to life. A diet
without any one of them will eventually cause disease and death. These essential
amino acids, along with eleven others the body can make from them, are chained
together in accordance to genetic guidelines, via RNA formats from DNA
blueprints, into structural proteins that give body to life, and into enzymes
(globular proteins) that carry out the mechanics of living.
 Nearly three quarters of body solids are proteins. The body is literally
constructed and maintained by an infinitely complex system that simply builds
proteins from amino acid sub units. Every amino acid consists of an amine and a
carboxyl bound to the same carbon atom. All but the smallest amino acid have
one, more or less complex, carbon containing side chain connected to the carbon
atom shared by the amine and carboxyl groups. The amine group, ND, is slightly
basic; the carboxyl group, COOH, is a mild acid. The amine group of one amino
acid unites with the carboxyl group of another forming a peptide link. Proteins
are made of amino acid peptide chains in specific sequences. The number of
possible amino acid peptide combinations is infinite.
Peptide chains can bend, twist and unite with other peptide chains by forming
weak hydrogen bonds between nitrogen and oxygen atoms along the chain. Amino
acids can also form bonds through side chain linkages. All three types of amino
acid bonding methods contribute to the infinite possibility of protein shapes
and reactivity potentials. Though each species builds proteins unique to itself,
life can tailor new ones if challenged by the pressures of existence.
Hemp is not unique in having all the essential amino acids in its embryonic
seed. Flax seeds also contain all the essential amino acids as do many other
seeds in the plant kingdom. What is unique about hemp seed protein is that 65%
of it is globulin edistin. That is the highest in the plant kingdom.
Antibodies are globulin proteins programmed to destroy antigens (any substance
eliciting a response from lymphocytes: bacteria, viruses, toxins, living and
dead tissue, internal debris, etc.). Circulating in blood plasma like mines
floating in a harbor antibodies await contact with the enemy, then initiate a
cascade of corrosive enzymes that bore holes in the antigen surface causing it
to break apart.
Antibodies are custom designed to neutralize or disintegrate one specific type
of antigen. White blood cells called B cell lymphocytes seek out and lock-on to
antigenic proteins or sugars on the invader's surface. The B cell then uses that
lock and key pattern to make antibodies tailored to that antigen only. It also
will make clones of itself called plasma cells. Most of the clones begin
producing antibodies for that antigen. Others become memory cells which may
spend years wandering through the blood stream looking for that specific
antigen. If the body is exposed to it again the memory cells lock-on to one and
begin producing plasma cell clones and a flood of antibodies that wipe out the
invader. One lymphocyte can divide into hundreds of plasma cells in a few days.
A mature plasma cell can make about 2000 antibodies every second for the few
days it lives. This is how the body acquires immunity.
The body's ability to resist and recover from illness depends upon how rapidly
it can produce massive amounts of antibodies to fend off the initial attack. If
the globulin protein starting material is in short supply the army of antibodies
may be too small to prevent the symptoms of sickness from setting in.
Hemp seed is the premier plant-seed provider of globulin starting material --
the highest in the plant kingdom. Eating hemp seeds will insure the immune
system has the reservoir of immunoglobulin resources needed to make disease
destroying antibodies.
Dated 12 November 2013
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