6 Amazing Hemp Foods to Supercharge Your Diet
6 Amazing Hemp Foods to Supercharge Your Diet
With the legalization of hemp-based foodstuffs, supermarket shelves are now overflowing with a variety of hemp products. Among these, hemp seeds are particularly noteworthy due to their high protein content, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also offer a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats, along with essential nutrients like iron, vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc.
Nutritional Benefits of Hemp
According to nutritionist Jessica Giljam-Brown, incorporating hemp into your diet can benefit everyone. Hemp is one of the few complete plant-based proteins, containing all nine essential amino acids necessary for muscle and tissue building and repair. Hemp allergies are rare, and hemp hearts are generally well-tolerated and easily digested.
Jessica highlights that hemp oil is an excellent source of concentrated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. She suggests using hemp hearts in granola or porridge, adding them to smoothies and salads, or even making seed butter. Hemp seeds can also be toasted and sprinkled on top of salads and soups.
“Hemp products are nutrient-dense, high in fiber, and a great source of plant protein,” she says. “As a country, we rely heavily on animal proteins in our diet, and by using plants like hemp, we can reduce this reliance. Humans benefit from a higher intake of plant foods, especially when they are as nutrient-dense as hemp.”
Versatility of Hemp in Food Products
Hemp is increasingly being used as an ingredient in a variety of food products, including bread, wraps, cereal, snack bars, nut butters, crackers, smoothies, burgers, and cookies. There are also several “whole” hemp foods available:
1. Hemp Seeds
The whole seeds can be added to foods such as cereal and smoothies and used in baking.
2. Hemp Hearts
These are hulled hemp seeds after the outer layer of the seed has been removed. They can be used in similar ways to whole seeds.
3. Hemp Oil
A nutty-flavored, dark oil made from cold-pressing hemp seeds. It has a low smoke point, so it is best used for dressing and finishing rather than cooking.
4. Hemp Protein
This can be used in the same way as other protein powders and is made by grinding whole hemp seeds to a fine powder.
5. Hemp Flour
Made by finely grinding or milling the seeds, which have had the oil removed. It’s a high-fiber, gluten-free flour that can be added to baking, although it’s not suitable as a complete replacement for regular flour since it doesn’t perform the same way in baking.
6. Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is made similarly to other plant milks by blending hemp seeds or hearts with water and flavorings. It’s not comparable to cow’s milk in terms of nutrition, as it’s low in protein and doesn’t naturally contain calcium, although this can be added.
For more information on the benefits of hemp, you can visit this authoritative source.
