Hemp seeds are an official 2022 Superfood
- Em
- Mar 6, 2022
- 3 min read
The top 10 superfoods of 2022 have officially been released and the humble hemp seed has made the list. It’s about time the hemp plant was given the credit it deserves.
But what is a superfood you may be asking? To clarify; A superfood by textbook definition, is a food that is nutritionally dense and believed to provide health benefits.
Hemp has been used worldwide by humans for thousands of years for its health benefits, however its only within recent months that the hemp seeds have grown to become a favourite in the western world.
You can find hemp seeds and hemp hearts on the shelves in most National supermarkets in the UK. The majority of the hemp seeds available to purchase in the UK are imported in from Europe, who are the second largest producers of hemp in the world.
Although it is legal to grow hemp in the UK it is extremely difficult and there are only a handful of hemp farms in the UK.
What are hemp seeds?
Hemp seeds are the nutrient dense seeds of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.). Hemp hearts are simply hemp seeds that have had their outer shell removed.
Hemp seeds contain small traces of THC (1% or less), but hemp seeds will not get you high.
The seeds grow in small husks at the end of the stalks and are then harvested using a sickle. Once harvested, the stalk is whacked over a designated collection area releasing the seeds.
Hemp seeds are described to have a mild nutty flavour, which makes sense as officially hemp seeds are classed as a nut. They are a natural brown colour about the same size as a pea and look like a normal plant seed.
Top left: Hemp seeds / Top Right: Hemp Hearts Thehealthy.com
Its completely safe to eat hemp seeds raw or they can alternatively be processed at home (or bought from the store). Hemp seeds and hemp hearts can be used to make various food products such as milk, oil and flour.
How are hemp seeds a superfood?
Hemp seeds are classed as a superfood because they are a nutrient dense powerhouse thought to provide health benefits.
One of the unique benefits hemp seeds provide is a perfect ratio of omega-3 and omega-6. Western cuisine has left many of us with diets that are far too high in omega-6 compared to omega-3. Hemp seeds are a food that helps give us that healthy ratio.
We also need to be consuming enough omega-6 and omega-3 daily in order for our bodies to naturally turn them into endocannabinoids. Keeping our endocannabinoid system healthy is important help prevent diseases and deficiencies.
Additionally, hemp seeds are a fully complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids – A whopping 25% of the nutritional content of hemp seeds is protein!
The Daily recommendation of protein for women is 46g and for men 56g. Eating thirty grams of hemp seeds provides 11grams of protein so that’s roughly 25% of your recommended daily intake in just three tablespoons.
Another beneficial quality of hemp seeds is that they are high in fibre. However removing the outer shell (hemp hearts) reduces a large perecentage of its fibre.
Those are just a few of the things hemp seeds are beneficial for but hemp seeds are also a good source of:
How to add hemp seeds into your diet
Adding hemp seeds into your diet is easy. Because of the slight nutty flavour of hemp seeds I recommend being cautious on how much your adding to dishes.
My favourite way to eat hemp seeds is by adding a tablespoon to my morning smoothie but you could also;
Sprinkle on top of your breakfast
Add into sauces
Substitute for flax/chia/nuts
Toss into a salad
Create hemp milk
If your struggling to find ways to incorporate hemp seeds into your dishes remember, you can always eat a handful of hemp seeds raw to benefit from its health benefits.
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