( Nutrition )
LEGALISING HEMP
ASHLEIGH FELTHAM
Ashleigh Feltham examines the nutritional hype around the legislsation of hemp foods .
here is growing interest for the use
T of hemp seeds as a new food
source and potentially the next super food ! So what exactly is all the hype about ? though , the evidence from these claims are based on unscientific evidence , animal studies or promoting the findings of the benefits already known from other types of seeds or nuts . unlike other nuts and seeds like almonds or sunflower seeds , hemp seeds have no vitamin E .
How can the seeds be used ?
Hemp seeds are hulled or shelled hemp seeds , which are made from a specific hemp strain with low levels of the component that makes you ‘ high ’ in marijuana ( called tetrahydrocannabinol or TCH ). Levels of TCH are less than 0.3 per cent and have no hallucinatory effects . The risk of testing positive to a urine drug test is highly unlikely , although not impossible if you chose to eat enough hemp seeds !
What are the claimed health benefits ?
These seeds have been hailed as the ‘ next super food ’, claiming to help your body lose weight by lowering food cravings , support your digestion , lower cholesterol and blood pressure , improve circulation , reduce food intolerance , improve your energy levels and improve immunity . Before you get too excited
Hemp seeds are considered to have similar benefits to other nuts and seeds and are a good source of protein and omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fats which are two healthier sources of fat . Per 100g serving , hemp seeds have roughly 33.2g of protein . Compare this to other seeds like pumpkin , which has 29.8g , peanuts ( 24.4g ), or almonds ( 21.2g ) and hemp seeds can stand on their own as a good protein source .
Compared to other nuts and seeds , hemp seeds have a high level of omega 3 fat with around 10.6g per 100g , compared to 5.3g in flaxseed oil , 17.8g in chia seeds or 9g in walnuts .
Omega 6 levels in hemp seeds is also high at around 28g per 100g , compared to 21.2g in almonds , 17g in sesame seeds or 15.2g in walnuts . Although
Hemp seeds can be used in many ways and have been advertised for uses in salads , smoothies , yoghurt , sandwiches , baked products , cereals and even stirfries and lasagna !
The Bottom Line
Watch this space ! Hemp seeds are already used as a food in Europe and Canada and there is a growing push to legalise this food in Australia . There are health benefits of this seed in terms in protein and an unsaturated fat source but be careful not to get caught up in the ‘ next super food ’ claims until the stronger types of scientific evidence is there to support these claims .
To read more about the legislation of hemp foods in Australia , check out the article on the OH ! Magazine website .
YOU CAN CONTACT ASHLEIGH VIA : Web : feedyourfuturedietetics . com Facebook : FeedYourFutureDietetics Instagram : @ feedyourfuturedietetics
10 OH ! MAGAZINE ( FEBRUARY 2017 )