Hemp seeds are edible, containing about 30% oil and are exceptionally nutritious as they are a major source of protein, fiber, and magnesium. Records from the Vavilov Institute in St. Petersburg have revealed there are 400 varieties of hemp that are used for the production of both fiber and, seeds.
These seeds have many environmental and economic benefits since their potential for industrial use is incredible. The whole hemp seeds can be processed further to remove the outer shell. This, in turn, is used to extract oil from the seed or ground it into flour or protein powder.[/vc_column_text][tm_image align=”center” image=”9160″][vc_column_text]Recently in 2018, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) trialed 8 varieties of hemp seeds across Colorado. Out of 8, only 6 were approved to be grown as a class of “CDA Approved Certified Seed”. Listed below are the 6 different variety of approved CDA hemp seeds:
- B-11
- CRS-1
- Henola
- Medicine Mother
- Rajan
- VC Star
In short, be it for seeds or fiber, there should be pre-approved hemp varieties.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
A Guide on Variety of Hemp Seeds
Considered to be a superfood, hemp seeds can be purchased in their shelled, ground or split forms. Various online stores sell them along with other hemp products such as hemp milk or hemp protein powder. All of these are just a click away and if you cannot decide what type of hemp seeds to purchase, here is a guide to help you out with:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Hulled Hemp Seeds
Often known as ‘hemp hearts’, ‘shelled hemp seeds’ or the ‘hemp nut’, the hulled hemp are the seeds with the outer crunchy shell removed. But removing the hull of the seeds affects some of the nutritional properties from the whole seeds.
The un-hulling process is done by pounding the hemp seeds, then immersing them in the water where the hemp hearts sink to the bottom and the shells float to the surface. The shells are skimmed off and the hearts are then drained and dried, ready for consumption. It is said, the hull of the hemp seeds are an excellent source of minerals and are a rare source of insoluble fiber.
Shelled hemp seeds are equally nutritious and consuming them increases the overall protein percentage, the essential fatty acid (EFA) level and reduces the carbohydrate percentage as well. It has been already established that hemp seeds have some incredible health benefits. And munching on raw hulled hemp seeds can help lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol while elevating good cholesterol.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Whole Hemp Seeds
In other words, these are the un-hulled hemp seeds. Not removing the hull, keeps its nutritional properties intact. Crunchy in taste, the chances of having remnants of whole hemp seeds stuck between your teeth is natural. Since these seeds are unhulled, the grains are unable to trap moisture and thus are more stable in the air than hulled seeds.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Raw Organic Hemp Seeds
One of the common aspects of all hemp seeds is the crunchy texture and the mild flavor of nuttiness. The raw organic hemp seeds are no different and have a wonderful nutty taste similar to that of pine nuts. These are also a part of the hulled hemp seeds and one-ounce serving of these raw organic hemp seeds has a total of 6 grams of protein. They also contain a healthy ratio of 3:1 of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.
If you are planning to go on a healthy diet with ‘au naturel’ products like organic seeds, make sure the hemp seeds you purchase are certified as organically grown. It is said that organically grown hemp seeds are non-GMO, vegan, kosher, and suitable for paleo and keto diets.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Toasted Hemp Seeds
If you are bored with the aforementioned variants of hemp seeds, why not add a little spice to the mix and make it interesting. Get your frying pan out and toast those seeds with a bit of salt and olive oil. Or if you are not in the mood for manual labor, you can order online and eat them like popcorn.
The fun part about this is that your craving to snack on something is curbed by consuming these salty treats instead of binging on potato chips. These toasted hemp seeds can also be used as a topping for salads or yogurt and used in other recipes like avocado on toast.[/vc_column_text][tm_image align=”center” image=”9166″][vc_column_text]With a rich nutrition profile, hemp seeds contain high levels of antioxidants, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. And as we all know, incorporating hemp seeds in our daily diet has tons of health benefits but avoids eating them in excessive amounts. This is because there is evidence that some seeds exceed the THC legal limit.
In the USA, as per the legal principle, farmers and cultivators are prohibited from growing hemp seeds with THC concentrations higher than 0.3%. The U.S government also strictly regulates the import of hemp seeds and hemp-based products.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Hemp Seed to Oil
Research has revealed that about 49% of the weight of hemp seed is edible oil. The hemp seed oil or hemp oil is obtained by cold pressing hemp seeds. Primarily used as food oil and dietary supplement, when compared to other culinary oils, the hemp seed oil is low in saturated fat and rich in polyunsaturated fat.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Different Ways to Eat Hemp Seeds
Listed below are some of the ways you can incorporate hemp seeds in your daily lives:
- Instead of snacking on oily products like chips and fries, why not find a healthier alternative? Eat raw organic hemp seeds or toasted hemp seeds as a snack like popcorn
- Don’t want to munch on the seeds as they get stuck between your teeth? Here is an easy fix for your, grind them in a mixer and mix it into your smoothie
- Sprinkle some toasted hemp seeds as a topping for cereal, salads, yogurt, or even oatmeal
- You can also substitute hemp for breadcrumbs to coat chicken or fish
- You can even make your own hemp seed milk with raw hemp seeds, water or vanilla extract. This is ideal for vegans as hemp seed milk can be used as a substitute for your regular dairy milk.
- Ground hemp seed to use it as a condiment
To summarise, hemp seeds are a versatile food source and have a mild nutty flavor to them. Having read through the entirety of this article, you now have a basic idea of hemp seeds, its uses and how beneficial it is for your health. If you are willing to incorporate hemp seeds into your daily lives, it is easy to purchase from online vendors or even local organic stores.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
