It's now legal to eat hemp in Australia. Yay! But you may be wondering why you should eat hemp protein – and how to use it. We've done the digging to bring you all the facts and essential info. Check out why you should eat hemp protein?
What is hemp protein?
Hemp protein is made from hemp seeds, a plant protein that's packed with 20 amino acids. This makes it a complete protein, which is a pretty darn good reason to start adding it to your diet.
Hemp comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. Yes, that's the same plant with the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol – used to make marijuana. However, hemp doesn't actually contain the compound (or at least, the amount is so small it can't be measured).
So you won't get a high from eating hemp. Although many people who eat it say they get a buzz from its huge health benefits!
Hemp protein and amino acids
Those 20 amino acids are a natural elixir for the body. And since your body can't product them, it's essential to get them from your diet.
Incredibly, hemp has more amino acids than any other plant-based protein.
These amino acids include the nine essential amindo accids - histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, methionine and phenylalanine. Along with arginine, these form proteins to help repair and grow body tissues. That's why they're called the ‘building blocks' of the body.
Hemp and healthy fats
Hemp is also a great source of essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. It also contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is incredibly hard to find in other foods.
Why is that important? Because GLA has been shown to help with:
- Heart disease and high blood pressure
- Allergies
- Diabetes
- ADHD
- Breast pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Other health benefits of hemp
Looking for a few more reasons to try hemp protein or seeds? How about these:
- Boost energy
- Better focus
- Improved metabolism
- Stronger immune system
- Fewer food cravings
- High in fibre
- Sugar-free
- Fat-free
- Cholesterol-free
- Great for people on special diets like gluten-free and dairy-free
- Contains iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium
How to eat hemp protein
Now you know why you should eat it, you're probably wondering how to get it into your diet.
You could add it to your morning smoothie, sprinkle it on porridge or salads, or add it to your baking and cooking. Hemp seeds have a mild nutty flavour that doesn't disturb the balance of other ingredients.
Originally published on May 09, 2018
