4 Reasons Hemp Is All The Rage

For a long time, hemp has been given a bad rep. Recently however, people have been looking past the name and into the nutritional benefits these powerful little seeds provide.

In reality, hemp seeds have one of the most unique nutritional profiles and provide significant health benefits when added to your diet. Here we have compiled a short list of reasons why Hemp Hearts are at the forefront of superfoods:

1. The nutritional profile of Hemp Hearts is almost unmatched.

The macronutrient profile of hemp hearts is one to take note of. Hemp seeds consist of 33% protein, 12% carbohydrates and 44% fat. They contain a handful of vitamins and minerals and a relatively good amount of fiber. One serving of hemp hearts is approximately three tablespoons and roughly 180 calories, containing around 300g of Potassium and is considerably high in Iron. Other nutrients include magnesium, zinc, manganese, vitamin E and phosphorous. Of all nutrients, it’s the high amounts of Omega’s that truly make this superfood shine. Like chia seeds, hemp hearts are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, but unlike chia seeds, they are also high in Omega-6’s.

2. Hemp Hearts act as an anti-inflammatory.

Hemp hearts are high in an Omega-6 fat called gamma linoleic acid, referred to as GLA. This fatty acid is also held in high regard for being an anti-inflammatory nutrient. Inflammation in the body is often the root cause of many illnesses and diseases in the body. This is why anti-inflammatory foods are increasingly important, because they help prevent these ailments and are extremely beneficial to overall health and wellness.

3. They provide an extra serving of vegan protein.

There are 20 amino acids that the body needs to form protein, nine of which are called essential amino acids because we need to acquire them from outside sources. Hemp hearts are what we call a “perfect protein”. This means that they contain all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential ones. Typically these 9 essential amino acids are found in animal products. This makes hemp hearts an ideal source of vegan protein. Unlike pea and rice proteins, hemp protein is complete. One serving of hemp hearts, approximately 3 tablespoons, contains roughly 10 grams of protein. Many if not most vegan protein powders contain some amount of hemp.

4. Hemp Hearts are easily incorporated into many meals and dishes.

Hemp hearts can be added to everything from smoothies to salads, and can be enjoyed with both sweet and savoury dishes. You can blend them into your smoothies, sprinkle them over your oatmeal or yogurt, and even add them to salads and savory dishes. Hemp hearts are somewhat sensitive to heat, but that doesn’t make them any less versatile.

If you’re looking for a way to add hemp hearts to your diet, why not try our savory Perfect Pesto, a delicious addition to a variety of dishes!