Are you looking to make your diet healthier?
If so, you should consider adding hemp seeds to your diet. Hemp seeds have been cultivated and consumed for centuries, and they offer a wide range of health benefits.
Read on to learn about the top hemp seed benefits and nutritional facts.
Table of Contents
What are Hemp Seeds?
Before we dive into the benefits of hemp seeds, let’s talk about what they actually are. Hemp seeds come from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. While they come from the same plant species as marijuana, they only contain a trace amount of THC- less than 0.3%.
This means that hemp seeds don’t contain any psychoactive properties, which means that they won’t get you high. Therefore, you don’t need any sort of prescription or special permission to purchase hemp seeds- you can just pick them up at your local grocery store or order them online.
Here is the nutritional breakdown of hemp seeds based on a 3-tablespoon or 30-gram serving:
- Calories: 166
- Fat: 14.6 grams
- Protein: 9.47 grams
- Carbs: 2.6 grams
- Sugar: 0.45 grams
- Fiber: 1.2 grams
Hemp seeds are also a good source of:
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Zinc
- B-Vitamins
They also contain some omega-3s and omega-6s.
Hemp Seed Benefits
So, why should you incorporate hemp seeds into your diet? What makes them so great? Here are the top benefits of hemp seeds:
1. Good Source of Protein
Hemp seeds contain a good amount of protein. Plus, it’s a complete source of protein, meaning that they contain all nine essential amino acids, which are the building blocks for protein.
The body cannot produce these amino acids on its own, so you need to get them through your diet. The high protein content in hemp seeds is also great news for vegetarians and vegans, as there are very few other plant-based sources of complete protein.
2. Good Source of Unsaturated Fats
A lot of people mistakenly believe that fat is bad for you. However, unsaturated fat offers a variety of health benefits. This type of fat helps to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated fat, can help with the following:
- Fighting anxiety and depression
- Promoting a healthy brain during pregnancy
- Reducing ADD symptoms in children
- Reducing symptoms of metabolic syndrome
- Fighting autoimmune diseases
- Improving mental disorders
- Improving eye health
- Fighting inflammation
- Fighting mental decline and Alzheimer’s disease
- Reducing asthma symptoms in children
- Preventing cancer
- Reducing liver fat
- Improving bone and joint health
- Alleviating menstrual cramps
- Improving sleep quality
As you can see, omega-3s offer quite a few benefits. The downside to omega-3s is that they’re almost exclusively found in seafood, so it can be difficult for vegans and vegetarians to get enough omega-3s in their diet. If you want to incorporate more omega-3s and unsaturated fats into your diet, then eating more hemp seeds is a great idea.
3. Supports Healthy Weight Loss
Another great thing about hemp seeds is that they support healthy weight loss. At any given time, close to 50% of the American population is trying to lose weight. Additionally, about 70 million Americans are obese and 99 million are overweight.
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are looking to lose weight, then hemp seeds can help. Part of the reason that hemp seeds are so great for weight loss is due to their protein content. Protein helps you stay full and build muscle, and the more muscle you have the easier it is for you to burn fat.
Hemp seeds also contain natural appetite suppressants that will prevent you from overeating.
4. Good Source of Fiber
Hemp seeds are also a great source of fiber. The fiber lies in the outer shell or hull of the seed. If you want to get more fiber from your sees, make sure you purchase them with the hulls intact. But, even without the shells, hemp seeds still provide a decent amount of fiber.
Fiber can help:
- Reduce your appetite
- Promote the health of your gut
- Stabilize your blood sugar levels
- Manage your weight
Ideally, you should aim to consume between 25 and 30 grams of fiber per day.
5. Protects Your Brain
Another great thing about hemp seeds is that they can help protect your brain. A review from 2018 found that hemp seeds may have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective effects, and they may help boost your immune system.
Due to these potential properties, hemp seeds can help with neurological conditions such as:
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s
- Neuropathic pain
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizure disorders
Of course, consuming hemp seeds will not cure these diseases, but they can help prevent them, and they can help you maintain symptoms.
6. Improves Skin, Hair, and Nails
If you’re looking to improve your skin, hair, and nails, hemp seeds are a great option.
Because hemp contains anti-inflammatory compounds, it can help with skin conditions such as acne and atopic dermatitis. Plus, some studies suggest that acne is caused by a lack of omega-3s, and because hemp seeds are a rich source of omega-3s, they can help improve your skin.
Hemp seeds are also rich in linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. Both of these oils are often used by cosmetic companies because they can penetrate through the skin and promote cell growth.
7. Easy to Consume
Another great thing about hemp seeds is that they’re a convenient and healthy food option. They can be incorporated into your meals and snacks in all kinds of ways.
Here are some easy ways you can incorporate hemp seeds into your diet:
- Sprinkle them on your salads or yogurt bowls
- Blend them into your smoothies
- Make your own hemp milk or butter
You can also mix the best hemp seeds into your trail mix.
Hemp Seed Benefits: Are You Ready to Try Hemp Seeds?
Now that you know about the top hemp seed benefits, it’s time for you to buy some. Pretty soon, you’ll be reaping all of the benefits that these seeds have to offer.
For more nutritional tips and tricks, be sure to check back in with our blog.
