Whole Foods carries these and I sprinkle them on our cereal.
(Berkeley Wellness)
Hemp seeds, sold in health-food stores and at many websites, offer troves of healthful nutrients. But don't believe all the claims made for them.
Sometimes called hemp hearts, these little brown or golden seeds come from the industrial hemp plant—the same plant as marijuana (Cannabis sativa) but with only trace amounts, if any, of the psychoactive compound. Though commercial hemp production is banned by U.S. law, hemp seeds (and foods made from them) can legally be sold in the U.S. and are available from several Canadian companies by mail order and in some health-food stores.
Similar in many ways to flaxseeds, hemp seeds are rich in protein and heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat. Though ALA is different from the omega-3s in fish oil, it has health benefits, too.
Hemp companies make all kinds of claims—that the seeds aid weight loss, help digestion and diabetes, ease arthritis, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure, for example—without human research to back them. One small study found that hemp seeds helped relieve atopic dermatitis; two studies found they had no significant effect on blood cholesterol or other markers of cardiovascular health. Typically, websites cite unspecified studies and/or testimonials.
Hemp seeds, like all seeds, are fairly high in calories—about 80 per tablespoon. If you consume the typical recommended dose—three to five tablespoons a day—that’s 240 to 400 calories.
Bottom line
Eat hemp seeds if you like their nutty taste and don’t mind their somewhat hefty price (more than $10 a pound). You can add them to hot or cold cereals, yogurts, smoothies, soups, stews, and stir-fries. Just don't believe the health claims. Another good reason to eat hemp: It's considered an eco-friendly plant because it needs little water and can be grown without pesticides.
(Berkeley Wellness)
Hemp seeds, sold in health-food stores and at many websites, offer troves of healthful nutrients. But don't believe all the claims made for them.
Sometimes called hemp hearts, these little brown or golden seeds come from the industrial hemp plant—the same plant as marijuana (Cannabis sativa) but with only trace amounts, if any, of the psychoactive compound. Though commercial hemp production is banned by U.S. law, hemp seeds (and foods made from them) can legally be sold in the U.S. and are available from several Canadian companies by mail order and in some health-food stores.
Similar in many ways to flaxseeds, hemp seeds are rich in protein and heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat. Though ALA is different from the omega-3s in fish oil, it has health benefits, too.
Hemp companies make all kinds of claims—that the seeds aid weight loss, help digestion and diabetes, ease arthritis, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure, for example—without human research to back them. One small study found that hemp seeds helped relieve atopic dermatitis; two studies found they had no significant effect on blood cholesterol or other markers of cardiovascular health. Typically, websites cite unspecified studies and/or testimonials.
Hemp seeds, like all seeds, are fairly high in calories—about 80 per tablespoon. If you consume the typical recommended dose—three to five tablespoons a day—that’s 240 to 400 calories.
Bottom line
Eat hemp seeds if you like their nutty taste and don’t mind their somewhat hefty price (more than $10 a pound). You can add them to hot or cold cereals, yogurts, smoothies, soups, stews, and stir-fries. Just don't believe the health claims. Another good reason to eat hemp: It's considered an eco-friendly plant because it needs little water and can be grown without pesticides.
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