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Hemp cuisine – why include hemp in your diet?

Published: 04/08/2022
Author: Paulina Szmerk
Paulina Szmerk
Eco-enthusiast, hemp enthusiast, herbalist and promoter of healthy lifestyle. Graduate of early childhood education, re-socialization with social prevention as well as herbal-medical postgraduate studies of "Plants and plant materials for health". Graduate of courses in 'clinical aromatherapy' 'naturopathy - natural methods of treatment' confirmed by MEN diploma, also of a course in massage with herbal stamps, a participant of many conferences on therapeutic properties of cannabis.

Date of the last update: 04.08.2022

Hemp products are gaining an increasing popularity and recognition. No wonder, as they are a treasure trove of nutrients and significantly stand out from other products. Hemp cuisine means a richness of nutrients and a source of several micro- and macroelements. What is more, hemp products are gluten-free, do not cause allergies and are ideal for vegans and vegetarians. We can easily say that it is a real superfood.

Table of Contents:

  1. What makes hemp different from other foods?
  2. What benefits can we get from using hemp for cooking?
  3. How to incorporate hemp into your daily diet?

You can read this article in 5 minutes.

What makes hemp different from other foods?

Fibre-type Cannabis sativa (hemp) and products derived from it, such as seeds, flour, protein and cold-pressed seed oil are a rich source of valuable compounds which can contribute to maintaining a good health. Hemp has an extremely complex biochemical structure and contains up to 565 active substances, of which over 100 belong to the cannabinoid group. Their broad spectrum of beneficial effects results from a joint action of all these compounds.

Fatty acids

What sets hemp apart from other products is the virtually ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids – 1:3. Very few products have this perfect ratio. These fatty acids are crucial for our body to function properly. They are particularly valuable for the nervous and circulatory systems, as they regulate the blood circulation, have an anti-atherosclerotic effect and lower cholesterol levels.

Protein

Hemp is an excellent source of plant protein. It is easily digestible, nutritious and hypoallergenic. Compared to other plant-based protein sources, it does not cause bloating, is complete, well-balanced and tasty.  On average, hemp seeds contain between 20 and 25% protein, so just a handful of seeds covers our daily requirement. Hemp contains as much protein as meat and more than twice as much as eggs.

Amino acids

Hemp is one of the few plants to contain all essential and non-essential amino acids, including those which our body cannot produce.

Fibre

Our intestines need fibre to be well and healthy. In this case, hemp does not fail either. We can find most fibre in unhulled hemp seeds, as 100g of seeds contain 36.5g of fibre, of which 33 grams is insoluble fibre.

Vitamins

A treasury of vitamins – especially large amounts of vitamin A and E, the so called vitamins of youth which make our skin more supple and healthier-looking. Apart from these, hemp contains vitamins B and D plus vitamin K2, so rarely found in the plant world, which, among other things, is responsible for blood clotting.

Minerals

Hemp, and above all its inconspicuous-looking seeds, surprises with its content of trace elements. This plant contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, selenium, chromium, copper, boron and iodine.

Chlorophyll

This green pigment is found primarily in hemp leaves and inflorescences, but can also be found in unfiltered hemp oil. It is a powerful antioxidant which protects our body from free radicals and boosts immune function.

What benefits can we get from using hemp for cooking?

Hemp is a valuable ingredient that should be included in our everyday diet. It is packed with all the good stuff. This allows our entire body to feel the positive effects of hemp.

Hemp:

  • is an excellent source of plant-based protein
  • is a source of micro- and macro-elements
  • is a source of cannabinoids
  • is rich in antioxidants
  • contributes to better gut health, as fibre speeds up the metabolism
  • owing to the presence of essential amino acids, it contributes to a better mood  
  • strengthens our immune system
  • supports the body’s resistance to stress and fatigue
  • impacts proper functioning of the nervous and mental systems
  • maintains our hormonal balance at the right level
  • affects skin condition and reduces redness
  • acts as an anti-inflammatory
  • has neuroprotective and neuroactive effects.

As you can see, hemp stands out from other food products in terms of its dietary and nutraceutical benefits. It can be used in its natural and unprocessed form or as a tasty and nutritious supplement.

How to incorporate hemp into your daily diet?

The abundance of hemp products available on the market allows for great flexibility and use in many different recipes. Hemp is so versatile that it tastes great in both sweet and all the more savoury foods. It can be a great addition to a breakfast, main course, light snack and desserts. Hemp not only tastes good, but above all promotes better health. Both mental and physical. It needs to be stressed that the fibre-type Cannabis sativa has no psychoactive properties. Thus, it is a safe food for everyone.

You may also be interested in: Health from nature, or how to make hemp maceration extract?

The easiest way to get started with hemp cooking is to add hemp seeds to your salad, porridge or bakes. Hemp seeds are a great and healthy alternative to highly processed snacks. Hemp seeds are ideal for baking, pancakes and cakes. Just like hemp flour and hemp protein are. As for flour, mind that it is a rather capricious and heavy flour, so it is better to combine it with other types of flour and use it as a supplement.

Hemp seed oil is also becoming indispensable in the kitchen. This is a cold-pressed oil, which makes it unsuitable for frying, but it is perfect as an ingredient in dressings. You can also dip your bread in it, pour over tomatoes, drizzle over soup before serving or simply add it to your morning smoothie.

The increasingly popular cannabinoid-rich CBD oils can also be an extremely valuable ingredient in your kitchen. To enhance the therapeutic effect of our meal, simply add a few drops of CBD oil. In this case, remember that it needs to be consumed with healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, eggs, fish, meat, sesame oil or soy sauce in order to absorb CBD better.

Paulina Szmerk
Eco-enthusiast, hemp enthusiast, herbalist and promoter of healthy lifestyle. Graduate of early childhood education, re-socialization with social prevention as well as herbal-medical postgraduate studies of "Plants and plant materials for health". Graduate of courses in 'clinical aromatherapy' 'naturopathy - natural methods of treatment' confirmed by MEN diploma, also of a course in massage with herbal stamps, a participant of many conferences on therapeutic properties of cannabis. Combines theory and practice. Creates herbal products for the soul and body, natural incense, essential oils, herbal mixtures. She is an advocate of natural therapies, constantly deepening her knowledge of naturotherapy, specifically the influence of hemp and food on our lives.