What is hemp?
Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa var. sativa is the variety grown for industrial use, while C. sativa subsp. indica is primarily used for production of recreational and medicinal drugs.
The real difference between the two substrains is the amount of THC secreted by the plant. The plant substrains grown for seeds and fiber only has THC below 0.3%, while cultivars of Cannabis grown for marijuana can contain anywhere from 2% to over 20% THC (source)
What is hemp used for?
Hemp is used for a variety of functions including:
- to make cord and clothing
- to make food (oil and seeds)
- in mulch
- in animal bedding and litter
- as jewelry
- to clean contaminants from water
- to kill weeds by minimizing weed seeds in the soil-reduces necessary pesticides
- as a fuel from its oils
(source)
How can you eat it?
Hemp seeds can be:
- eaten raw
- ground into a meal
- sprouted
- made into milk
- made as tea
- used in baking
- made into protein powder
Health Benefits of Hemp
- 44% of the seed by weight are healthy oils such as alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 and omega-6
- 33% of the seed by weight is protein
- Hemp seeds are a source of complete protein (contain all essential amino acids)
(source)
Question?
Have you eaten anything with hemp in it? If so, what?
I have had hemp protein powder that I used in smoothies and I’ve also bought hemp milk. I think it’s been in some of the granolas and bars I’ve gotten in the past but can’t think of their names. It’s not something I usually buy but now you’ve got me thinking that maybe I should- hemp seeds are definitely a healthy food and they would go great on my oatmeal.
If you buy hemp seeds, use amazon, so much cheaper! I usually add it to salads and they go great with walnuts for a salad topper!
I should try hemp again. My first time tasted really nasty, so I haven’t had it since!
Have you tried the seeds? I think they go really great in salads!
I love hemp! Hemp oil in dressings, hemp protein powder in pancakes or smoothies… hemp clothing…
I love hemp seeds the most!