6 Awesome Reasons to Start Eating Hemp Seeds!

There are much more benefits to the legalization of Cannabis then just the anti-cancer benefits. Widespread legalization would allow growth of the ultra-versatile hemp plant which would allow us to make nearly everything from clothing, cars and sustainable building materials, to bio-fuel, and even food! Hemp can truly do everything better.

While owning Cannabis sativa or hemp products isn’t illegal growing industrial hemp was illegal until the passing of the 2014 Farm Bill.

History of Hemp

Back in the 17th and 18th centuries in the Americas hemp was considered so valuable is was illegal not to grow it.  In fact, you could even pay our taxes in hemp.  Until the invention of the cotton gin in the 1820’s more than 3/4ths of the textile fabrics, sails, ropes, canvas (from the dutch word cannabis), and clothing was made from hemp.

Back in the 1930s, hemp was also known as the billion-dollar crop if you can imagine how much a billion dollars was worth back in those days you would see how huge it would be today.  In fact during World War II farmers were asked to grow hemp in order to help the war effort.

The Dupont family lead the campaign against hemp in order to boost sales of their synthetic nylon fibers.  Andrew Mellon, who was the Secretary of the Treasury under Coolidge and Hoover and one of the wealthiest men in America had a huge stake in Dupont and worked with Harry Anslinger his nephew-in-law to rebrand hemp as a danger to society.

Harry Anslinger was the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and as part of their propaganda they decided to rename hemp to marijuana since it sounded like Mexican slang in order to prove that it would harm the American way of life.

Randolph Hearst who was another wealthy man at the time was heavily invested in the wood paper industry and saw hemp as a major issue in his ability to profit.  Hemp is a cheap substitute for the paper industry and would spare countless trees from being cut down.  Hearst also helped push the anti-marijuana industry.  This is when the war against drugs also started.

At first they just passed the Marihuana Tax Law of 1937 to further hurt the hemp industry and then in 1958 it was eventually banned.

Recently since the 2014 Farm Bill hemp has made a bit of a comeback.  Hemp doesn’t need many pesticides and it actually replenishes the soil while naturally killing weeds making it ideal for use.

Hemp seeds have some incredible health benefits and can be eaten regularly.  Here are 6 awesome benefits of hemp seeds and hemp hearts.

1. Hemp seeds can reduce your chance of heart attack.

Hemp is packed in a healthy amino acid known as arginine.  This helps increase the amount of nitric oxide in your blood.  This helps to relax and dilate blood vessels so everything can flow right.  This will help you lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

2. Hemp seeds are super nutritious.

If you were to pick up some flaxseeds of chia seeds you would get a great amount of plant protein which would give you a high dose of nutrients with up to 18% of their caloric value being protein.  However, hemp seeds will give 25% protein and are high in vitamin E and other minerals such as magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and potassium.

Hemp seeds can be eaten raw or roasted and have a nice mild nutty flavor.  They have also been used in China for thousands of years as a form of medicine.

3. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of complete plant-based protein.

Hemp seeds are 25% protein and because they contain some essential amino acids it makes it a complete protein.  Your body doesn’t make these amino acids and must come from the diet.  See not all plant based proteins are complete and don’t actually replace meat as a protein source but hemp does.  Help provides 11 grams of complete protein when you have a 3 tablespoon serving.

4. Hemp seeds may reduce the effects of skin diseases like Eczema.

Hemp seeds provide a good balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (3:1).  It is believed that these fatty acids help your bodies immune response.  Some skin diseases cause rash, redness and itchiness such as eczema and are immune responses.  Hemp seeds will lessen the unpleasant symptoms of these skin conditions.

5. Hemp seeds are great for the digestion.

The Un-hulled hemp seeds provide the body with a great source of soluble and insoluble fiber.  They help with healthy digestion and staying regular while also helping to keep the good bacteria in our guts healthy.  Hemp helps with blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

6. Hemp seeds may help reduce unpleasant symptoms of PMS and menopause.

According to studies the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can help reduce the symptoms of PMS.  It is believed that PMS symptoms come from a hormone called prolactin.  Hemp is high in GLA which helps to reduce the symptoms caused by prolactin in the body.  It is believed that hemp seeds will help because another high-GLA plant known as primrose reduces the symptoms of menopause.

Do you eat hemp seeds?  Let us know your experiences in the comments below.

Sources- alternet.org

Hemp for Victory

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