What are hemp hearts?

Top 6 benefits of eating hemp hearts

1. Hemp Seeds Are Incredibly Nutritious

Hemp hearts are a great source of good fat.

Hemp hearts are full of good nutrition and have a fat content of about 30% of all good fat.  They have a really high concentration of two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3).

That’s not all, they also have gamma-linolenic acid, which has been linked to a ton of health benefits.

Hemp hearts are packed with protein.

If you’re looking for a great source of protein, you’ve found it.  25% of a hemp heart’s calories come from really high-quality protein.  This is higher than Chia seeds and flax seeds which only have 16-18% of their calories from protein.

Hemp seeds are full of vitamins and minerals.

Hemp seeds aren’t just a great source of high-quality protein, they also contain vitamin E and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc.

Can you eat hemp hearts and hemp seed oil?

Hemp hearts can be eaten raw, cooked or even roasted. Hemp seed oil is extremely healthy and has been used as a solution base for thousands of nutritional supplements, skin care products, and as a cooking oil.  It’s been used in food in countries like China for at least the last 3,000 years because hemp seeds are high in healthy fats and essential fatty acids.

2. Hemp Seeds May Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.  Did you know eating hemp hearts, hemp seed oil, or other good sources of fat when combined with a healthy diet may reduce your risk of heart disease?

Here’s how it works.  Hemp hearts in hemp seeds have high amounts of the amino acid arginine, which makes nitric oxide in the body.  Nitric oxide is a gas molecule that makes the blood vessels dilate and relax, helping to lower blood pressure and a reduce the risk of heart disease.

Inflammation has been linked to heart disease and in recent studies, the gamma-linolenic acid in hemp seeds has also been shown to reduce inflammation, which may decrease the risk of heart disease.

In a recent study with over 13,000 people, increasing the amount of arginine ingested decreased the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is an inflammation marker. Increased levels of CRP are connected to heart disease.

Another huge benefit during animal studies was the reduction in blood pressure after the administration of hemp seed oil. It also reduced the risk of blood clot formation and helped recovery time post heart attack.

Hemp seeds, hemp hearts, and hemp seed oil, along with other good fats and a healthy diet, may reduce your risk of heart disease due to their high arginine and gamma-linolenic acid content.   If you haven’t already done so, add good fats like hemp hearts and hemp seed oil to your diet today.

3. Hemp hearts and digestion

Aside from a properly pumping heart, ingesting a handful of these on a daily basis can also aid in the maintenance of a healthy gut.  Hemp hearts are high in soluble and insoluble fiber, both of which are essential for supplying nutrients to your digestive bacteria. These assist to decrease blood sugar spikes, control cholesterol levels, and reduce any undesirable toxins lurking in your gut.  Have a high-fiber diet and everyone will be pleased.

4. Hemp Seeds Are a Great Source of Plant-Based Protein

Hemp seeds have high protein content which makes up about 25% of its calories. Plus, they have all the essential amino acids which make them a complete protein source.

30 grams of hemp seeds, or 2–3 tablespoons of hemp seed oil, provide about 11 grams of protein which, by weight, provide similar amounts of protein as beef and lamb.  Hemp seeds and hearts also have high concentrations of the amino acids’ like arginine, glutamic acid, methionine, and cysteine.

A plant based protein diet is healthy and can be achieved with hemp hearts and hemp seed oil along with other protein-rich plant based products.

5. Hemp Seeds May Reduce Symptoms of PMS and Menopause

As many as 80% of women that have come of age deal with physical and emotional issues caused by (PMS) premenstrual syndrome.

These types of issues are more than likely caused by a sensitivity to prolactin, which is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that grows breasts and causes them to produce milk.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in hemp seeds, produces prostaglandin E1, which reduces the effects of prolactin (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).

In a study of women with PMS, consuming 1 gram of essential fatty acids with 210 mg of GLA per day produced a notable reduction in symptoms.   This study also showed a reduction in breast discomfort & tenderness, sadness, irritability, and fluid retention associated with PMS.

Other GLA-rich products such as primrose oil, showed to be very helpful in reducing PMS symptoms in women who have tried, but failed to respond to other PMS treatments.

Therefore, hemp seeds & hemp hearts, which are high in GLA, may aid in menopausal symptoms’ relief, according to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

6. Whole Hemp Seeds May Aid Digestion

Fiber is an important component of your diet and it’s been linked to improved digestive health.  Hemp seeds are a rich source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, at 20% and 80% respectively.  Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in your gut. It’s a key source of nutrients for good digestive bacteria and can also help lower blood sugar levels and control cholesterol levels.   Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and may aid in the passage of food and waste.  While hemp seeds that have been de-hulled or shelled contain little fiber, even with the fiber-rich shell removed, they still include a high percentage of essential fatty acids.