Hemp Seeds: The Superfood Fairy Dust
With plenty of plant-based protein, omega-3 and 6, and plenty of antioxidants and minerals, here’s why you should start sprinkling hemp seeds on your food.
Hemp seeds may be small, but they are the superfood fairy dust you should be sprinkling on everything from breakfast to dessert. Hemp foods have only recently been legalised for consumption in Australia so it’s never been easier to get your hands on some hemp-protein goodness.
What are hemp seeds?
Hemp seeds come from the Cannabis sativa plant, however they don’t contain any THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) so they can’t get you high and won’t show up on a drug test. Instead, they do wonders for your health and wellbeing – especially for your brain.
High in protein
Hemp seeds are an excellent source of plant-based protein. For every tablespoon on hemp seeds, there are about 9 grams of protein. So that means a couple of tablespoons of hemp seeds is nearly half the RDI of protein for the average woman.
Being a complete source of protein, they contain all nine essential amino acids which make them the boss of all plant-based proteins.
Good fat guru
Loaded with unsaturated fats, hemp seeds contain the perfect ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, which is 2:1. Most of us consume too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3, which is why this ratio is so important as it provides the perfect amount of both. Having such great omega content, hemp seeds are the perfect brain food.
Hemp on the brain
Hemp seeds are packed with cognitive-supporting antioxidants and minerals which make them an essential ingredient in all things brain-health.
GLA (gamma-linoleic acid) is a part of the omega-6 family but derives from plants. This super-healing strand of omega-6 is found in hemp seeds. GLA remedies inflammation around the body, especially inflammation that occurs in the brain, with depression, hormonal imbalances and menopause. It also protects against autoimmune diseases and balances the metabolism.
How to get more hemp on your plate
Hemp has a very low burning point so it is best consumed raw. You can eat them as seeds or in hemp seed oil (which also doubles as a great skin moisturiser).
In your smoothie: A tablespoon in your smoothie will go completely unnoticed (so why not add 2?).
On a chia seed pudding: We love sprinkling them on our Ruby Sunrise Chia Pudding.
Added to some oats: Once cooked, stir some hemp seeds through your oats or top our Peanut Butter & Jam Oats with a tablespoon.
On toast or in your sandwich: Hemp seeds make a great topping on your toast and can be added with the filling in any sandwich.
Salad Dressing: Add hemp seeds to your salad dressing, either blended in a processor or whole.
Stirred through a nutritious soup: add some to our Healing Turmeric Soup and you’ll be glowing in no time.
Boost your desserts: Sprinkle hemp seeds on your cakes, puddings and even your ice cream!
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