Hemp Seeds

I have bought Hemp Seeds in Hobart. At present hemp, according to AU food standards, is not sold as a food in Australia. Though this may change.

The hemp packet I bought said:

We insist that you only buy hemp seeds, protein powder or oil for external use or eat them in a country where it is legal.

By purchasing this product you agree to these terms. Thank you

This has no psychoactive amounts of THC (cannot get you high) and is legal to eat in North America, Europe and Asia. Please check and comply with your country’s food laws before use.

Hemp seeds are for sale in Health food shops. They are sold amongst the foods and packaged like a food.  According to the law they are not for sale as a food. 

100 gm of Hemp seeds

621 calories

31 gm protein

2 gm carbohydrate

3 gm fiber

54 gm fat 6 gm saturated fat, 7.3 gm monounsaturated fat, 40.6 gm polyunsaturated fat (9.2 gm Omega 3 and 30.9 gm Omega 6)

Hemp seeds contain over 30% fat.

They are exceptionally rich in two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3).  They also contain gamma-linolenic acid.  Also the polyunsaturated oleic acid.

The oil from hemp seeds is 80% polyunsaturated fatty acids (good fats) and only about 10 % saturated fatty acids (bad fats).

A lot of the fatty acids from hemp oil are essential. The body does not produce them. They must be ingested.  Most health organizations agree that the human body needs a 3 or 4:1 balance of omega 6 over omega 3.  Is this ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 the best ratio? Why is this ratio the best ratio? Why are the polyunsaturated fatty acids called good fats and the saturated fatty acids called bad fats?  These questions about fat deserve more attention. It is coming. 

Hemp can be eaten by those unable to tolerate nuts, gluten, lactose or sugar; there are no known allergies to hemp foods.

Hemp seeds are good sources of the Vit Bs, Vit E , vitamin D, the minerals (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron potassium, sodium, sulfur, calcium, copper) and dietary fiber phytosterols, chlorophyll, , and enzymes.

Hemp is a variety of cannabis. It is a fast growing plant. It was one of the first plants spun into usable fiber which was used in textiles and clothing. Today it is also used in paper, plastics, paint, body lotions, human food and animal feed. Most species of cannabis contain various amounts of the psychoactive THC.

Uses of hemp seeds.

Eaten raw. Snacked on with nuts, fruit or grains.

Ground into meal and added to anything baked. Can be added to baked foods before grinding. It will give crunch to final product.

Sprouted

Roasted. Can be added to muesli or granola or finger snack foods.

Made into a liquid such as hemp milk, hemp juice, hemp tea.

Hempseed oil has been used in China for 3000 years.

Hemp seeds and heart disease

Contain large amounts of the amino acid arginine.  In the body arginine produces nitric oxide which lowers blood pressure. 

Contains gamma-linolenic acid which decreases inflammation. This decrease in inflammation can benefit anybody with any disease involving inflammation.

Hemp seeds and the skin

Hemp seeds are rich in the essential fatty acids. Hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered in the optimal range.

Studies have shown that giving hemp seed oil to people with eczema may improve blood levels of essential fatty acids.

It may also relieve dry skin, improve itchiness and reduce the need for skin medication.

Plant based Protein

About 25% of calories in hemp seeds come from protein, which is relatively high. By weight hemp seeds contain same amount of protein as beef or lamb.  The protein contains all the essential amino acids. Including lysine which is rare from plants.

The protein is considered very digestible. More digestible than meat, eggs or milk. Better spectrum of proteins than soybeans with none of the oligosaccharides that cause stomach gas. 

Contains all 20 know amino acids including the 9 essential amino acids.  

Hemp seeds and PMS

Gamma-linolenic acid (high in hemp seeds) produces prostaglandin E1 which reduces effects of prolactin which decrease symptoms of PMS or menopause. 

Hemp seeds and digestion   

Hemp seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber (mainly in the shell).  Help decrease spikes in blood sugar, regulate blood cholesterol, aids removal of fecal matter, aid movement of food and water through the gut.

Conclusion  

Hemp seeds can be safely eaten. It is a healthy food suitable for snacking or adding to food to make the food slightly more interesting.  Hemp seeds contain largely protein and fat. There are no issues with the protein. The amount of fat raises questions about fat. Which fat is healthy? I need a  further look at this issue.

Wild rice is not rice

Wild rice is not rice. It looks like rice and grows like rice BUT is technically not rice at all.  Wild rice describes four different species of grasses, three of which are native to North America, and one to Asia.  It is the seed or the grain that is normally sold in shops then cooked and eaten. Today the grain is still gathered and harvested by Native Americans. Wild rice is now a delicacy in North America and hardly ever eaten in China except for the plant's stem which is eaten as a vegetable

Manchurian wild rice was once an important grain in ancient China. It is now very rare in the wild in China, and its use as a grain has completely disappeared in China, though it continues to be cultivated for its stems. The swollen crisp white stems of Manchurian wild rice are grown as a vegetable, popular in East and Southeast Asia. When I mention wild rice I am taking about the grains not the stem.

Wild rice, was depended on heavily by Native Americans, and was considered sacred to some tribes. Wild rice was extremely valuable to the Native Americans due to its accessibility and high nutritive value. Native Americans traditionally harvested wild rice from a canoe. They paddled into a stand of wild rice, bent the ripe grain heads and hit the grain heads with knockers and collecting the seed in the canoe.  It was important to the local indigenous communities culturally. Minnesota and  Wisconsin where named after the wild rice plant.

The Native Americans prepared it in various ways. They stewed the grains with deer broth and or maple syrup, made into stuffings for wild birds, or even steaming it into sweets like puffed rice, or rice pudding sweetened with maple syrup.

Because of its nutritional value and taste, wild rice increased in popularity in the late 20th century, and commercial cultivation began in the U.S. and Canada to supply the increased demand. In the U.S., the main producers are California and Minnesota and it is mainly cultivated in paddy fields. In Canada, it is usually harvested from natural bodies of water; the largest producer is Saskatchewan. Wild rice is also produced in Hungary and Australia.

 Today wild rice has gained attention due to its high antioxidant, protein, mineral, and vitamin content, almost all of which are considerably higher than traditional white rice.

Wild rice is high in protein, low in fat and high in dietary fiber. 100 gm of wild rice contains 21 gm of carbohydrates, 1.8 gm of dietary fiber, 0.34 gm of fat and 3.99 gm of protein. Wild rice has twice the protein and fiber of brown rice, but less iron and calcium.

Wild rice is also a good source of vitamins and minerals: Vitamin B1 5%, Vitamin B2 7%, Vitamin B3 9%, Vitamin B6 10%, Folate 7%, Vitamin E 2%, Iron5%, Magnesium 9%, Manganese13%, Phosphorous 12%, Zinc 14%.

The strong flavor and high price of wild rice mean that it is most often consumed in a blend with rice or other grains.

Cooking of wild rice

1 C of wild rice + 3C of water or broth.

Simmer for 45-55 minutes

Produces 3 1/2 C of cooked wild rice.

Cooking is similar to cooking of rice. Bring to the boil and then simmer until all liquid is absorbed. Cooking time will vary depending on grains used, pans and stove used. If grain is not tender when time is up, add more water and continue cooking. If grain seems cooked before time, drain excess liquid and stop cooking.  Soaking grains before cooking shortens cooking time. Cooked grains can be stored in the fridge and then reheated with a little water, eaten cold in salads or added to soups.

Health Benefits of Wild Rice 

Heart. There is no sodium which helps lower blood pressure. The dietary fiber removes bad cholesterol.

Digestion. The large amount of dietary fiber helps proper functioning of the GI tract. In theory there should be less constipation, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer.

Weight loss. High fiber, high nutritional content and low calorie content mean it fills you up. Doesn’t fatten you up.

Antioxidants. Contains a lot of antioxidants. The theory behind antioxidants is that they are good for you. They neutralise free radicals. It is impossible to eat some antioxidants and directly witness the effect they have.

Proteins. The high protein content of wild rice is good for building muscles and other parts of your body. Wild rice is a plant that is high in protein.  Which can be important if your particular diet is low in non-plant based proteins.