What a special little plant this is!! The benefits of the cannabis sativa hemp plant go on and on: from industrial benefits like producing paper, medicinal benefits like phytocannabidiols, and now the seeds. It’s hard to believe that a plant that could practically save the planet, could have such a bad reputation or stigma attached to it.
So let’s talk about other ways to incorporate hemp into your diet besides CBD hemp oil. These little seeds, also known as hemp hearts, are nutty in flavor. They can pretty much be added to anything from smoothies to sprinkling them on your food. Extremely nutritious and easy to digest, hemp seeds contain all the essential fatty acids our bodies need: omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), omega-6 (linolenic acid) and gamma-linolenic. At a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is the optimal range, hemp seeds are loaded with protein, even more so than chia and flax seeds. Also, hemp seeds are a great source of vitamin E and minerals, such as phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc.
Eat them raw, cooked or roasted, but don’t stop there! Cold pressed, organic hemp seed oil can be used for cooking, too. Hemp seed oil is extremely healthy and has been used as a food and medicine in China for about 3000 years. Here’s a great recipe from Oh My Veggies! Hope you like it as much as we do.
Hemp Seed Pesto
Using hemp seeds instead of pine nuts adds 3 additional grams of protein per 1/4 cup of this basil pesto.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: About 3/4 cup of pesto
Ingredients
2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds (also called hemp hearts)
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
Kosher salt to taste (about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon is a good amount)
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula if necessary.
Note:
I don’t like my pesto very oily, so I usually don’t use more than 3 tablespoons, but if you like a smoother pesto, add more oil until it reaches a consistency you like.
Find it online: https://ohmyveggies.com/