Hemp hearts may be one of the most misunderstood ingredients on the market today. In fact, hemp is so misunderstood that social media giant still lumps the health food hemp hearts in with illegal narcotics. Not only is this wildly misleading, but it prevents health food companies from marketing products containing hemp hearts to its fans. Below we will explain why hemp hearts are so exciting and should be a part of everyone's diet!
Hemp and Marijuana come from the same plant, but are different in biological makeup, use, and regulation. Hemp hearts are the seeds of a variety of the Cannabis sativa L plant and contain well below 0.3% THC - the legal limit to be considered hemp and not marijuana. The limited THC is not enough to produce any intoxicating effects when consumed. The Farm Bill of 2014 created the 0.3% limit and the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 made hemp legal in all 50 states.
So What Makes Hemp Hearts So Good?
Hemp hearts are rich in protein boasting over 25% of their total calories from high-quality protein which is even higher than our friends chia and flax seeds. By weight this is a similar amount of protein as both beef and lamb. This study done in 2008 found hemp proteins to be more digestable than soy.
They also contain the optimal ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids which may benefit the immune system. The amino acid arginine, found in high amounts in hemp hearts, produces nitric oxide in your body which helps your blood vessels dilate and relax. In turn this leads to lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease.
Hemp hearts are also rich in dietary fiber, vitamin E, and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, and calcium.
Why We Use Hemp Hearts
At Beyond the Equator we try to use the healthiest ingredients in the world to create the best possible products. The nutritional profile of hemp hearts makes it the perfect ingredient to fit alongside sunflower, pumpkin, chia, and flax seeds in our 5 Seed Butter. While it may lead to some frustration due to misconceptions about the ingredient, we feel it is essential to be on the forefront of healthy diets and provide our shoppers with the highest quality products that we can create.