Updated 4/20/2016 This week's What's That?! Wednesday post is all about an anti-inflammatory food that has a plentiful amount of fiber, protein, and healthy fats all in one seed...HEMP SEEDS!
A stereotype that often what comes to mind when one thinks of hemp is marijuana. But despite this stereotype, the hemp plant is not a marijuana plant, although it does come from the same family. Hemp seeds are actually an amazing super food that everyone should have in their diet and today's post will explain why. Check it out... Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds: 1. Packed with Easily Digestible Protein! These little seeds pack a nutritional punch and are super versatile! Hemp seeds are 33% protein and have 20 different amino acids, including all 9 essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are those that our body cannot produce on its own, so its important to get them from your food. In fact, I use a hemp protein in my daily smoothie since it gives me 11 grams of protein, 12 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of healthy fats without any of the additives that typical protein powders come with. 2. Reduces Inflammation & Your Risk for Heart Disease Hemp seeds also have a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids which are healthy fats that help you to maintain good cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation. In fact hemp seeds are the only seed or nut that have a perfect ratio all in one seed/nut. Managing the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids is one of the most essential things you can do to prevent heart disease, increase circulation, and reduce your body's inflammatory response! 3. Improve your Immune System Having the right mix of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids is also essential for immune health. Not only does having the correct 3:1 ratio reduce inflammation, which is a huge part of improving immune health, but essential fatty acids (EFA's) play a role in cellular regeneration. In fact EFA's are energy for your body's immune system. This means your body needs the proper balance of these nutrients to heal from injury, fight off infection, and generate new cells the body needs in order to recover from an illness or injury. How to Buy Hemp Seeds: You can buy hemp seeds in most grocery stores - just remember to get organic, raw, and shelled. These are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. I like Nutiva Brand hemp seeds and hemp protein powder. How to Use Hemp Seeds in Cooking & Baking: These lovely seeds can be cooked or baked right into a recipe - like our Hemp & Herb Stuffed Potatoes. They can also make a delicious condiment atop salads, soups, roasted vegetables, or casseroles. Try our Kale Refresh Salad with Tahini Dressing or our Strawberry Mixed Green Salad with Walnut-Hemp Clusters. You can also check out our blog, 5 Tips to Making the Perfect Green Smoothie to learn more about how to incorporate hemp into a smoothie. What else do you use hemp seeds for? We'd love to hear your feedback. Happy Cooking & Healthy Eating! ~Billie & Jennifer
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Billie Shellist, FDN-P
I practice functional nutrition, an approach that allows me to look at your entire health history and help you find the "root causes" of your chronic health complaints. This cuts out the trial and error process and helps you get real symptom relief and resolution! Food is medicine and knowledge is power -I hope you enjoy my anti-inflammatory recipes which are gluten, dairy, and soy free as well as very low grain and sugar. If you'd like to heal from the root cause(s) of your chronic symptoms, try starting with a complimentary 15-minute consultation. Click here to request your free session. |