Dehulled Hemp Seed

The Unifying Food

The hemp plant produces abundant seed which for millennia has been used as a valuable food source. Bulk hemp seed is an important food in some parts of the world still today. As a crop, hemp seed is helping to revitalize economically troubled conventional tobacco and wheat farms in Canada. Two countries producing most of the world’s dehulled hemp seed are Canada and Germany. A non-heating mechanical process dehulls the tough outer shell of the seed. This dehulled hemp seed (also called hemp meat and in precise botanical terminology, is an achene, which is actually a type of fruit) has virtually unlimited uses.

Dehulled hemp seed is a richly nutritional and easily digestible living food. Its nutritional profile is especially strong in essential fatty acids and protein. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) come in at 36%, of which approximately 57% of that is Omega 3, 19% Omega 6, 9% Omega 9, 2% GLA, 6.5% palmitic acid, including other important polyunsaturated fatty acids. Of all foods that contain fatty acids, hemp seed is the only one that contains both the Omega-EFAs and Gamma-FAs. Its high fatty acid profile makes it one of the most digestible and assimilable of foods. EFAs are important in fat digestion. Hemp seed has a high protein content of 31%, of which 65% of this protein is globulin edistin. This biochemical makeup is similar to that found in blood plasma, so is easily assimilated and soothing to the body. Hemp seed is enzyme rich, making it a truly high protein energy food.

Other components found in the hemp seed profile are: 11% carbohydrates, 5% fiber, and 6-7% minerals, including zinc and other important microminerals, as well as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, in the 1% range. These are high levels, making hemp seed one of the richest sources for magnesium in nature. Its sulfur content is found especially in methionine and cystine, which are amino acid building blocks of proteins. Hemp seed also contains some B vitamins. It has approximately 500 calories per 100 grams.

The nutritional components of hemp seed offer natural antioxidants at the cellular level. They therefore help improve circulation, tissue repair, muscle recovery, and help in the proper functioning of cell membranes. The sulfur-containing amino acids found in hemp seed nourish and revitalize dry skin and hair. EFAs, as also found in hemp seed, are vital to the maintenance of cell membranes and are essential for an effectively functioning immune system; they are helpful with alleviating inflammatory conditions. They also have the major role of forming hormone-like substances which control all body functions.

Dehulled hemp seed has virtually unlimited uses. Examples of its use are: sprout mixes, spreads (tahini, tofu, hummus, tabouli and other ethnic dishes), as a topping over vegetables, salads, fruit, yogurt, potatoes, rice, and pasta, mixed in chutneys, pestos, sauces and gravies, and used in salad dressings and marinades. Other suggestions are: in desserts for cookies, pies, ice cream, and in snacks, such as trail mixes and nutritional bars. Also use in cereals, such as granolas, whole grain and flakes, and in special diet mixes, high protein mixes, powdered green drinks and seed milks, and can be ground up as a nut butter. Hemp seed can be an ingredient in either sweet or salty foods.

Dehulled hemp seed is best preserved in the refrigerator or freezer. It can be kept indefinitely in the freezer and used directly from it as needed. Refrigerated, it is good for up to 12 months.

So sprinkle away—enjoy!