With tons of research backing its nutritional potential, you’d be crazy not to consider adding hemp seeds or hemp oil to your daily diet.
Hemp packs a punch when it comes to health benefits. Not only is is full of vitamins and minerals like magnesium, zinc, phosphorous and vitamin E, but it’s one of the only perfect plant-based proteins containing all 20 amino acids. According to nutritionists, it also hosts one of the best ratios of Omegas 3 and 6 found in nature.
That said, hemp is perfect if you’re looking to add an extra health kick to your meals. It’s an incredibly versatile plant which comes in a whole host of forms. There’s hemp seeds, oil, flour, protein powder – you name it and there’s a good chance it exists. With so many available options, what are some of the best ways to incorporate hemp into your diet?
Top your meals with hemp seeds.
Hemp seeds are a perfect addition to your meals because they’re abundant in Omega 3 and 6. You can load ‘em up on just about anything. Sprinkle the seeds over your salad for extra fiber and protein. Or to get glowing skin, drizzle hemp seed oil on salad as a dressing and get a boost of good fats. Alternatively you could sprinkle hemp seeds on your morning avocado toast to give an extra punch of nutrients. The possibilities are endless and the decision is yours!
Cook up some hemp pasta
I almost didn’t believe this one either, but yes – hemp pasta is real! Made from hemp flour (which is essentially milled hemp seeds), not only is it a tasty alternative to regular wheat pasta, but it’s also gluten free and muc easier to digest. It’s also loaded with plant-based protein.
But wait – there are even more possibilities when it comes to hemp pasta! Search online and you’ll find tons of recipes blending up hemp seeds to make creamy alfredo or pesto pasta sauces. You can even buy vegan hemp parmesan to top of your dish! I bet you’re salivating just thinking about it…
Indulge with hemp cheese
So we’ve already touched on hemp seed parmesan. However there are also loads more recipes out there for hemp based cheeses. Most are made from de-shelled hemp seeds whizzed up in food processor. Add herbs and spices to create things like cheesy garlic spread to top off toast or hemp nacho cheese.
It’s even possible to make hard hemp cheese by using hemp “milk” as the base instead of regular milk. In a nutshell (couldn’t resist) hemp milk is basically hemp seeds which have been soaked, ground and sweetened slightly to make a delicious, creamy plant based milk.
Add to protein shakes or smoothies
Hemp seeds hold tons of protein inside and more than 25% of their total calories come from protein alone. Believe it or not, hemp seeds even contain the same amount of protein as beef, gram for gram. Unlike most plant sources, hemp contains all 20 amino acids – most importantly, the ones our bodies can’t produce. So if you’re looking for a plant based protein alternative, hemp seed is the perfect protein.
There are so many hemp protein powders on the market that you’ll be spoilt for choice! But I recommend to choose one from organic sources. Double it up with hemp “milk” as a post-workout shake, or blend with your favorite fruits and veggies to give your smoothie a bigger nutritional hit.
Make your own superfood bars
Whether you’re on a diet and cutting down on sugar or just fancy a healthy bite, hemp seeds are a great addition to your DIY snacks. Not only do they provide you with minerals and vitamins like zinc, magnesium and iron but they also taste delicious.
I love this recipe from minimalist baker which uses only 6 ingredients to create nutty hemp seed balls that are jam packed with goodness. When combined, nuts and hemp a tremendous amount of protein. These would be a great snack to eat after a rigorous workout.
Add to your granola
Nutritionists believe that morning is the best time of the day to eat a healthy, protein rich breakfast. One study found how eating such meals in the morning lead to increased energy levels throughout the day and also helps to keep us fuller for longer.
For these reasons, adding hemp seeds to your granola or oats in the morning is a fantastic choice to keep you going throughout the day. Not to mention all the vitamins, minerals and omega oils that we’ve mentioned all the way throughout this article! Are you convinced yet?
Final thoughts
So there you have it! Hemp is so versatile that there are tons of possibilities for incorporating it into your diet. Looking for an easy starting point? Why not try hemp oil on your salads, hemp seeds in your morning cereals, or simply topping your favorite meals with hemp hearts.
If you’re feeling experimental, make your own snack bars with hemp seeds and hemp oil. Or making your very own hemp-based pasta with hemp pesto sauce is a delicious way to get creative. And don’t forget to throw hemp cheese on everything!