A superfood is a generic term used for nutrient-dense food that confers several health benefits. Cold-pressed nut oils, watermelon seeds, offal, etc have been named superfoods by several people for their high food value.
Grains and fruits have traditionally been known to have health benefits hence terming fruit seeds as superfoods is hardly surprising. However, even hemp seed oil is considered a superfood which is quite a surprise given that Cannabis species are often known for their hallucinatory effects.
Why Should Hemp Seed Oil Be Included In Your Diet Regimen?
Hemp seed oils are rich in nutrients and confer several health benefits to regular consumers. So if you wish to consume hemp seed oil, you can buy hemp seeds that are grown organically.
Hemp Seed Oil Is A Rich Source Of Protein
Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Most people mistakenly believe that food sourced from animals, like milk and meat, is the only rich source of protein. However, not only animal sources but even plant sources can be quite rich in proteins.
If you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you must look for plant-based sources of protein, and soybean and hemp seed are probably your best options.
Soybean is considered the richest source of plant protein, and hemp seed has as much protein as soybean. Every thirty grams of hemp seed has around ten grams of protein stored in it. So if you take three tablespoons of hemp seed every morning and crush it to extract its oil, you will get around ten grams of protein every morning.
Apart from the high density of protein in hemp seeds, the seed is great for a balanced diet because it has all the ten essential amino acids that the body needs. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and several hundreds of amino acids are joined end to end to create a protein molecule.
Also, amino acids are of two types: essential and non-essential. The classification is based on which amino acid can be synthesized within the human body and which cannot. If the body can synthesize an amino acid by itself, it need not obtain it from external sources; hence they are non-essential. However, the body cannot make essential amino acids; hence it has to be taken in the right quantity from other sources, and this is where hemp seed is useful.
Hemp seed oil contains all ten essential amino acids and it is a rich source of arginine. Arginine is a critical amino acid required for the synthesis of ornithine and creatinine.
Ornithine is essential for the proper functioning of the urea cycle; likewise, creatine helps build muscle mass.
Hemp Seed Oil Is Rich In Unsaturated Fats
Fats are not always bad for the body, and it needs its fair share of fats to function optimally. However, the composition of fats that a person consumes determines the long-term health impacts of fat consumption.
Most health experts believe that polyunsaturated fatty acids are good for health. They are highly effective in lowering the quantity of LDL (low-density lipids) or cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol is considered bad as it gets deposited on the edges of the arteries. Too much deposition of cholesterol can clog arteries and eventually cause a heart attack. So consuming hemp seed oil has a protective role for your heart.
Hemp Seed Is Rich In Fibers
Hemp seed is a rich source of fiber; however, it is the coating of the seed that contains the maximum amount of fiber in them. So if you want the oil to be rich in fiber content, buy the intact seed (with the outer cover) and crush it to extract the oil. A diet rich in fiber has several health benefits, including control over diabetes levels, weight management and improving the health of the gut.
Fibers help balance blood glucose levels because fiber, unlike regular carbohydrates, cannot be broken down in the body. So when you consume fibers, there is no rapid spike in blood sugar levels after a meal, and blood sugar levels remain stable.
Fibers also help in weight management. One of the reasons why people gain weight is because they never feel full irrespective of the quantity of food that they have eaten. Fibers are usually quite bulky, and they make a person feel satiated. Also, soluble fibers form a gel that slows down the emptying of food from the stomach and the transit time of the food through the digestive system.
Fibers are great for people who suffer from chronic constipation. Fibers absorb water, and this helps in softening stool, fibers make the stool bulky, which makes it easier to pass.
Hemp Seed Oil Is A Rich In Several Vitamins And Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are needed in minute quantities in the body; nonetheless, they are essential, and deficiencies can cause debilitating conditions. A deficiency of vitamins can cause diseases like night blindness, rickets, scurvy, etc.
Hemp seed oil is rich in minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Magnesium is crucial for the proper functioning of nerves. It also supports muscle function and energy production in the body. Phosphorus is essential for the cell and maintenance of cells in a tissue. It is also needed to balance and use other minerals and vitamins in the body.
Potassium is essential for maintaining the fluid balance in a person’s body; it also regulates heartbeat and ensures proper muscle and nerve function. Potassium is also vital for synthesizing carbohydrates and proteins.
Conclusion
Hemp seed oil is a nutrient-rich, complete source of nutrients a body needs. It has all the ten essential amino acids, rarely found together in unison. Moreover, it is great for vegan or vegetarian eaters who do not have animal sources of proteins in their diet. They are also good for patients who suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and heart ailments as they are rich in PUFA or good fats and help control body weight and blood sugar levels.
