Hemp as a Healthy Crop for Special Cuisine

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Dried hemp

Hemp or cannabis is one of the oldest crops in the world. Since 1996, industrial hemp may be grown in Germany – but only by farmers with a special license.

The individual components of the plant are used to produce very different products. The fibers can be used to make ropes, fabrics, and insulation material. Small leaves are made into tea. Especially the seeds of the plant and the CBD aliejus (CBD oil) pressed from it are considered extremely healthy. Meanwhile, hemp has become a superfood and more and more hemp products are offered, for example – such as hemp milk, hemp oil, hemp tea, hemp seeds, and hemp flour. Hemp seeds and hemp oil have a very mild, nutty taste.

No intoxication due to industrial hemp: Hardly contains THC

Industrial hemp is not an intoxicant, as its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is very low at 0.2 percent.

Nevertheless, hemp-containing foods made wholly or partly from leaves or flowers of the plant may have higher levels of THC. Especially in the case of frequent consumers, children, or pregnant women, health impairments are possible, warns the Consumer Advice Centre.

Hemp seeds naturally do not contain THC.

Superfood hemp seeds: protein, vitamins, and minerals

In particular, hemp seeds provide healthy fats, high-quality protein, vitamins (vitamin E), and minerals (zinc). As a so-called superfood, they contain particularly high-quality vegetable proteins, which, like animal proteins, contain all nine essential amino acids. They are also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

 

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Fatty acids help with high blood pressure, rheumatism, and osteoarthritis

The special feature is that these valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids are present in a perfect mixing ratio of three times as much omega 6 as omega 3 acids. It is precisely in this mixing ratio that the fatty acids unfold the most effective effect against high blood pressure, rheumatism, and osteoarthritis. All other vegetable oils have a significantly higher proportion of omega 6 acids: In olive oil, the ratio is nine to one, and in sunflower oil even 128 to one. In addition, hemp seeds are one of the few foods to contain gamma-linolenic acid. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and can alleviate skin diseases such as neurodermatitis.

Use hemp products in the kitchen and store them properly

Hemp does not tolerate heat. Therefore, hemp seeds should not be roasted and hemp oil should only be used for cold dishes. Hemp oil also becomes rancid quickly, which is why it should always be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within three months of opening. Flour can also be obtained from hemp seeds. Since it does not contain starch, it is not suitable for baking, but can be used well for enriching food. It is rich in fiber. Hemp seeds can also be consumed pure, for example in muesli or salad.

The price for the superfood products is high at ten to 20 euros for 500 grams of seeds, ten euros for a bottle of oil, or six euros for a liter of hemp milk.

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