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Hemp Oil - The Misunderstood Nutritious Oil
Hemp oil comes from the seed of the hemp plant, or cannabis plant. Unrefined, cold pressed hemp oil ranges from light green to dark in color. Dark hemp oil has a grassier flavor than the lighter oils and the taste is pleasantly nutty whatever the color. Nearly all the THC (the psychoactive part of hemp) is removed during the manufacturing process.
Refined hemp oil is colorless and almost flavorless. It does not contain many antioxidants or vitamins. Refined hemp oil is used in industrial applications like paints, fuel, plastics, lubricants, and paints. It is also used in body care products like detergents, soaps and shampoos, although not as much as some other oils.
Hemp seeds contain all the essential fatty acids and essential amino acids to be classed as a very healthy product. You can eat hemp seeds raw or sprouted. You can also make them into tea or a hemp milk. Hemp cake, hemp flour and hemp tofu are other foods containing these seeds or the oil from them.
Hemp Oil is Not Hash Oil
Do not confuse hemp oil with hash oil. Hash oil is made from the leaves and bud of cannabis and it contains a lot of THC. This oil is taken orally, vaporized to make smoke, or applied topically and it is believed to have medicinal benefits, such as the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Hash is also known as cannabis, grass, or pot. Hemp seeds come from the cannabis plant but the THC is removed when the oil is made so hemp oil is simply an oil, not a drug.
Health and Hemp Oil Benefits
This oil has a three to one ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 essential fatty acids, which is a healthy balance. You can use it as part of a healthy diet. Since the oil has a nice nutty taste, you can use it in dips, mayonnaise, and salad dressings. It is not the best oil to choose for frying, since the frying process destroys hemp oil's health benefits.
Hemp seeds are a rich source of essential fatty acids and these fats can help damaged immune systems and wasting bodies. It is rare to find essential fatty acids in the plant kingdom so hemp seed oil is something special, especially if you are a vegetarian or vegan and cannot eat fish to get your recommended dose of essential fatty acids. Dry skin is a common symptom of an essential fatty acid deficiency.
Hemp oil is the most balanced oil for humans to consume and it is easily digestible. As hemp was one of the first cultivated crops, it is believed that this nutritional oil was once part of worldwide dietary intake.
A lot of people envision hippies in tie-dye dungarees when they hear the word "hemp" but you should not confuse hemp with cannabis. The oil is manufactured to remove all the THC so all that is left is a highly nutritious and flavorful oil, which you can use for baking, making salad dressings, drizzling over hot potatoes or anything else you like.
