At first glance, hemp seeds may seem similar to the seeds of other grains, but chemical analysis shows that the difference is clear. Hemp seeds contain 31% protein and include the full spectrum of amino acids required for a complete balance of essential fatty acids. It is quite unusual that one plant can contain all 21 known amino acids that we know today, including 8 that our body cannot produce on its own but needs.
Amino acids in hemp seeds are (essential amino acids are highlighted): alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, taurine, and histidine.
Hemp seeds contain a high amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are responsible for a healthy and strong immune system, and they are also an excellent source of gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acid which are used to treat eczema, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, etc.
Just for comparison, soy (35%) has more protein than hemp, but it is significantly poorer in other nutrients. For example, eggs contain 12% protein, bluefish 26%, chicken meat 23%, milk only 3.7% ... There is also a difference between shelled hemp seeds (31% protein) and unshelled ones (23%).
Hemp seeds are special for another reason - they contain 40% fiber, the most among all grains, with a fifth of them being soluble fiber that slows down the absorption of glucose into the blood, delays stomach emptying, increases the secretion of bile acids, helping to reduce LDL cholesterol in the blood. A large portion is, of course, insoluble fiber, which significantly improves metabolism and regulates digestion.
By adding hemp seeds to your diet, you can reduce the risk of heart and vascular diseases, prevent the development of various forms of cancer, as well as diseases caused by inflammation, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Comparisons
When comparing hemp seeds to flax seeds, which also contain all amino acids, hemp has globulin edistin representing 65% of its protein, which belongs to simple proteins that the body needs for defense against infections. Before the First World War, hemp was used to treat tuberculosis, and in China, hemp has been used to overcome hunger for millennia.
What is the greatest advantage of hemp seeds?
When comparing hemp seeds to flax and chia seeds, all three types are very similar. One tablespoon of hemp has 57 calories, flax has 55 calories, and chia seeds have 60 calories. They all have around 4 grams of fats, and about 2 grams of protein ... The truly significant difference in favor of hemp is in omega-6 fatty acids. Hemp has 2500 mg, while flax and chia seeds have only 600 mg and 800 mg, respectively.
And in terms of price ... A tablespoon of flax seeds costs 5 cents, chia seeds 22 cents, and hemp seeds 26 cents.