Seed BenefitsSeeds, Oils, Extracts, and Total Health

Hemp Seeds from a Great Brand on Sale Here

Hemp Seed Benefits — Whole Seeds

In whatever form you take them, hemp seed benefits the whole body.  In the last post we saw how full of protein and Omega 3s hemp seeds were and how eating hemp protein powder instead of whole seeds might be an awesome way to go.  In this post, we’ll talk about the benefits of eating the whole seeds over the protein powder.  Hemp seeds have a very unique combination of nutrients that make them unlike any other seed out there.  They’re not only high in protein and Omega 3s, but they’re easy to munch on, unlike many other seeds that are high in Omega 3s.  I’m thinking primarily of flaxseed, which is very high in Omega 3s but can’t really be eaten plain.  Some people soak them in a cup of water to soften them up a bit, but you can’t ever just pop them in your mouth like you can a hemp seed.

That’s really what makes hemp seed so beneficial, I think.  They’re easy to eat, have a relatively nice flavor, and are packed with protein, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and fiber, among other nutrients.  For vegetarians and vegans, hemp seed benefits outweigh any other seed that comes to mind.  Though hemp seeds aren’t as easy to eat as peanuts or sunflower seeds, they’re definitely more user friendly than flaxseed and other kinds of seeds.  I like to make a mixture of seeds, nuts, and dried fruits.  A handful of that at a time not only keeps my appetite at bay, it’s a great way to add hemp seed into my daily diet.  You can make a great seed mixture with hemp seed, sunflower seed, dried fruit, and pumpkin seed.  That gives you quite a bit of everything you need and you don’t have to just sit there and munch on only hemp seeds.  I haven’t been able to find a pre-made mixture that I like yet, but if I do, I’ll pass it along.  It’s easy enough to combine nuts, fruits, and seeds yourself though, and doing it that way is cheaper in the long run anyway than buying a pre-made mixture.  So if you’re wanting to experiment with both flavor and nutritional benefits, buy some different types of seeds and go to town.

Hemp Seed Benefits — Protein

One of the many benefits of hemp seeds is their high protein content.  You can get this protein from eating the hemp seed itself, or though hemp protein powder.  Depending on what exactly you’re after, each method has its benefits and drawbacks.  Many people on vegan and vegetarian diets find it difficult to get enough protein, and especially a complete assortment of amino acids into their diet.  Hemp seed benefits people in this scenario by offering a great plant protein source.  But should you go for the protein powder or just eat the seeds?  In one sense, eating the seeds is best because you’re closer to the natural state of the nutrients inside the seed, ensuring that you’re getting as much of the nutrient benefit as possible.

But if you’re wanting to maximize the protein benefits of hemp seeds, you might want to go with a powder, like the one pictured to the left.  This protein powder from Manitoba Harvest has been filtered to remove some of the excess fiber found in hemp seeds, giving you a richer boost of protein and Omega 3 essential fatty acids.  Ordinarily, hemp protein is much less than 50% protein by volume.  You have to eat a lot of hemp seeds to get the protein you’re after.  For an easier shot of protein and Omega 3s, this protein powder is a great way to go.  And Manitoba Harvest is an awesome brand, focusing on organic quality.

Shelled hemp seeds have about 10 grams of protein per serving, which is about 30 grams.  They also have about 14 grams of fat by the same volume.  So you’d have to eat quite a few hemp seeds to get the same protein value as is in this protein powder, and you’d get a lot of extra fat in the process.  If you don’t mind the high fat content, then plain hemp seeds are a great way to go.  But if you’re looking for protein minus the extra fat, then hemp protein is something to consider.  It just depends on what you’re after.

Basic Hemp Seed Benefits

Hemp seed benefits come in a variety of ways.  Hemp seeds are ground up into powder, rich in protein and fiber.  Hemp seeds are pressed into nutritious oils.  And hemp seeds are shelled and eaten raw.  Depending on what exactly you’re looking for, hemp is so versatile that you should be able to find a hemp source that fits your needs.  The main reason why people eat hemp seeds and hemp products is because they’re rich in protein and rich in Omega 3 essential fatty acids.  That’s not a combination you generally see too often.  Hemp is one of the richest sources of plant protein on the planet.  But if you’re looking for a hemp protein powder, you need to be somewhat careful and read the label before you buy.  The reason why is because often, even though a product will be labeled as hemp protein powder, the ingredients will show you that the product has more fiber per serving than protein.  A lot of hemp protein powders are more than 50% fiber.  So find one that’s had some of the fiber strained out.

Hemp seed is rich in Omega 3 essential fatty acids.  This is very important for vegetarians and vegans when you consider that the most often supplemented form of Omega 3 essential fatty acids is fish oil.  Vegetarians and vegans don’t have the option of using fish oil for Omega 3s, and so they need to find them from other sources.  Among plants, it’s sometimes difficult to find rich sources of Omega 3s.  Flax oil is another high source, but hemp has the added benefit of being rich in protein, which is also a huge benefit to most vegans and vegetarians.  On a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, it’s tough getting Omega 3s and protein.  So having a plant source that’s abundant in both is great.  Hemp seed benefits people in this situation most of all.

A Great Brand of Unrefined Sunflower Oil at a Great Price

Cooking with Sunflower Seed Oil

Sunflower seed oil is one of my favorite cooking oils.  The nutty flavor really enhances the meal.  And one of the great things about sunflower oil is that it’s inexpensive, very versatile, and you can find it unrefined like the brand pictured above.  Finding unrefined oils is somewhat difficult in this day and age.  Because of the fact that oils get damaged easily by light, oxygen, and extended periods of time waiting on the shelf, most manufacturers choose to “refine” their oils, which gives them less susceptibility to damage.  Unfortunately, it also strips the oils of many or all of its nutritional value, depending on how heavily they’re refined.  But the sunflower oil pictured above is both unrefined and inexpensive.  The only thing you have to be careful of with an unrefined oil such as this, is that you’ll want to use it quickly or else it could go rancid.

Sunflower Seed Benefits — Nutritional Value of Unrefined Sunflower Oil

Sunflower seeds are a very nutritious seed, loaded with lots of oil.  By volume, sunflower seeds have more oil than almost any other kind of seed.  When this oil is preserved in an unrefined oil and used for cooking, these nutrients are preserved and delivered to the body.  Unrefined sunflower oil is a great cooking oil because even in its unrefined state, it still has a smoke point of 440 degrees Fahrenheit.  In its refined state, the smoke point is only 10 degrees higher, at 450 degrees.  This makes unrefined sunflower oil resistant to heat damage, which is very nice.  Most oils have a much lower smoke point when unrefined.  Take safflower oil, for example.  In its unrefined state, safflower oil has a smoke point of only 225 degrees.  When refined, its smoke point goes all the way up to 510 degrees.  That’s more than double.  Similar results are true for unrefined sesame oil and others.

It’s hard to find an unrefined oil that’s inexpensive, versatile, and good for cooking.  The brand pictured above has all three.  Not only can you cook with it, it also works very well as a topical oil and as a conditioner or scalp oil, which we’ve talked about in another post.  For the price, it’s just difficult to beat.  Unrefined oils are not only hard to find, they can get really expensive really quick.  Finding one for just $15 is a steal.  Not only that, but as of now, all of the customer reviews are 100% positive, so you can buy with confidence.

A Great Sunflower Oil on Sale Here

Sunflower Seed Benefits — Oil Benefits

Sunflower seeds have a lot of great health benefits.  Eating them whole is a great way to get a variety of healthy fats into your diet.  Sunflower seeds are very high in oil content and have a nice flavor.  But sunflower seed oil also has a very versatile amount of benefits.  But as with any oil, you really have to find one that’s produces in a high quality manner.  Most oil makers using oil extraction methods that heat and pressurize the seeds heavily in order to get the maximum amount of oil out of them that’s possible.  This causes many of the key nutrients to change and be destroyed.  Not only that, but in order to preserve the shelf life of an oil, they take the oils through a process of sometimes up to 20 steps.  This, as you can imagine, also lowers the nutritional value of the oil.  Finding a sunflower oil that’s both cold pressed and unrefined like the one pictured above, is really the best way to go.

Sunflower oil, when produced in this way, has a very versatile range of benefits.  Not only can it be used readily in cooking, it’s also one of the best oils for massage and oil pulling.  Sunflower oil is rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid which are both great when used as topical oils.  This particular sunflower oil is perfect for oil pulling and will leave your skin feeling soft and vibrant.  Not only that, but sunflower oil also have very positive benefits to the hair.  A lot of people like to mix sunflower oil in with their conditioner, which helps to leave the hair softer and more moisturized.  Others like to use sunflower oil directly on the scalp.  Both are a great way to deliver key nutrients directly to the hair and follicles.

At the end of the day, it’s nice to have an oil that’s super versatile.  Sunflower oil can be used for an array of purposes, especially when you get it cold pressed and unrefined.  That ensures that the maximum amount of nutrients have been preserved inside the oil and are ready to go to work for you.  In cooking, sunflower oil has a great flavor.  I use sunflower oil in steak marinades all the time, and it gives the steak that roasted nutty flavor that’s awesome when combined with Worcestershire.  With a high quality sunflower oil, you’re getting the best of the sunflower seed benefits in a form that’s highly usable and versatile.