Why Hemp Seed Oil?
Hemp Seed Oil is Cold Pressed from Cannabis sativa seed; it provides the perfect balance of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) that the body cannot make for itself or store, so a regular supply is vital for performing everyday functions & health.
It contains more than 80 percent polyunsaturated EFA’s, and a blend of Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) and Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega 3) in a 3:1 ratio that is perfect for our body’s requirements. It also contains up to 5% Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), and 2.5% Stearidonic Acid (SDA) & is Cholesterol & Gluten Free.
Essential Fatty Acids are so called “essential” as they are essential for life, as they help nourish skin, hair & nails, balance inflammation & support joint health. Whilst also maintaining healthy cholesterol & blood pressure, they support brain function & development, hormone production, metabolism, stomach acid & insulin function. Hemp Seed oil can be used continuously without developing a deficiency or imbalance of EFAs.
Besides Hemp, there are only a small number of foods that naturally contain GLA. While the body has the ability to convert Linoleic Acid into GLA, most of us are not making this conversion effectively, or are missing out on the conversion all together, due to various factors such as stress, alcohol, low levels of vitamins and minerals or intake of poor quality Omega-6; and certain health conditions.
Even if one did get unrefined Sunflower Oil and mixed it with unrefined Flax Seed Oil, you would mimic Hemp Seed Oil's Omega 6 to 3 ratio, but still be missing their direct higher metabolites. With Hemp Seed Oil however, GLA is a readily available form, no conversion needed.
"It's made out of ‘Cannabis’!" Alarm bells ringing & the next question is “but isn’t that illegal?”
No is the simple answer; the intoxicating property of Cannabis sativa THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) resides in a sticky resin produced in the flowering tops of female plants before the seeds mature. Strains of hemp grown for oilseed production have low resin content to begin with & by the time the seeds are ready for harvest, resin production has dropped even further. The final process of drying, cleaning & pressing the seeds means no THC is found in the final product.
The Hemp plant has been used since the 16th century BC but for centuries the health benefits of Hemp Seeds have been overlooked. So whilst still new and novel in New Zealand, Hemp Seed Oil supersedes all existing oils that have been used to obtain EFAs in the past, such as fish oils, flax seed oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil - what’s more, it’s the first delicious edible oil to accomplish this.
If you are eating a good supply of unrefined Sunflower oil then Flax or Fish oil may be the optimum choice to balance your Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio. But wouldn’t it be easier to get both your Omega’s at the same time? Often Flax Seed Oil and Fish Oil consumers become tired of its taste, or have concerns over toxic contaminants in fish oil, so the pleasant nutty flavour of Hemp Seed Oil is a welcome change.
Hemp Seed Oil is a miracle of nature. Its unique properties offer fantastic nutritional, health and skin-care benefits.
In New Zealand the folk at Oil Seed Extractions Ltd do a great job producing new hemisphere Hemp Seed Oil & Capsules.
Try this distinctively green super food; we know you will love it!
Where can you buy Hemp oil? We recommend www.nzhempoil.co.nz
Try this delicious recipe using hemp oil , alternatively drizzle on salads, or use instead of butter on hot toast (yummy with marmite or vegemite on top!).
