Hemp Hearts

There's a new super food out there gaining prevalence. Hemp hearts have many beneficial properties. They don't have the typical drug chemicals associated with marijuana, but they do have lots of good nutritional value. They contain protein, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins.

Essential fatty acids (also called EFAs for short) are good fats that are critical for optimal health. Today, saturated fats get a lot of press as being bad for you. These fats include hydrogenated oils and animal fats. When these fats are produced in large quantities, they can cause health problems ranging from elevated cholesterol to obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, essential fatty acids are known as "good fats" and I'm sure you've heard a thing or two about theses. There are two types of essential fatty acids. First, linoleic acid is also known as omega-6. Second, linolenic acid is also known as omega-3. When these fatty acids are consumed in the right ratios, the energy is better extracted from food and distributed to every cell in your body efficiently and healthfully. Ideally, you should get omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a ratio of one to four, respectively. This is exactly what you find in hemp hearts.

Hemp seeds also contain another beneficial component, phytosterols, also known as plant sterols. These can lower your cholesterol by as much as 13%. However, a good diet is still essential for optimal health. This will help you be as healthy as possible and may even take care of some health problems you have. In fact, utilizing essential fatty acids may be one of the best ways to reduce coronary disease, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Hemp hearts also contain essential amino acids, which humans also cannot produce. These amino acids comprise seven classes of simple proteins that are needed. One of these is globulin edistin; this works with your body to create antibodies, which helps you build a strong immune system. Hemp seeds contain 65% globulin, the highest of any plant.

Other vitamins and minerals include:

B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3 and B6 Vitamins C and E, Minerals calcium and potassium, magnesium, iron and Carotene

The hemp seed is also an excellent cooking and baking supplement because of its high level of nutrition. Better yet, you can eat them raw by the spoonful, which means that all of their nutrition will remain intact; heat can destroy some of the hemp seeds' nutritional value.

Hemp hearts are very small in comparison to sunflower seeds as you can see from the photo. They have a distinct nutty flavor that is unlike any other nut you've tasted. I have some in my fridge and had many people try them and all had a different opinion on the taste. Personally, I find they taste a bit like hazel nuts, but I'm not a gourmet chef. Could be my taste buds are way off.

Have you tried them? If so, how would you describe the taste.