Can I use Hemp as a Food Supplement?

It is not a widely accepted fact that just over 100 years ago, Hemp was one of the most common agricultural crops.

Throughout the world, farmers, small and large, would grow hemp as a matter of course, and it was used for a myriad of different purposes.

And actually it was a part of humanity’s daily diet as well as being used for its fibre and medicinal properties.

So yes, Hemp can be used as a food supplement and here's more on the subject.

Hemp as a Food Supplement

All that ended in the early years of the 20th century when the ridiculous, evidence-free prohibition of cannabis began to roll out across the world.

The result is that Hemp has been almost completely eliminated from our diet and we no longer consume all the nutritious cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other compounds from the plant that our ancestors did.

Some scientists consider this has led to a pandemic of ‘endocannabinoid system deficiency’ because the cannabinoids that our bodies produce naturally are no longer supplemented through our food intake.

So that’s the reason that so many people find using hemp and CBD food supplements helpful to maintain and support their health. It’s more or less the same as taking a vitamin or mineral supplement which compensates for any deficiency in your diet, or if your body is failing to absorb nutrients properly. But even if you eat a balanced diet you won’t be getting the nutrients that hemp can provide.

To be clear, Hemp is cannabis.

They are the same plant.

However, the cannabis that CBD food supplements are made from is properly called ‘industrial hemp’ and it is restricted to containing less than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive cannabinoid that causes the cannabis ‘high’.

However, it does contain all the other compounds, in particular cannabidiol (CBD), the other cannabinoid that is increasingly being seen by scientists and doctors as vital for good health.

Why is Hemp good for health?

We cannot talk about the benefits of hemp oil and cannabis without discussing the endocannabinoid system (ECS). We have discussed this vital system in detail in other articles, but let’s do a quick recap.

What is the endocannabinoid system (ECS)?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a wide-ranging natural network of cannabinoid receptors that affect virtually all functions throughout the body.

It has been described as ‘The supercomputer that regulates homeostasis in all mammals.’

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is actually found in all mammals, not just in humans, and it’s tasked with regulating a wide array of the body’s functions like mood, appetite, sleep, hormone production, and even stress and immune system responses.

The main function of the ECS is homeostasis, and regular adjustments are made in an effort to maintain balance or homeostasis. This balance is key to good health – A body in balance functions much more effectively.

So, when an imbalance is detected, the body naturally produces endocannabinoids to interact with the cannabinoid receptors within the ECS, which in turn stimulate a chemical response that works to return the process that is out of balance back to homeostasis.

Unfortunately, numerous factors such as pollution, poor diet, stress and lack of exercise can lead to our bodies being unable to produce endocannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) becomes deficient.

This is where consuming hemp comes in. The Hemp plant is packed full of beneficial compounds that positively interact with the endocannabinoid system.

How can taking CBD oil help?

Some scientists believe that an ‘endocannabinoid system deficiency’ can lead to some very serious diseases.

This may explain why there has been an upsurge in autoimmune conditions and diseases like cancer where the body turns on itself. However, this is only a theory, there is no current evidence for this.

This includes conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease, and this is why so much research is taking place on using cannabis and cannabinoids to treat these conditions.

The theory of endocannabinoid system deficiency suggests that in some cases the body doesn’t produce enough endocannabinoids or enough receptors for the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to function properly.

As a result, the body may become unbalanced, allowing diseases to develop.

This deficiency has been linked to many illnesses, although much more research is needed in this field.

But consuming CBD oil food supplements​ ​can help support endocannabinoid deficiency by boosting the body’s natural endocannabinoids.

You see, CBD and other cannabinoids found in cannabis are very similar to the cannabinoids produced by the body. Just like taking a multivitamin to support a vitamin deficiency, you can take CBD oil food supplements to prevent an endocannabinoid deficiency.

Hemp, a nutritionally complete food?

It’s not just cannabinoids like CBD that are beneficial to our health, Hemp contains an abundance of nutrients which maintain wellness on a number of levels.

Hemp can be regarded as a healthy vegetable.

The leaves and flowers of the plant can be consumed as any other green vegetable and the seeds are highly nutritious. They don’t actually contain high concentrations of cannabinoids but they have an almost perfect balance of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. They can be eaten whole or ground up and used as flour or meal. They make an excellent porridge. Pressed whole they make a superb oil which although it’s not very good for cooking at high temperature, it is good for use in salad dressings or adding to pasta.

Many also consider hemp to be a superfood. But what does that mean?

A superfood could be considered any food item that’s incredibly dense with vitamins, proteins, amino acids, antioxidants, polyphenols, or any number of other molecules that provide health benefits.

Examples of some superfoods include salmon, oatmeal, green tea, blueberries, and quinoa – and Hemp.

What are the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds?

It’s not just the leaves, stalks and flowers of the hemp plant that are beneficial to health, the seeds are incredibly nutritious too.

Non-psychoactive hemp seeds, or hearts, have been a nutritional powerhouse for thousands of years because they’re high in polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid (omega-6), alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and other nutrients.

Polyunsaturated fats are believed to help reduce bad cholesterol levels, which is essential to lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. These fats also add vitamin E, an important antioxidant that protects the body from cell-damaging free radicals.

Since our bodies are unable to produce polyunsaturated fats, hemp seeds can play an important nutritional role in long-term health. Hemp seeds are high in vitamins A and C and beta-carotene, another powerful antioxidant.

Hemp seeds also contain fibre, protein, potassium and iron. Add hemp to your diet by sprinkling shelled seeds on salads or yogurt.

Check your local grocery stores for seeds, protein powder, hemp milk, nutrition bars, granola and cold-pressed hemp seed oil.

Hemp really is an incredible plant.

Why not enhance your endocannabinoid system (ECS) with CBD?

Taking CBD oil is an effective way to help support your body’s natural endocannabinoids.

To maximise the benefits you receive it’s best to take a full spectrum CBD product, which contains an array of therapeutic cannabinoids, not just CBD.

Why not try our Love Hemp 600mg 2% CBD oil? 1 drop, 3 times a day may be all you need to bring you body back into balance and improve your health and wellbeing.

Or alternatively try our CBD capsules – a convenient and easy to measure way to get your daily beneficial CBD dose.

Benefits of taking a CBD food supplement

We have established that taking a CBD food supplement can help combat an endocannabinoid deficiency, but what other benefits are associated with daily consumption of CBD oil?

CBD oil promotes homeostasis or balance, this balance is key to good health. CBD oil can also help improve mood as it has the unique ability to directly interact with other cell receptors, including serotonin and dopamine receptors.

CBD can protect us from all forms of illness by boosting the body’s own natural defenses, and it has also been shown to improve fitness results and aid recovery.

CBD oil supplements can protect us from the damaging effects of stress, by helping the endocannabinoid system regulate hormone and stress response. CBD oil may also promote cognitive function, and as we have discussed, hemp CBD oil also provides a good source of essential nutrients.

Feed your endocannabinoid system

For millions of years our endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been working tirelessly to keep us and almost every other living organism on the planet in balance.

However, fast forward to the 21st century and us humans seem to be doing our very best to undo its good work. But inevitably something has to give, and when we consider the endless list of modern day illnesses, it’s clear our health is suffering as a result.

So it’s time to sit up and take notice. Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) is calling out for our attention and taking a CBD food supplement can help. Are you going to listen?

Try making your favourite CBD product part of your daily supplement routine. A few drops of CBD oil taken every day will help your body maintain and repair itself.


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