The Nutritional Benefits of Hemp Milk

For many people, milk has been part of a standard daily diet their entire life. You may drink several glasses of milk a day, but some people don't handle milk well, and it can lead to a variety of digestive problems. If you drink commercial (pasteurized, homogenized) milk, you are drinking something with little to no nutritional value, and it may even contribute to health issues for some people. If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to cow’s milk, you may want to consider hemp milk.*  It offers a variety of health benefits and it’s easy to make at home yourself.

Health Benefits of Hemp Milk

Hemp Bliss (Photo credit: joshua m. neff)

Before we jump into the nutritional value of a glass of hemp milk there are some other health benefits to consider.

Hemp milk doesn’t contain many of the allergens milk from animals contains. Many people are lactose intolerant or allergic to either whey protein or casein. The allergies can cause anything from gastric distress to migraines and anaphylactic shock. All of these ingredients are found in cow’s milk, sheep’s milk and goat milk. Hemp milk is free from these common allergens.

Additionally, hemp milk contains wonderful omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids are excellent for improving immune function, organ function, better skin, nails, and better brain function as well. Lastly, most hemp grown in the US and Canada is grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals, which makes it a cleaner and healthier choice than conventionally sourced animal milk.

Nutritional Content of Hemp Milk

Your standard 8-Ounce glass of hemp milk contains the following nutrients:

•    900mg Omega-3 Fatty Acid
•    2800mg Omega-6 Fatty Acid
•    All 10 Essential Amino Acids
•    4 grams of Protein
•    46% of RDA of Calcium
•    0% Cholesterol
•    Potassium
•    Phosphorous
•    Riboflavin
•    Vitamin A
•    Vitamin E
•    Vitamin B12
•    Folic Acid
•    Vitamin D
•    Magnesium
•    Iron
•    Zinc

As you can see hemp milk is full of nutrients. It tastes much like almond, rice or soy milk. It is a bit watery so it may not work well as a straight replacement in baking; however, on cereal or as a beverage to drink, it is quite delicious.

Food shelled hemp seeds. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How to Make Your Own Hemp Milk

Making hemp milk is easy to do. However, finding hemp seeds may be a bit trickier. You can order them online, and some natural health food stores may carry both hemp milk and hemp seeds. (Be sure not to buy hemp seeds sourced from China, where they may be grown using chemicals.)

In a blender combine one cup of shelled hemp seeds with five to six cups of water. Blend for two to three minutes until smooth. For richer milk, use less water. For thinner milk you can add more water. You can sweeten the milk, great for coffee - just add honey or agave and vanilla extract. You can drink it as is or you can strain it through a cheese cloth or fine strainer to remove seed particles.

If you have cow’s milk sensitivities or are simply looking for a vegetarian alternative, hemp milk is extremely healthy. More supermarkets are beginning to carry it and you can make it yourself at home too. Give it a try; you might be surprised how tasty it is.

* Note: If you really want to drink cow's milk, be sure it is REAL milk!! See this blog post for how and why....

5 Benefits of Buying Hemp Clothing

You may have heard about hemp clothing and perhaps you’ve even made some judgments based on where the fabric comes from.  Hemp was a very common material with many valuable human uses prior to the past 20 or 30 years, and has unjustifiably fallen out of favor due to misunderstandings of hemp and its uses. However, unless you’ve owned hemp clothing and understand the benefits this amazing fabric provides, you’re missing out.  Here are five fantastic benefits of hemp clothing for the whole family.

 Industrial hemp contains ultra-low levels of Delta-THC and other cannabinoids, which makes it useless for recreational/medicinal purposes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  Versatility. Hemp clothing and the fabric made from hemp is derived from the cannabis sativa plant.  This material has been used to make everything from ropes to canvas.  And it makes some pretty amazing clothing as well.  Easily dyed and easily blended with other fibers, hemp can be used to make everything from durable brown work pants to a lavender silky-looking blouse. 

#2.  Durability.  The word canvas actually comes from the Dutch word for cannabis and you know how durable canvas is!  They make tents out of the material.  Hemp is actually three times stronger than cotton.  At the same time, it is lightweight and absorbent and clothing made from hemp last a long time - long enough that your youngest child will easily be wearing hemp clothing your oldest child has outgrown and it’ll still be in tip-top shape.

#3.  Hemp is environmentally friendly.  While a large amount of hemp is grown in China where they do not have a chemical-free farming process, hemp grown in Europe, Canada and the United States is generally grown without chemicals.  Fertilizers, herbicides and even pesticides are not used in the growth and production of hemp. 

#4.  Hemp is a sustainable crop.  Almost every part of the hemp plant can be used.  Seeds are used to make hemp oil, and the stalks are used for making hemp fiber.  Add to all of that the fact that hemp produces more fiber per acre than trees and that it is a renewable resource.  Hemp is typically harvested within four months of being planted. 

Hemp fibers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#5.  Hemp makes great outdoor clothing because it is mold resistant, resistant to ultraviolet light, and of course very durable.

Because just about every type and style of clothing can be produced from hemp fibers, and because it is an environmentally sound fiber to grow and produce, hemp is perhaps the single best fiber option available on the planet.  It’s economical, versatile and durable and it’s grown in a manner that doesn’t harm the environment.  What can be better than that?  It's time to put aside your preconceptions about hemp, and give it a try!