Finding the right product for you is made infinitely harder when we don’t even know what the labels mean. When it comes to hemp oil, there is plenty of confusion, and today we’ll dispel it all. Discover what the science says about hemp oil benefits and how these can impact you.
Contents
1. The History of Hemp Seeds
2. A Look at Hemp Seeds
3. What Is Hemp Seed Oil Good for?
4. Are Hemp Oil and CBD Oil the Same?
5. The Best Hemp Oil Benefits
6. Hemp Oil Benefits for Hair
7. Hemp Oil Benefits for Skin
8. Final Thoughts on Hemp Oil
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1. The History of Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds oil has been a part of human diets and an inestimable source of nutrients for thousands of years. For much of this history, humans have simply eaten these seeds. These seeds were consumed for their nutritional value and not for any mind-altering impacts. [1] (Click to Tweet)
This is crazy:
In fact, Asian communities have consumed hemp seeds since prehistoric times, potentially up to 10,000 years ago. Hempseed has been consumed for various disorders for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. This long history has been somewhat lost to time, and the impacts of cannabis prohibition have only made this situation worse over prior decades. [2] [3]
Fortunately, the situation is changing rapidly, and consumers are turning to this nutritional seed—which is technically a nut and a fruit—in droves. Sales are rising rapidly as more and more consumers add hemp to their diet. And just like in the old days, this consumption has nothing to do with psychoactivity. [4] [1]
Now:
Hemp seeds may have a bit of THC present in the form of resin stuck to the shell. Inside the seeds, there appears to be little to no THC at all. The processing of hemp seeds into hemp oil creates a product that possesses no impactful levels of THC compounds. As such, it is a non-impairing supplement filled instead with nutritional value.
Sadly, we do not have nearly as much research as we should on this topic. We can blame both legal issues and an overall misunderstanding of hemp for the slow production of clinical research. There is enough data, however, to indicate a strong need for continued investigation of the therapeutic efficacy of dietary hemp seed. [4]
The use of hemp seeds took a step forward once humans discover how to extract the valuable compounds to create hemp oils. Also called hempseed oil or hemp seed oil, this wonderful supplement goes by many names. We’ll refer to it as hemp oil throughout this article.
But here’s the kicker:
Hemp oil is made by combining hemp seeds and a carrier oil to create a liquid product that is quick and easy to consume. As we discovered, these seeds are really a nut, and so the nutty flavor of hemp oils makes perfect sense. While the taste can be somewhat pleasant, hemp oil is packed full of nutritional benefits. We will turn to this topic now.
RELATED: 3 Surprising Ways CBD Oil & Hemp Oil Are Different
2. A Look at Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are round with a dark red-brown color and a variable diameter of 3.0 to 5.0 mm. Hemp seed contains around: [2]
- 25% to 30% oil
- 25% to 30% protein
- 30% to 40% fiber
- 6% to 7% moisture
As you can already start to see, there are numerous reasons to be excited about hemp seeds. Various researchers have explored their nutritional characteristics, and their conclusions are along these same lines: [5]
“Hemp seed is an exceptional food.” [5]
Hemp seed is rich in easily digestible proteins and highly unsaturated food oil. Furthermore, it is also full of dietary fiber, various phytosterols, oil-soluble vitamins, and trace minerals. [5] (Click to Tweet)
We’ll explore each of these in more depth when we turn to the benefits of hemp seed oil.
Here’s the deal:
Political rhetoric aside, researchers have found plenty of convincing scientific evidence to demonstrate the nutritious value of hemp seeds. In fact, some consider it to be the most nutritious products that modern industrial agriculture can produce. [5]
In the following sections, we’ll discover what hemp oil is good for, how it differs from CBD oil, and the best hemp oil benefits. After that, we’ll take some time to consider the research on how hemp oil can benefit your skin and hair health.
RELATED: What Is the CBD Content of Hemp?
3. What Is Hemp Seed Oil Good for?
Hemp seed has no psychotropic actions, but it appears to provide significant health benefits. So, if you are looking for the beneficial impacts of CBD, go with a CBD oil. Along the same lines, if you’re expecting to get high, go with a THC oil instead. With that said, there are many great reasons to consume hemp oil. We’ll explore many of them below.
RELATED: Does Hemp Oil Contain CBD?
Hemp seed is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Hemp seed is known to be an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids have beneficial impacts on human cardiovascular health. Ultimately, this group of researchers declared that: [4]
“Hemp seed possesses excellent nutritional value.” [4]
Hemp seed contains good amounts of both digestible and non-digestible fiber. It has nearly as much protein as soybean. The amino acid profile of hemp seed protein is similar to egg white and soybean. [2] [4] (Click to Tweet)
Want to know the best part?
Hemp seed is also rich in vitamin E and minerals, including [4] :
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
From the industry side of things, the benefits of this grain include the fact that it fits into the mechanized infrastructure that already exists. This means that no retooling is needed within the supply chain. The major challenge that remains is persuading US policymakers that hemp is not dangerous. [5]
You may be wondering:
What about CBD oil, and how do these two products differ? These products are both made from hemp plants, but they have very unique compositions. The reasons for this relate to the parts of the hemp plant used to create them.
4. Are Hemp Oil and CBD Oil the Same?
No, hemp oil and CBD oil are not the same. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD compounds from the flowers, stalks, and leaves of the hemp plant. Hemp oil is made using hemp seeds. Both products are combined with a carrier oil to provide for easy consumption. (Click to Tweet)
The major difference that results from these starting materials relates to the cannabinoids. These are the compounds made by hemp plants that hold incredible potential for human health and wellness. CBD oil often contains large, concentrated amounts of CBD compounds extracted from hemp flowers and more.
RELATED: Is Your CBD Oil Actually Just a Salad Dressing?
Hemp oil, on the other hand, often comes with negligible amounts of cannabinoids. However, there is some evidence of trace amounts of THC and CBD being present in hemp oil. Aside from THC and CBD, at least 30 cannabinoids have been identified in hemp seed oil. That said, these represent a small percentage of what is inside hemp seed oil. [1]
In summary, while the production process and ultimate products are similar, there are major differences in the chemical composition of hemp oil and CBD oil. If you are looking for a daily dose of CBD, go with a CBD oil. On the other hand, if you seek the nutritional benefits of a healthy plant oil, look for hemp oil.
RELATED: Is There a Difference Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil?
Which benefits come with consuming hemp oil? That is where we turn to next as we answer all of your questions.
5. The Best Hemp Oil Benefits
Hemp oil contains a perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This ratio aligns perfectly with FAO/WHO recommendations around these dietary nutrients. As a result, it has well-known beneficial nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical properties. [1]
Hemp seed contains stearidonic acid and gamma-linolenic acid, both involved in the inhibition of inflammatory responses. Relative to other plant oils, hemp seed oil has the highest proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Increased PUFA consumption has been associated with reduced risks of: [4] [2]
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hypertension
- Inflammatory diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
The ratio of these fatty acids may hold the potential to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases highly prevalent in Western societies. The precise ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 inside hemp seed aligns with traditional human diets. The result is potential benefits for numerous chronic diseases, including: [4] (Click to Tweet)
- Coronary artery disease
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Inflammatory
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cancer
Hemp oil contains each of the essential amino acids that humans require. Amino acids combine to form proteins. The two primary proteins in hemp seed are edestin and albumin. These two storage proteins are digested easily and contain significant levels of all nine essential amino acids. [3] [4]
Furthermore, hemp seed includes a rather high level of the amino acid arginine. This compound is a metabolic precursor for the production of nitric oxide (NO), a pivotal signaling messenger in the cardiovascular system. [4]
The actions of arginine include regulation of blood and artery functions, impacting platelet formation, leukocyte actions, blood pressure, and vascular smooth muscle cell growth. Arginine is also known to have a role in ammonia detoxification and reducing insulin resistance. [2] [4]
There is mixed evidence to indicate that hemp oil benefits include the management of body weight. That said, there are some positive signs that require further investigation. [4]
What’s the bottom line?
These researchers determined that the evidence supports the hypothesis that hemp seed can potentially benefit heart disease. With time and research, we will learn whether hemp seed has further immunological, dermatological, and neurodegenerative impacts of importance. Ultimately, hemp seed oil just might become a nutritional intervention for numerous health issues plaguing Americans. [4]
6. Hemp Oil Benefits for Hair
One of the more recent uses of hemp oil is in hair products. While claims of benefits to your hair health do require research, there are many suspected pros to using hemp oil hair products. [6]
For example, it has been suggested that the use of hemp oil hair products can help in the following ways: [6]
- Moisturizing benefits
- Aiding hair growth
- Protecting the hair
- Aiding in damage repair
- Adding shine to your hair
We are only beginning to scratch the surface of the list of ways to use hemp oil besides simply swallowing it. Future research should help illuminate the hemp oil benefits for the health of your hair, skin, nails, and more.
RELATED: The Underlying Difference Between Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil
7. Hemp Oil Benefits for Skin
As we mentioned above, hemp oil may also benefit your skin when ingested. One study compared the effects of consuming hemp oil or olive oil over a 20-week period. The results found less water loss, with reduced skin dryness and itchiness. Participants also reported decreasing the amount of skin medication use during this trial period. Ultimately, the researchers suggested that the abundant supply of PUFAs in hemp oil led to these positive results, similar to those of CBD oil for skin. [7]
RELATED: The Truth about Hemp Oil for Eczema
8. Final Thoughts on Hemp Oil
As we have learned throughout this article, hemp oil contains an incredible selection of nutritional factors. These vitamins, nutrients, fatty acids, and proteins are combined to form a powerhouse food source. (Click to Tweet)
RELATED: The Best Benefits of Eating Hemp
Hemp oil can be used in myriad ways in your kitchen. It is thought to be able to handle high heat without losing its nutritional value. (Click to Tweet)
With that said, the suggestion is to keep it to temperatures under 475°F and for no longer than 30 minutes. Outside of those limitations, you can likely think of multiple ways to use and enjoy hemp oil.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381057/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12517
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10681-004-4811-6
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2868018/
- https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/inform-magazine/featured-articles/hempseed-oil-in-a-nutshell-march-2010?SSO=True
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6385314/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7724411_Efficacy_of_dietary_hempseed_oil_in_patients_with_atopic_dermatitis
