Hemp oil, also known as hempseed oil, is derived by pressing hemp seeds. The oil typically is extracted using a cold-press method to leave the majority of nutrients intact. When left unrefined, the oil is green and has a nutty taste. Because hemp oil is derived from the seeds of hemp plants, rather than the stalks and leaves, it contains only trace amounts of CBD.
Though hempseed oil is virtually void of CBD, it has other health benefits. Unrefined hemp oil is popular in many things. Because it is so nutritious, it is a very popular cooking oil, serving as an alternative for unhealthy oils, such as vegetable, palm, and canola. It is also much lower in saturated fatty acids than other common cooking oils. However, it has a very low smoke point, so frying with hempseed oil isn’t recommended.
Roughly 30 to 35 percent of the weight of hempseed is oil. This oil is comprised of about 80 percent essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid, stearidonic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid. In fact, just one tablespoon of the oil is enough to provide most healthy adults with an entire day’s serving of essential fatty acids. Gamma-linolenic acid eventually is converted into a protective hormone that regulates hormonal balance, meaning that hempseed oil can assist in maintaining this balance.
Unrefined hempseed oil also has large amounts of both omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids. The ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s is roughly 3:1. This is typically thought to be the ideal ratio for the human body as well. When these essential fatty acids are ingested, they actually can help increase immunity, reverse aging, and improve cardiovascular health. Several studies have shown that the linoleic acid found in hemp oil can slow down the aging process altogether as well as fight skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.
It’s actually thought that skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, are caused by an imbalance of omega-6 essential fatty acids in the body. When a deficiency occurs, the skin reacts negatively. When an adequate amount of omega-6s is consumed, the skin is properly oxygenated and hydrated, thereby lessening the likelihood of the aforementioned skin conditions.
In addition to essential fatty acids, unrefined hemp oil contains a multitude of other nutrients as well, such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorous. Hemp oil also contains several microelements, such as strontium, thorium, arsenic, and chromium. In addition, the oil is a good source of tocopherols, also known as vitamin E antioxidants.
Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals in the body as well as to repair cell damage caused by these malignant atoms. The antioxidants are another contributing factor in what makes hemp oil so effective at maintaining skin health and reversing aging. Together with the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, hemp oil assists in repairing damage and rejuvenating cell health.
Because hemp oil is one of the only oils to contain both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids at an optimum ratio, it can help with several other things as well. For example, those consuming a primarily plant-based diet often become deficient in one or both of these fatty acids. This can be due to lack of healthy fat in the diet, or simply consuming too much or too little of one or the other. By incorporating hemp oil into their plant-based diet, balance can be restored.
The ideal essential fatty acid ratio found in hemp oil is also great for maintaining proper cholesterol levels. The fatty acids can assist in accelerating metabolic processes, which help fat burn at an increased rate. When fat is burned more quickly, deposits on artery walls are less likely to occur. This, in turn, makes hemp oil a powerful tool in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
While hemp oil does not contain enough CBD to be beneficial in that regard, it is still a powerful resource for essential fatty acids, nutrients (including microelements), and helps the body to maintain its balance. The antioxidants work with the fatty acids and other nutrients to make hemp oil a healthier alternative to other oils as well as a tool to assist in improving overall health.
---> For more information on why hemp oil is different from CBD oil, click here.
Sources:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10681-004-4811-6#page-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_oil
https://web.archive.org/web/20120917012522/http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/hemp/hempoil.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_point
http://www.zliving.com/wellness/natural-remedies/9-health-benefits-of-hemp-oil-that-you-should-know
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatitis
