While hemp has often been negatively associated with marijuana, it actually has very little mind-altering tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in it--just 0.3 percent in hemp, compared with the 3-15 percent found in marijuana. In parts of the world, hemp has been used to make clothing, bedding, and rope thousands of years.
More recently, hemp, with its good balance of antioxidants, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, is being viewed as a health-promoting, disease-preventing food. Derivatives include hemp oil, hemp butter, hemp protein powder, and hemp milk.
Hemp's powerful properties provide a number of benefits:
- Its antioxidant content counteracts environmental toxins.
- Its carbohydrates help increase energy, improve endurance performance during exercise, and keep the mind at peak performance.
- Hemp seeds have more dietary protein than soybeans, meat, fish, chicken, cheese, and milk. Hemp protein has the added benefit of being gluten-free.
- Hemp contains all nine essential amino acids, the building blocks of cells, antibodies, muscle tissue, and enzymes.
- Hemp is loaded with essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are required for maintaining good neurological, digestive, and skin health.
- Hemp has a low-cholesterol content and a high content in natural phytosterols that also reduce cholesterol levels.
- Hemp is helpful in preventing conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and asthma.
- Hemp is also a low-maintenance plant that grows just about anywhere, needs little or no pesticides, and is an ideal crop for organic, sustainable farming.