Hemp oil is extracted by pressing the seeds of hemp plant. In fact, this oil can be obtained from all plants belonging to the Cannabis genus. However, generally hemp oil is only made from industrial hemp - a hemp variety that is cultivated only for industrial use. Hemp oil comprises the least amount of psychoactive substances related to Cannabis genus, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the most active substance in Cannabis plants. It is worth mentioning here that help oil practically does not contain any THC and, hence, it does not possess any psychoactive properties.
People have been using hemp oil or hemp seed oil for several thousand years. Usually, the use of this oil was associated with the body and beauty care. Hemp oil, which is extracted by pressing the seeds of hemp plant, is loaded with various nutrients and the essential fatty acids. Although hemp oil contains the same compounds contained by hemp seeds, it is not sedative at all. Generally, hemp as well as various products based on cannabis possesses sedative properties.
In fact, the various parts of the hemp plant, including the leaves, stalks, seeds and flowers, are all very beneficial for our health. Hemp seeds are very nutritious and this is the reason why they are sold at grocery stores as nutrition and health items. In case the seeds have been shelled, they are generally known as "hemp hearts".
The hemp seed is edible and it can be consumed is various ways - raw, toasted or roasted. Grounded help seeds are added to various recipes as well as smoothies. Hemp seed oil, which is obtained by pressing the seeds, also has various uses. Moreover, this oil is available as any other cold pressed oil or incorporated in various products. You can also use hemp oil in various dishes or use it as a base in salad dressings. You may also choose this oil for preparing hummus at home and also in different dips.
Since the flash point of hemp oil is low, it is recommended that you use this oil in the form of a "finishing oil" and consume it very much close to its unrefined (raw) state. When we say that the flash point of an oil is low, it means that the oil will smoke or start degrading at very low temperatures compared to many other oils that are used for cooking.
The seeds of hemp plant contain very high levels of nutrients, including dietary fiber, fatty acids, proteins and various other nutriments. While 18 percent of the total calories in flax and chia seeds - two other types nutritious seeds that are edible - are derived from protein, the protein content of hemp seeds is higher and healthier - 25 percent. This is the primary reason why hemp seeds form a preferred base ingredient in various protein supplements available in the market. These supplements are usually powder-based and taken after workouts.
These delightful chunks of nutrition also contain a remarkable 1:3 ratio of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for our health. Findings of several health studies have revealed that a poorer ratio of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids - like what is found in hemp seeds - is very beneficial for the body as far as the health of the heart and inflammation are concerned. The same compounds are effective in retaining moisture and soothing dry, irritated and inflamed skin when they are used in products, such as beauty products, that are applied topically. At the same time, these compounds promote the strength of the cells in our body. These compounds are also loaded with antioxidants, which are not only essential for a healthy body but also protecting us from various ailments.
Similar to jojoba oil, which is beneficial for the skin, hemp oil can also be used topically and applied onto the skin directly or it can be blended with other suitable oils.
One of the typical uses of help oil is in the manufacture of soaps. In addition, hemp oil is used in lubricants and paints as well as products meant for body care. You can rub this oil directly onto the skin for treating conditions like cracked or dry skin. Alternatively, you can blend hemp oil to make body oils, various types of body creams and other products for personal care. Many people also use hemp oil in the form of a dietary supplement with a view to gain from the high levels of essential fatty acids in the raw hemp oil. As mentioned earlier, this oil is also used to dress or garnish foods to enhance their nutritional value.
It is worth mentioning here that the shelf life of unrefined form of hemp oil is short. This oil becomes rancid very quickly unless you store it in dark containers and place them in a refrigerator. In fact, people using unrefined hemp oil usually buy it in small quantities to prevent it from becoming rancid.
Hemp oil is edible but not suitable for culinary purposes. This is because the smoke point of this oil is comparatively lower than the other oils that are used for cooking. On the other hand, the shelf life of refined hemp oil is more. However, refined hemp oil does not offer many of the health benefits offered by the unrefined status of the oil. This is because much of these properties are robbed during the refining process.
It is interesting to note that among all edible seeds hemp seed only encloses gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Eventually, gamma-linoleic acid is transformed into a substance known as protective hormone prostaglandin PGE1, which works to control the balance of hormones and also supports the health of women in menopausal phase.
Since hemp oil is loaded with omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids, its composition is akin to that of skin lipids. This attribute of hemp oil makes it ideal for use as a natural moisturizer and emollient. This oil is particularly beneficial for tired, dry or dehydrated skin as well as nails. Topical application of hemp oil on the skin enhances the suppleness as well water retention ability of the tissues. You can use unadulterated help oil to treat dry hair. In fact, many hair conditioners contain this oil as an important ingredient.
Even vegetarians and vegans often find it difficult to get the right balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. However, hemp oil can be of great help to such people, because it contains the best possible ratio of these essential fatty acids.
There are various types of vegetable oils, but hemp oil is the only one that contains omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty in the ratio of 1:3 and, hence, it can be helpful in lowering the levels of "bad" cholesterol or low density lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol by speeding up the metabolic process. When the metabolic process is accelerated, fats accumulated in our body burns faster and cannot form plaques on the walls of arteries and other blood vessels.
Since hemp oil contains low levels of sugar and carbohydrates, it can be a wonderful food additive for people suffering from diabetes. The nutrients present in this oil can also be useful in keeping the blood sugar levels in check.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that occurs due to deficiency of essential omega-6 fatty acids in our body. Since these fatty acids are present in abundance in hemp oil, it can be used to enhance the hydration and oxygenation of the skin.
Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids help to strengthen the immune system and, at the same time, keep the intestinal flora in check. In this way, hemp oil helps to build a barrier against harmful micro organisms and also enhance the body's ability to resist diseases.
Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 are also crucial for keeping the cell membrane structure health. In addition, these fatty acids thwart demyelination - which is the obliteration of the myelin sheath. For the uninitiated, the myelin sheath is actually a membrane that shields the nerve cells from harm.
Similar to various other compounds that are rich in omega-3 fatty acid content, hemp oil also possesses the ability to thin your blood, thereby lowering the risks of varicose veins and formation of blood clots in the blood vessels.
Hemp oil also offers several health benefits to your hair. Hemp oil forms an important ingredient of many herbal as well as non-commercial hair care products such as hair oils, shampoos, conditioners and other items. As in the case of skin care, massaging your scalp with help oil can help in promoting blood circulation to the head as well as brain. In addition, washing your hair with shampoos and conditioners containing help oil can make your hair denser and also improve the texture of your hair. It also helps to prevent dandruff. Hence, hemp oil is also highly beneficial for the health of your hair. Using hair oil, shampoos and conditioners containing hemp oil also helps to prevent hair loss, in addition to putting off infection of the scalp and other related problems.
The various essential fatty acids present in hemp oil or hemp seed oil makes it highly beneficial for the health of your skin. These fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids not only moisturize and nourish your skin, but they are present in abundance as well as in the right proportion in hemp oil. Many products such as body creams and face creams contain help oil as their main ingredient. Most importantly, use of hemp oil is safe as it virtually does not have any adverse effects. Massaging your skin only with hemp oil will ensure that your skin remains healthy and also youthful. If you regularly use skin care and hair care products containing hemp oil you will reap its health benefits, which are many. Besides keeping your skin healthy, hemp oil also offers anti-aging benefits by preventing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars. It is also a natural remedy for various skin conditions like acne, eczema, dry skin and psoriasis.
Last but not the lease important, hemp oil is also effective for stress management. It has been proved that this vegetable oil affects the activities in the brain's limbic region. The "fight-or-flight" response of our brain is attributed to this property of hemp oil.
