Various seed oils have slid their way to the top of human consumption due to many beneficial substances found in them, like jojoba, flaxseed, rapeseed, etc. However, rarely do we encounter a seed oil as beneficial as the hemp seed oil.
While it derives from the Cannabis Sativa plant, the oils made from seeds are vastly different from their counterparts made from the plant’s body, which are also found to be quite advantageous (CBD oil).
Let’s see how hemp seed oil helps our overall health.
An Introduction to the Seed’s Nutrients
Hemp seeds are recognized to be greatly nutritious for the variety of compounds found in them.
First and foremost, almost a third of the seed is made from protein, and it is a full protein source — each of the nine essential amino acids, especially arginine, can be found in it.
Another important nutritional aspect of the seed is the presence of healthy, polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly benefitting the cardiovascular system.
A study conducted in 2015 shows that hens fed with hemp seed products laid eggs with a significantly better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which points to the seed’s fair bioavailability.
Hemp seed is an important source of fiber as well, especially if it contains the shells. In fact, three tablespoons of the seeds contain as much as 1.2 grams of fiber.
Cardiovascular Health
Due to the seeds’ highly nutritious profile, prominent for their polyunsaturated fatty acids normally found in fish and nuts, they are automatically recognized as much healthier for the heart. And while the larger part of studies related to hemp seed oil and its benefits for the cardiovascular system have been conducted on animals, they are still a good start for future references and research.
The healthy omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids make up to 75% of the seed’s oil, which is exceptionally high. Another important nutrient is arginine, which is an important amino-acid that converts to nitric oxide, successfully making veins smooth and allowing better blood flow. Implementing such compounds into a regular diet and combining it with various exercise grants lower chances of heart failure.
A large issue connected to this system is cholesterol, troubling an estimated 95 million Americans. While high cholesterol is mostly preventable and treatable, it can be hereditary. As reported by Reuters, this oil, once adopted into a heart-healthy dietary routine, has great potential to significantly improve the unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Skin Conditions
Acne vulgaris (commonly known as acne) and AD (atopic dermatitis) are, among other factors, commonly related to an omega-3 insufficiency in one’s diet. Hemp seed oil, as we previously mentioned, consists greatly of just the right fatty acids needed to fight these skin conditions.
A study published in 2005 suggests that hemp seed oils, by providing healthy changes in the profiles of plasma fatty acids in our bodies, can significantly improve the clinical diagnoses of atopic dermatitis and eczema.
Another review points to the importance of plants and their oils, hemp seed included, in the treatment of several different skin conditions, such as herpes, cellulitis, and skin cancer.
Other studies show the importance of the omega-3 fatty acids in the psoriasis treatment, especially when taken as supplements and combined with vitamin D ointments, oral retinoids, and phototherapy.
Brain Benefits and Other Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The previously mentioned benefits show a single common trait — they are mostly anti-inflammatory. This proves to be especially useful because most illnesses and diseases in humans come from chronic inflammations.
As seen in a 2011 observational study conducted on medical students, with thorough supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in hemp seed oil, it is possible to reduce high levels of anxiety and inflammation.
The brain, and the nervous system overall, are no different.
These fatty acids found in the hemp seed oil are especially important components for the quality operating of the brain. Substances called polyphenols are found in this oil, and, according to a relatively newly published study conducted on mice, it can help with memory dysfunction and neuroinflammation biomarkers.
Women’s Health: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Menopause
The premenstrual syndrome occurs in about 95% of adult, reproductive-aged women, with severe symptoms of the syndrome found in just about 5%. Followed by severe abdominal pains, tender breast condition, mood swings, and strong emotional distress, the syndrome occurs some two weeks prior to the cycle and lasts for about a week.
A study published in 2011 refers to the importance of the role of essential fatty acids in battling PMS symptoms. Namely, these substances affect the levels of cholesterol and prolactin (the hormone that conducts lactation, controls metabolism, osmoregulation, the immune system, and certain traits of behavior). Through balanced levels of this hormone, women are much more likely to avoid strong PMS symptoms.
Another study conducted on rats, more focused on menopause, directly points to the beneficial effects of hemp seed oil.
Ovariectomized rats were receiving hemp seed oil for three weeks and showed improved levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins, while the overall levels of anxiety were reduced. This implies possible post-ovariectomy complication avoidance in women, with more research to come.
The Bottom Line
The research of the hemp seed oils conducted in the United States is still relatively fresh due to the fairly restrictive laws surrounding the plant and its other uses. Still, there is a lot to look forward to, as the studies conducted so far seem nothing short of auspicious.
So far, it is safe to say that this oil is extremely beneficial as a source of the polyunsaturated fatty acids and other nutritious components that balance our body out, with every study conducted in the future likelier to provide even more useful information. Stay tuned!
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