Hemp Seed Oil: Healthy and Delicious

Hemp seed oil is extracted from the seed of Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana. The preparation used as a psychoactive drug (the highly publicized face of marijuana) actually uses the dried flowers and subtending leaves and stalks, not the seed. Versatile hemp seed oil has very low to undetectable levels of any of the psychoactive components called cannabinoids, making it safe to use in a variety of ways. The plant is also very hardy with a natural resistance to pests, which makes it an easy plant to grow organically without pesticides or herbicides. Refined hemp seed oil has primarily been used in body care products, but the unrefined oil has an attractive, nutty flavor, which makes it a great culinary alternative to other cooking oils.

Compared to other cooking oils, hemp seed oil is quite low in saturated fatty acids. Hemp seed oil is considered a super-food because of its high essential fatty acid (EFA) content, substances that we must ingest, since our bodies cannot make EFAs themselves. Hemp seed oil has especially ideal ratios of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids and gamma linoleic acid. This ratio of essential fatty acids has been shown to improve such skin conditions as eczema, psoriasis, and acne, lubricate arthritic joints, and improve heart health by decreasing cholesterol intake.

Hemp seed oil is the only culinary oil to contain gamma linoleic acid (GLA), plus it contains highly digestible proteins and a quantity of trace minerals, making hemp seed oil one of the most nutritious food oils in use today. It’s of particular use to vegetarians/vegans, as it provides a good source of alternative protein. Use it where you would use regular cooking oil, just remember this great cooking oil has a lower smoking point then other oils used for culinary pursuits. So use caution not to burn the oil! Burned oil will destroy the delicate hemp seed flavor and your guests will not enjoy it.

Try adding this delicious and nutritious cooking oil to your favorite savory dishes. If a recipe calls for olive oil or any other cooking oil, you can use hemp oil instead. Pair it with other earthy tasting foods such as mushrooms or use it in salty meals like home made pizza or pasta sauce. Your guests will love it! They will notice the difference, and probably love it too! All the while enjoying the great taste you will also be doing good for your health!

Hemp seed oil has a light and delicate texture and unique flavor that can accent and enhance a variety of foods, including salad dressings, pasta sauces, pizzas, hummus, and vegetable stir-fries. Care must be used during frying, however, since hempseed oil has a relatively low smoke point. With proper precautions and a creative culinary mind, there is no end to the ways in which hempseed oil can be used to produce unique, delicious dishes. I hope you enjoy incorporating this new cooking oil product in your cuisine and home cooking, I highly recommend this great tasting oil!

In this episode of How To Make Everything, Andy George participates in a historic hemp harvest where he learns the first steps of turning a plant into pants.