*Hemp seeds are the seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa.

*Though it belongs to the same family Cannabis that has the marijuana plants, it is different from the marijuana plants in that they are bred for the fiber and the highly nutritious seeds, and not for the narcotic alkaloids.

*This is the only food that has all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids that are required by the human body.

*Because of the high content of unsaturated fats, they become rancid very easily if not properly stored in opaque bottles in a cool dry place.

*They are available as hemp seeds (whole and hulled), hemp meal, and hemp oil, all of which are of highly nutritive value.

*They are used to make nut butter, non-dairy milk, snacks, spreads, salad dressing, and flour.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, if picked fresh or if it says raw or sun-dried on the package.
*No, because hemp seeds at the supermarkets are available as hemp meal and oil also. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Hemp seeds have a healthy combination of mono and polyunsaturated fats. They have a well balanced proportion of essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and the alpha-liolenic acid) that do not cause any deficiencies on prolonged use.

2. Good sources of protein that are of high biological value with the amino acid composition closer to protein in meat, egg, and milk.

3. The hemp flour is gluten free, and so can be used for those sensitive to gluten.

4. They have a high content of dietary fiber that helps in lowering the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, provides roughage and relieves constipation.

5. They have vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that helps in scavenging the free radicals from the body and preserves the integrity of cell membrane.

6. Hemp seeds contain various minerals and vitamins, which are yet to be studied extensively.