Start your day with a Healthy Hemp Smoothy
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere, you’ve probably seen hemp seeds in the spotlight as a so-called superfood. So by now, you must’ve realized it’s good for you, even though you might just not know exactly why. Although hemp comes from the cannabis plant, the only high you’ll get from eating it is a healthy high.
It’s actually a bit funny that it’s now becoming a superfood when in fact marijuana seeds have been eaten for hundreds (some sources say thousands) of years. Yet, there is surprisingly little research published on its physiological effects. Scientists however have concluded a few certain things about eating hemp seed.
Hemp and oil
Did you know that Hemp seed is very high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals? It’s got your vitamins like A, C, and E. Minerals it’s high in include: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. The vitamin E found in hempseed is one of the most important antioxidants. The tocopherol found in vitamin E has been known to benefit those with Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis. Phytol, which also comes from vitamin E, has both antioxidant and anticancer properties.
The oil in the hemp seed has a 3:1 ratio of the 2 essential fats- omega-3 and omega-6. The World Health Organization along with Health Canada claim that it is the perfect ratio for cardiovascular health. There’s not a nut or vegetable oil with this particular ideal ratio. Studies have shown that hempseed helps break down cholesterol including preventing problems caused by high cholesterol like blood clotting. If blood clotting can be prevented then it lowers your risk of strokes and myocardial infarctions. Suppose all of this is not reason enough to start filling your grocery basket full of seed. In that case, it also comprises a variety of plant sterols and alcohols known to reduce inflammation!
Now I know after hitting some good bud you start to get the munchies, and even though almost everything sounds delicious at that point, chomping on some hemp seed may not be your first choice. So I’m going to share a delicious smoothie recipe with you so that you can get your power seeds and enjoy eating it.
You’re going to need:
- 1 Cup of milk (if you’re really feeling festive use hemp milk)
- 1 Very ripe banana (frozen works better)
- 2 Pitted Medjool dates (if you don’t have these you can substitute for 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey)
- 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa (add in another teaspoon or so if you like it really chocolatey)
- 3 tablespoons of hulled hemp seeds
- 1 handful of ice
The directions for making a smoothie are pretty much as basic as it gets, which makes it a perfect quick treat for when the munchies hit you. Put it all in the blender and blend. You can make it sweeter and thicker with more bananas or dates depending on your taste. To each his own. Because it’s so healthy, it’s a great way to kick start your day with a truckload of vitamins and protein.
