I am very pleased with these hemp seeds. They are fresh and delicious. I will definitely purchase this brand again.
There are multiple vendors of organic hemp seeds available in the marketplace, but Manitoba Harvest is a brand I am very impressed with. They are a company located in Canada, and their hemp is grown in Canada. They have two manufacturing facilities, one in Winnipeg and one in St. Agathe. They have been involved in growing and selling hemp for over 20 years, since 1998. They have received a AA+ rating from BRCGS, a leading consumer protection organization in Canada.
Hemp seeds are a fabulous superfood. After recently doing extensive research on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (see below), I decided to add hemp seeds to my vegan diet because these seeds are an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids. There is another big plus for hemp seeds as well: One ounce (28 grams) contains a whopping 9.3 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber, along with its very healthy fat. Because of that fact, due to consuming hemp seeds, I have been able to reduce how much vegan protein powder I add to my smoothie each day. In fact, I am planning to slowly begin increasing the amount of hemp seeds I consume each day and reduce my use of expensive protein powder even more.
It’s crucial to realize when adding hemp seeds to one’s diet that, if one tries to eat them whole, unfortunately, they will simply pass through the body, undigested. To prevent that problem, I use my blender to process them in order to achieve maximum digestive absorption of the hemp seeds. If I am going to put them in hot cereal, I blend them into a powder first. If I am going to use them in my morning green smoothie, I blend them into a paste first. This is how I do that for the smoothie:
I put 1 ounce (28 grams) of these seeds in the blender with no more than 1/2 cup of water or herbal tea. I blend on high until the hemp seeds are a thick paste. At that point I add in my fruits, vegetables, powdered nutraceuticals and additional liquid.
INFORMATION ABOUT OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids whose health benefits have been well researched. These include DHA, EPA and ALA:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are called marine omega-3 fatty acids, because they are found, fully bioavailable, in fatty fish and certain algae, most especially the algae, Schizochytrium.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is found in plant sources such as green leafy vegetables, soybeans, walnuts, and seeds such as chia, flax, and hemp, with flaxseeds containing the highest amount. It is important to note that, in order to obtain omega-3 health benefits from these sources, the body must first convert the ALA into EPA and DHA, and this conversion process is inefficient in humans. On average, only 1-10% of ALA is converted into EPA, and only 1-5% into DHA. The amount of the conversion is also impacted by the availability in the body of adequate amounts of the following nutrients: B6, B7, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron, which most vegans and vegetarians probably already supplement in their diet (especially B vitamins). Note that the U.S Institute of Medicine recommends a daily ALA intake of 1600 mg. per day for men and 1100 mg. per day for women. It is difficult to obtain remotely enough ALA simply from leafy greens because, for example, 1 cup of raw spinach only has 40 mg. of ALA, and 1 cup of raw kale only has a little more ALA at 120 mg. But If a vegan or vegetarian is willing to add the following seeds and nuts to their diet on a regular basis (I have added all of these to my diet), it is easily possible to obtain an adequate dose of EPA and DHA from the diet alone:
One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides 4,915 mg of ALA. The body would convert this to between 49-490 mg. of EPA and 49-245 mg DHA.
One ounce (28 grams) of flaxseeds contains 6,388 mg of ALA. The body would convert this to between 64-640 mg. of EPA and 64-320 mg DHA.
One ounce (28 grams) of hemp seeds contains 6,000 mg of ALA. The body would convert this to between 60-600 mg. of EPA and 60-300 mg DHA.
One ounce (28 grams) of walnuts contains 2,542 mg of ALA. The body would convert this to between 25-254 mg. of EPA and 25-127 mg DHA.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Research has indicated that the most health benefits are obtained from omega-3 supplements, or the above food sources, which offer a combination of EPA and DHA. Some of these benefits include:
1. Anti-inflammatory. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce inflammation. This is very important because, over the course of many decades, an abundance of scientific research has indicated that inflammation is either the direct cause or a major contributing factor in virtually all disease, including especially: cancer, heart disease and autoimmune disorders such as arthritis. This is very likely why it has directly been found to help improve or heal all of those diseases.
2. Prevents heart disease and stroke. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and increase blood flow by improving the ability of blood vessels to dilate normally.
3. Improved eye health. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce the incidence of dry eyes, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
4. Improved brain function. Research indicates that omega-3 can help improve mental clarity and lower the risk of dementia and depression.
REFERENCES
Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 research group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-2015.
Appleton, K., et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;(11):CD004692.
Aung, T., et al. Associations of omega-3 fatty acid supplement use with cardiovascular disease risks. Meta-analysis of 10 trials involving 77,917 individuals. JAMA Cardiology. 2018;3(3):225-234.
Balk, E., et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Systematic Review. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment no. 223. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2016. AHRQ publication No. 16-E002-EF.
Kwak, S., et al. Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplements (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2012;172(9):686-694.
Lee, Y., et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. Archives of Medical Research. 2012;43(5):356-362.
Orchard, T., et al. A systematic review of omega-3 fatty acids and osteoporosis. British Journal of Nutrition. 2012;107(Suppl 2):S253-S260.
Querques, G., et al. The role of omega-3 and micronutrients in age-related macular degeneration. Survey of Ophthalmology. 2014;59(5):532-539.
Rizos, E., et al. Association between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and risk of major cardiovascular disease events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2012;308(10):1024-1033.
Sublette, M., et al. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in clinical trials in depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2011;72(12):1577-1584.
Sydenham, E., et al. Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012;(6):CD005379.
Organic shelled hemp seeds
