Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[Dominique]

Hemp: Not for Human Consumption

By Sally Fallon

A number of companies are now selling hemp oil, toasted and shelled hemp seeds and granola bars containing hemp seeds. This is not a good use for hemp. Hemp may be appropriate for domestic animals and birds, but it should not be used for human food. In China, where cultivation of hemp originated, hemp oil was used occasionally, but there are no references in the Chinese literature to the use of hemp seeds as food for human beings. (Simoons, Food in China, 1991)
Hemp oil has been promoted in recent years as a “heart healthy” oil that is rich in essential fatty acids and low in saturated fat. Hemp oil is indeed highly unsaturated, and this is exactly why it should be avoided. Hemp oil is over 75 percent polyunsaturated, containing about 55 percent omega-6 fatty acids and about 20% omega-3 fatty acids. It contains only about 10 percent saturated fatty acids and 10 percent monounsaturated fatty acids. It is, therefore, highly unstable and prone to oxidation; and the high content of linoleic acid makes it particularly unsuitable for human consumption. Diets containing an excess of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-6 fatty acids, have been linked not only to heart disease but also to cancer and autoimmune disease.
An additional problem derives from the fact that hemp oil may contain traces of cannabinoids and these substances can then turn up in the urine of those who consume it. In one research project, seven adult volunteers purchased hemp oil from a health food store and ingested 15 milliliters each. Urine samples taken at 8, 24 and 48 hours after ingestion were positive for THC. (Journal of Analytical Toxicology October 1997 21(6):482-485.) If these volunteers had been obliged to give a urine sample to their employers, they would have failed their drug test.
Because hemp oil is highly unsaturated, it makes an excellent base for paints and varnishes. In fact, there is no need to consider hemp for human consumption except in small quantities for medicinal purposes. There are many good fats and oils that humans can use and there are many good industrial uses for all the by-products of the hemp plant. Let’s not make the same mistake with hemp that we have made with soy, by promoting its inappropriate use as a human food.
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About the Author...

Sally Fallon is founding president of the Weston A Price Foundation, a non-profit nutrition education foundation with over 400 local chapters and 9000 members. She is also the founder of A Campaign for Real Milk, which has as its goal universal access to clean raw milk from pasture-fed animals. Author of the best-selling cookbook Nourishing Traditions and also of Eat Fat Lose Fat (Penguin), both with Mary G. Enig, Phd, Sally has a encyclopedic knowledge of modern nutritional science as well as ancient food ways. Her grasp on the work of Weston Price is breath taking and her passion for health freedom, inspiring. In each edition of Nourished Magazine Sally answers your questions about nutrition, health, food and medical politics.

[kittygrrl]

thanks for the information..but i have to disagree..everything in moderation..

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Hemp oil tastes very bitter when rancid.

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

Hemp oil tastes very bitter when rancid.

the key word in this statement is rancid...LOL. I once tasted bad olive oil.
You never forget!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by Dominique

the key word in this statement is rancid...LOL. I once tasted bad olive oil.
You never forget!

I've done that, too! ....Yeuck! The worst oil for tasting rancid is sesame....it leaves you with an after taste that can only be described as putrid, and that was AFTER rinsing my mouth out several times and cleaning my teeth!

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

Hemp oil tastes very bitter when rancid.

never had it..but peanut butter is awful

[nycfem]

Health food gone wrong...

I've had a few experiences

Recently I put a lot of Brewer's Yeast on my salad before bed, and it made me super sick. I already had ground flax seed on the salad (I have ground flax seed every morning usually with no trouble). Anyway, I also took a multi-vitamin, and I really think it was that Brewer's Yeast on top of everything that did me in. I lay in bed feeling nauseous and cramped.

Then there was the time I started having dried goji berries every morning. Horrible cramping that immediately resolved itself once I put two and two together. Some people have that reaction and there can be drug interactions. The Internet always help figure these things out.

Whenever we try something new, there's the possibility of a wonderful new discovery that's added to the routine or there's the possibility of a bout of feeling like crap!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

Health food gone wrong...

I've had a few experiences

Recently I put a lot of Brewer's Yeast on my salad before bed, and it made me super sick. I already had ground flax seed on the salad (I have ground flax seed every morning usually with no trouble). Anyway, I also took a multi-vitamin, and I really think it was that Brewer's Yeast on top of everything that did me in. I lay in bed feeling nauseous and cramped.

Then there was the time I started having dried goji berries every morning. Horrible cramping that immediately resolved itself once I put two and two together. Some people have that reaction and there can be drug interactions. The Internet always help figure these things out.

Whenever we try something new, there's the possibility of a wonderful new discovery that's added to the routine or there's the possibility of a bout of feeling like crap!

When ever trying any new foods or health suppliments, I do at lunchtime. For me, it lessens any digestive issues that may occur because I've already eaten breakfast and drunk plenty of water, so, my digestion can handle 'almost' anything, lol!

[kittygrrl]

Wild for avocados lately Anyone have an amazing recipe using avocados? The rawer (is that a word?!?) the better.

[nycfem]

Another health food gone wrong story. I'm full of those , as well as some successes!

I had an arugala salad with a dressing I made from raw tahini, lots of garlic, and lots of balsamic vinegar. The bitter arugala (which I love) just did NOT mix with the powerful vinegar, garlic, and tahini! Yikes! I like strong flavors so much that I forget that they don't usually work when all combined!

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

Another health food gone wrong story. I'm full of those , as well as some successes!

I had an arugala salad with a dressing I made from raw tahini, lots of garlic, and lots of balsamic vinegar. The bitter arugala (which I love) just did NOT mix with the powerful vinegar, garlic, and tahini! Yikes! I like strong flavors so much that I forget that they don't usually work when all combined!

heh that's sounds really good i suspect the vinegar was a little too strong.. instead of vinegar why not try lemon and use half as much garlic?? it would be just acid enough to give you that buzz without making your eyes water

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

never had it..but peanut butter is awful

I have to agree with you there! I hate how it clags up my mouth....a bit like eating putty or polyfilla (spackle) I'd imagine and for ages afterwards I feel I have to excavate my mouth....not good! LOL!