Here’s a quick, healthy and yummy hemp-based salad dressing recipe.  Organic, Vegan, and completely awesome.

Enjoy!

1 part Nutiva Organic Cold-Pressed Hemp Oil
1 part Olive Oil
1 part Vinegar or Lemon Juice

Directions: Blend ingredients and add soy sauce, sea salt, and or dried herbs for flavoring.
Also consider adding tahini to make it a more creamy dressing.

Optional: Sprinkle Nutiva Organic Shelled Hempseed over your salad.

This product is a HIT!  You already know that I’m a fan of hemp and just to remind everybody – hemp – while it is in the family of marijuana there is absolutely no connection to the drug. Most of the founding fathers of our nation actually grew hemp and it is thought of as one of the most nutritional seeds in the world. This hemp oil from Nutiva has a nice green color, a nice delicate flavor and is rich in omega 3s, 6s and 9s. This is as good as some of the best olive oils on the market. Retails for around $13.99.

Click HERE to read the ratings criteria.

The old adage “You are what you eat” is one to live by. Today, more and more people are making healthy dietary choices—not only for their own health, but also for the health of the Earth.

Hempseed is known by researchers and physicians to be one of the most nutritious food sources on the planet. Its 33 percent protein content is well-balanced, easily digestible, and also rich in iron, zinc, magnesium, vitamins B and E, Omega-3, and GLA. A Canadian government report says that hemp protein has 66 percent high-quality edestin protein—the highest percentage of any plant source. And hemp has the ideal 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3.

No wonder the hemp foods sector is booming! Walk down the aisles of a good store and you can now find hemp oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein, hemp bars, hemp bread, hemp butter, hemp milk . . . even hemp ice cream!

The Origins of Hemp Foods

More than 6,000 years ago, hemp was cultivated in China from a wild plant that grew in central Asia. The Chinese recognized the nutritional value of the hemp seed, and used it as a food source long before they used soy. About 1,000 years ago, hemp traveled to Europe, where one of the most popular ways that peasants used the plant was to make hemp butter by grinding the tasty seeds.

Health and Eco Concerns Regarding Soy Foods

Soy foods stand in marked contrast to hemp foods. Since the 1970s, the soy-food industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to convince the public of soy’s supposed “health benefits.“ Consequently, the average American diet includes about 10 percent soy—in dressings, butter spreads, cooking oils, shakes, desserts, etc. Yet, while the mainstream media has long promoted soy, a growing number of health professionals now caution people to think twice before consuming it in large quantities, due to potential allergic reactions, soy’s impact on thyroid health and mineral absorption, its poor fat ratio, and its estrogenic properties.

We should also be concerned about the environmental impacts of soy foods. First, most soybeans grown today are genetically modified, and even organic soy is often contaminated with GMOs by wind drift or processing. Also, toxic chemicals are applied to conventional soy fields in great amounts, causing damage to ecosystems from South America to America’s heartland.

A July 13, 2009, article, “Study Released in Argentina Puts Glyphosate Under Fire”  stated: “. . . research released by Argentina’s top medical school showed that a leading chemical used in soy farming may be harmful to human health.”

The article explained how soy cultivation is producing deformed frogs and adding untold hardships to small farmers. Do people understand that buying non-organic soy milk, food bars, cereal, and even common soy protein, supports this bitter harvest?

And it’s not only how soy is grown. The toxic chemical hexane, a petroleum byproduct, is used as a solvent to extract soy oil for about 98 percent of all soybeans processed in America. When ordering a soy burger or soymilk, you wouldn’t request a side of petrol solvent. But you get that added serving of hexane—also a major greenhouse gas emitter—anyway! Listen to what leading health researcher Mike Adams, a.k.a. “the Health Ranger,” says about soy protein products.

If you eat only organic soy (a much better choice), please read The Soy Report Scorecard by the organic watchdog group Cornucopia. If you are going to use soy, choose foods that are both organic and fermented, such as miso, tamari, and tempeh. The fermentation process makes soy more bioavailable and reduces its antinutritional qualities. And beware: Some firms claim “made with organic soybeans” even though their products contain hexane-processed soy.

Another issue that medical doctors are watching is soy’s effects on the thyroid.

Also, learn why longtime vegetarian Julia Wey is rethinking her consumption of soy foods.

Hemp Benefits

Unlike soy, hemp isn’t genetically modified, and no company uses hexane to extract its healthy oil. Another plus for hemp is that it’s easy to grow without pesticides or herbicides. It smothers weeds as a rotation crop, and its long taproot helps to restore soil health. Besides the seeds’ nutritional benefits, hemp’s strong fibers are being used to replace unsustainable cotton, petrol, and concrete in everything from clothing to car parts to construction materials.

More than thirty industrialized nations grow commercial hemp, including England, Germany, China, and Canada. Nevertheless,

United States law forbids growing hemp without a federal license. This has prevented commercial hemp production since the 1950s. Visit VoteHemp.com to learn how you can help to restore hemp farming in America.

Back in 1995, I wrote a booklet on industrial hemp in which these were the opening words:

“Imagine a crop more versatile than the soybean, the cotton plant, and the Douglas fir tree put together . . . one whose products are interchangeable with those from timber or petroleum . . . one that grows like Jack’s beanstalk with minimal tending. There is such a crop: industrial hemp.

“Hemp was once indispensable to world commerce. New World colonists and traders were able to cross the Atlantic Ocean because the hemp ropes and sails of their ships, unlike other natural fibers, resisted salt damage. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for an economy to function without hemp.”

These words hold true today, and it’s good to see that the world is again acknowledging hemp’s great value. In this era of Google and YouTube, we can all access cutting-edge health information to help us compare hemp food crops to soy. I encourage you to do your own research, and to remember that good health is our greatest wealth. Our lives depend on it.

John W. Roulac is the Founder and CEO of Nutiva, the world’s leading brand of organic hemp foods and coconut oil. A longtime advocate of holistic living, he is the author of four books (with a million-plus copies sold) on hemp and composting. He helped jump-start the modern home-composting movement in the early 1990s, successfully sued the USDEA to keep hemp imports legal in 2001, and has founded three  nonprofit ecological groups. To learn more about John Roulac and Nutiva, visit www.nutiva.com/articles/.

Here’s a seriously excellent article written by Dale Y the Green Guy, which was originally posted over at BecauseAction.com. If you’re not currently aware of the great work they’re doing over there, take a few moments and check them out. You’ll be glad you did.

This article is called The Many Uses of Hemp Oil: Multi-purpose oil can improve home, health

Enjoy!

Hemp oil, or hempseed oil, is a staple around the home of the Green Guy. I have known about it and used it for decades, and right here and now we are going to give hemp oil its well-deserved due.

Hemp oil is processed from the seeds of the regular cannabis plant, and before anyone giggles about any type of correlation between oil and the actual plant themselves, the processed oil contains virtually zero in the way of psychoactive cannabis chemicals.

What it does contain is up to 80 percent of essential fatty acids. Those are the fatty acids in the Omega family, and they are comparable to fish oil and olive oil for their health properties. Studies have proven that diets rich in Omega fatty acids will reduce the risk of heart attacks, and a teaspoon a day is a good way to get them into your body.

If you don’t like the teaspoon per day method, you can try using it in salads, substituting hemp oil for your regular olive oil. I do this all the time with guests, and no one can tell the difference. In fact, many have said how wonderful the salad oil tasted when combined with a little vinegar.

Much like olive oil, there are a couple of distinctions between first pressing of the seeds the second pressing of the seeds to obtain oil. First pressing gives the best nutritional food grade oil that there is, while second pressing oil should be considered for other uses. And there are many other uses. I am not going to give a categorical list of each and every use of hemp oil, but here are some of the more interesting ones that are slightly fascinating.

• Used straight from the container, it can be used as a varnish for bare woodwork. I personally am always on the lookout for natural wood finishes, and this might be the best one I have ever heard of. To that end, add a bit of hemp oil to some lemon oil and apply over finished wood. Buff it out and your finish will shine like it’s brand new.

• Since it is an oil, it can be substituted for petroleum based products in chainsaws, as bicycle chain lubrication, and really any type of application where an oil might come into contact with animals.

• Hemp oil candles are becoming popular, since they are all-natural and don’t use petroleum based paraffin as a burning medium.

• And of course bio-diesel production is another advantage of hemp oil use. Oil-to-seed ratio is high, so it would be a very efficient use of hemp seeds for bio-diesel manufacture.

There are many other uses both nutritionally as well as institutionally, where hemp oil can and should become a mainstay in the industry. And Because Action speaks louder than words, let’s all get the word out on the value and usage of hemp oil.

This article by Kim Hopkins on Examiner.com notes that hemp foods in their pure state (such as in Nutiva hemp products) do NOT contain the most common food allergens such as peanuts, milk, wheat, soy, and seafood, but do deliver a powerhouse of nutritional value.

Hemp is an easily digestible, gluten-free protein. It has an overall protein content of 34.6 g/100 g, with a low carbohydrate content. Of the shelled hemp seed carbohydrate, 6% is in the form of fiber. The fiber content of hemp seed flour is 40%, which is the highest of all commercial flour grains.

In addition to containing the basic human nutrient groups, hemp foods have a high content of antioxidants (92.1 mg/100g). The high content of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids make hemp foods beneficial to cardiovascular health (the chart compares hemp milk to soy, rice, and almond alternatives – click on it to see a clearer image). Additionally, hemp seed contains a wide variety of other vitamins and minerals.

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We are excited to offer this delicious and easy way to add the nutritional benefits of omega-3 and vitamin E to your diet. Use our organic Hemp Oil for delicious salad dressings, sauces, and smoothies. Also pour onto steamed veggies or grains.

“This is an excellent source for omegas and EFAs and also great tasting.”
- W. Mccord
Virginia Beach, VA

Save $$ – Buy Hemp Oil Now

Hemp foods are an increasingly popular way to add essential fatty acids and protein to a healthy diet. Raw organic hemp seed is beneficial for anyone who wants to improve their diet and health. It’s easy to add hemp protein to your diet by adding hemp seeds and or hemp protein powder to nearly any recipe.

As hemp seeds come from cannabis sativa plant varieties bred for nutrition, they contain virtually no THC. Hemp oil and hemp seed have good levels of omega-3 (and without the mercury issues of fish oil) and are suitable for gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian and vegan diets.

Shelled hemp seed contains approximately 33% protein, 45% oil, 10% carbohydrate, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. The omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acid content, balanced ideally for human consumption, provides benefits to cardiovascular health. Hemp seeds are great sprinkled on salads, mixed in cereal or yogurt, and added to shakes.

Another great way to gain the benefits of hemp is to use hemp seed oil. Hemp oil is extracted in a press, like other seed oils such as olive or flax. If properly cared for, hemp oil requires no preservatives. It is important to find high quality hemp oil, as the manufacturing process will significantly affect nutrition and flavor. Hemp oil should not be excessively exposed to light, so store it in a cool, dark place. Hemp seed oil is not suitable for frying, however, as it has a low smoke point.

Hemp foods are very nutritious and a good addition to a balanced diet. Though the United States has a misguided ban on the agricultural cultivation of hemp, there is no reason to avoid hemp, which today mostly comes from Canada or Europe. Human use of hemp dates back to the Stone Age for a wide variety of uses, including the medieval cuisine of Italy and Germany. With the variety of hemp food products now available, there is no reason for waiting.

Get more information about Nutiva’s hemp foods and other products.

Holistic News Network brings the best of the lifestyles of health and sustainability at their site: http://www.holisticnewsnetwork.com

They offer video interviews of hundreds of leading health experts including Nutiva’s CEO John W Roulac, an inspiring show on Juliette of the Herbs, a clip from the American Botanical Council, and much more. The 18 minute video interview with Roulac is shot at the March 2009 Anaheim Natural Products Expo show.

Roulac discuss’s how organic coconut oil is in fact a healing oil and dispel’s the false myth of coconut oil being unhealthy. Roulac also explore the many facts on the amazing hempseed which can be made into hemp oil, hemp protein, shelled hempseed, hemp milk , and even hemp ice cream !

Nutiva’s CEO Roulac also talks about his passion for creating a healthier and more sustainable world. See video below:

Posted By: Jane Wells

CNBC – View original article on Hemp

What if Americans could buy cigarettes but were banned from growing tobacco? Buy bread but not allowed to grow wheat? That is the case with industrial hemp, a product in everything from car doors to milk…legally.

Hemp farming was banned in the U.S. decades ago as part of the earliest drug wars. Hemp contains THC, like marijuana. But hemp is not marijuana. “It’s like a Chihuahua versus a Saint Bernard,” says David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, which sold $29 million in hemp-related products last year. The THC in industrial hemp is so minute that “the only thing you will get from smoking it is a headache,” says Gregg Baumbaugh, CEO of FlexForm Technologies, which uses hemp in car doors for Dodge Vipers. Both companies import their hemp from Canada or France, adding 10 to 15 percent to costs.

>> Continue reading on CNBC