whole food snapshot: hemp

the basics

Hemp is an extremely sustainable and highly nutritious plant. It’s easily cultivated, requires less water than other crops, and replenishes the soil with nutrients and nitrogen. In addition to being sustainable, hemp is a versatile crop that can be used in building materials, textiles, bio-plastics, auto parts and more.

Hemp is considered a whole food because it is densely nutritious. Hempseeds (or hemp hearts) are more easily digested than ground flax seed and contain more essential fatty acids than any other nut or seed. The hempseed is also packed with protein, magnesium and all 20 amino acids. When raw shelled hemp seeds are cold-pressed, the result is hemp oil—a raw, vegan oil that offers the optimal 1:3 ratio of Omega-3 & 6 essential fatty acids.


Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to worry about failing a drug test after consuming hemp foods—the levels of THC are barely measurable. The marijuana and hemp plants are related, but hemp foods will not cause a psychoactive effect.

using it at home

Similar to the flavor of a pine nut, hempseed is delicious when sprinkled on salad and yogurt or blended in hummus, pesto, smoothies, or salad dressings. You can even make homemade vegan hemp milk by blending hempseed, water and vanilla extract together. If you don’t have time to make a meal, snack on hempseed right from the bag!

Looking for an easy way to increase your Omega-3 & 6 intake? Add a couple tablespoons of hemp oil to your morning smoothie, or use it in vegetable and pasta dishes. For a simple and healthy salad dressing combine hemp oil, olive oil, lemon and spices, and enjoy this delicious addition to your salad. The antioxidants in hemp oil not only make it a great for culinary purposes, but also a great treatment for your skin! Treat your skin to a homemade hemp facial to clarify and detoxify your pores, or use alone as a moisturizer.

why we love it

Known as the world’s most sustainable plant, hemp is great for the environment and for your health. With the help of hemp, you can easily create nutritious and satisfying recipes that can help increase your protein, mineral and essential fatty acid intake.

What’s your favorite way to use hemp?