Food of the week – Hemp Seeds

These tiny little seeds are real superfoods if we consider their amazing nutritional content. Moreover, they are not only healthy, but they also taste fantastic with their  nutty, mildly sweet flavour. Here are the facts proving that even a miniature seed can give you a big punch!

  1. Hemp seeds provide a relatively high level of essential fatty acids in a health promoting anti-inflammatory ratio 3:1 of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids.
  2. Hemp seeds are among only a few foods that contain an omega 6 fat called gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which serves as a building block for anti-inflammatory hormones. GLA also facilitates fat burning and supports healthy hair, nail and skin.
  3. Hemp seeds offer a high amount of easily digestible proteins which, unlike the majority of plant protein foods, contain all the essential amino acids that our body cannot produce. This makes them a great protein source for individuals who don’t eat animal foods. By eating only 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds you pack 11 grams of protein into your body.
  4. Hemp seeds are loaded with vitamins, particularly B, D, and E as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and manganese.
  5. Hemp seeds help you to alkalize your body by supplying chlorophyll which also supports the body’s natural detoxification pathways.
  6. Hemp seeds aid your digestion by providing natural plant enzymes, therefore in addition to being easily digestible, they also help you to digest other foods.
  7. Is there anything else? Yes, dietary fiber! 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds contain 2 g of health-supporting fiber.

There are many ways how to introduce this superfood in your diet if you have not done so yet. They can be sprinkled on your salads, cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies or pastas. Their creamy texture makes them an ideal ingredient for soups and deserts. Try one of my favourite recipes from joyoushealth.ca and enjoy the great taste of the powerful little seed!

Strawberry Chocolate Hemp Square

http://www.joyoushealth.ca/blog/2012/05/28/raspberry-chocolate-hemp-squares/

The original recipe calls for raspberries, but I only had frozen strawberries at the time.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups shelled hemp seeds* (soak for 30 minutes, discard water)
  • 2 cups organic raspberries or strawberries
  • 1/2 cup raw cacao
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup filtered water
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (melt over low heat till liquid)

Combine all the ingredients except coconut oil in a blender and blend until smooth. Add water and coconut oil and continue blending until smooth. Transfer into a freezer-safe dish and freeze for a few hours or overnight. Before eating, top it with fresh strawberries and coconut shaves.

I tried to refrigerate it first, but it turned out to be more liquid than I expected, almost like a delicious chocolate yogurt! Therefore, I kept it in the freezer overnight, and the next morning it was a perfect pudding-like ready-to-eat breakfast!

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