Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Farmers Begin Planting Hemp Under New Colorado Hemp Legalization



Farmers Begin Planting Hemp Under New Colorado Hemp Legalization
Farmers Begin Planting Hemp Under New Colorado Hemp Legalizationby Anthony Gucciardi
Many farmers in Colorado will be expanding their list of planted crops this Spring after groundbreaking legislation was passed last November that allowed not only for the legalization of marijuana, but hemp as well. Now in case you’re not familiar, hemp is actually a multi-purpose substance that does not produce the high effects of marijuana. In fact, it’s mainly used as a super cheap and highly efficient building material — at least in other nations where ridiculous bans are not enforced on the ‘high-free’ material.
Colorado farmers like Michael Bowman will be planting 100 acres of hemp to be harvested and sold off as not only building material, but a highly nutritious superfood. While marijuana is considerably high in the substance known as THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which of course is the compound that produces the ‘high’ effects, it’s also significantly low in what’s known as CDB (cannabidiol). That’s where hemp comes in. Both THC and CDB are known as cannabinoids, but hemp is particularly high in CDB while lacking in THC.
Hemp as a Superfood, Industry Transformer
These cannabinoids have actually been promoted by many first hand sources as not only a health optimizing substance, but a serious solution to cancer. One popular documentary titled ‘Run from the Cure’ by Rick Simpson, which is available for free on Youtube, focuses on the use of hemp oil to conquer cancer.
Rich in essential oils, fiber, and a close to complete amino acid profile, hemp contains beneficial ingredients such as:
  • Linoleic acid (44% of the weight of hempseed is actually full of edible oils)
  • Omega 3 fatty acids (shown time and time again to fight against anxiety, depression, and even inflammation)
  • Omega-6
  • A ‘complete’ amino profile that surpasses the profile of eggs, milk, soy, and many meats. This includes the 9 essential aminos that the human body cannot produce on its own.

It is for these reasons that hemp is utilized today in many high quality products like protein shakes, energy bars, and many more food products. Two tablespoons of shelled hemp seeds contain about 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.
Its versatility allows it to be a prime ingredient even in clothing and fabric-based industries. It could transform the entire industry, replacing unsustainable materials with environmentally friendly hemp.
Feds: ‘We Will Come for Your Hemp’
That is if the federal government doesn’t seize it across the nation. The DEA has its sights set on confiscating all hemp planted and grown in the United States through citing the Controlled Substances Act, which doesn’t differentiate between marijuana and hemp. The agents, which will ignore state law and enforce federal law throughout any state, say that they will be going after farmers who plant non-THC hemp as if they were planting marijuana. After all, they say it doesn’t matter what it actually is.
“It really doesn’t matter whether it looks different or it looks the same,” DEA agent Paul Roach told NPR. “If it’s the cannabis plant, it’s in the Controlled Substances Act and, therefore, enforceable under federal drug law.”
In the event that Colorado manages to generate acres of hemp without the federal government raiding the super efficient substance that is classified as a dangerous drug, it will provide a serious industry change that may spread to other states and potentially even federal law. In the more likely scenario of federal agents jailing hemp farmers and raiding their ‘drug’ operations, an intellectual and legal resistance will be in order to attempt to alter the ridiculous laws surrounding the cultivation of hemp.
Sources:
Natural Society
Image Credit

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Hemp Pesto Recipe

share with friends

 

INGREDIENTS

  • Cooking Time: 10 min.
  • Servings: 2-4
  • Preparation Time: 10 min.
  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup Hemp Seed
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 gloves garlic
  • 3 TBsp. Hemp seed oil
  • 2 TBsp. fruity olive oil.
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Clean and dry basil. Chop in food processor. Add hulled Hemp seeds, cheese, garlic, hemp oil and 1 TBsp. olive oil. Process in short bursts until you like the consistency. Add the rest of the olive oil optionally, depending on preferred taste.

Add this hemp pesto to a sandwich for some yummy flavor!


You can find more of these Great Hemp Recipes at: http://www.bakespace.com/cookbooks/detail/Hemp-Healthy-Cooking%3A-Hemp-for-Lunch/553/.

 

CBDs: There's more to weed than THC

CBD is a behind-the-scenes workhorse, facilitating a staggering number of bodily changes while being completely non-psychoactive.
by
In the land of cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) gets most of the publicity. It is, after all, the compound with the most well-known flair, being the main source of all the euphoric, trippy effects.
Less popular, but perhaps only until now, has been cannabidiol, or CBD, the second most-common cannabinoid among the 70 to 100 found in marijuana (and the most common in hemp). CBD is a behind-the-scenes workhorse, facilitating a staggering number of bodily changes while being completely non-psychoactive.
To start, CBDs counter some of the less desirable side-effects of THC, like anxiety, paranoia, rapid heartbeat and short-term memory loss. In high doses, it can help insomniacs sleep, but in smaller amounts, it can be energizing. It can also reduce inflammation, nausea and convulsions.
As the list continues to grow, so do the CBD-centric products on the market. High-CBD strains are finally more readily available after decades of breeding geared toward high-THC yields. In the edibles industry, companies like Cheeba Chews and Dixie Elixirs & Edibles have developed special CBD products; for instance, the latter's non-psychoactive Dixie X comes from hemp oil, and according to the website, the company's in talks to distribute it in grocery and health food stores.
Char Mayes of the local infused-products company TinctureBelle offers a more mom-and-pop approach for patients seeking help from CBDs. While her products are all hybrids (from strain to cannabinoid content), Mayes did make a special high-CBD tincture for local patient Chaz Moore, who suffers from myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter, a condition that seizes the teenager with uncontrollable spasms in his abdomen.
"They had given me the plant," Mayes says. "And so, I'll help patients out like that, but I don't have it on a constant basis to do."
And when it comes to CBDs, all this is just the tip of the proverbial bud.
The battle within
Talk of marijuana fighting cancer is far from new, but recent research has shown more promise than ever. In a November article from AlterNet, two researchers from the California Pacific Medical Center explain that "these non-psychoactive compounds from the cannabis plant might, in short order, render chemotherapy and radiation distant second and third options for cancer patients."
In fact, this was something scientists at the National Cancer Institute were finding back in the '70s, the piece explains, before restrictions limited cannabis research in the U.S. And it's what Dr. Robert Melamede — a professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and president and CEO of the publicly traded research company Cannabis Science — has been saying for years since then.
On the one front, Melamede says, cannabis makes the body healthy enough to fight cancer cells. (CBD is reported to have distinct immune system benefits.) Then, he adds, it "prevents cancer cells from properly talking to their environment." If receptors on cells are like our ears, he explains, and the chemicals they pass back and forth are like words, the compounds in marijuana make the cancer unable to "coordinate itself with its surroundings."
Neurologist Dr. Randall J. Bjork of Colorado Springs Neurological Associates isn't completely convinced yet; he says the science "isn't very rigorous." But, he adds, the idea "does appear to be something worth scientific research, because it seems to be very promising." He notes that CBD can be very receptor-specific, and doesn't kill healthy cells.
Bjork says the most hope may be found in applying CBD to breast cancer, which has been tested with the most success in laboratories. Next, he says there need to be "real hard, scientific, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies" pairing it with accepted breast cancer regimens, like the chemo drug Bevacizumab. "Some would even say it could help brain tumors."
Back at Cannabis Science, Melamede says he's already testing it with patients suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma, an opportunistic blood vessel cancer found in HIV-positive patients. "It's the leading cancer in the world, because it's the leading cancer in Africa. And cannabis, when properly administered, can make it go away."
Splendid isolation?
One fundamental issue still needs to be sorted out, though: Should CBD be isolated or not?
Melamede and Bjork are split. According to Melamede, both the plant and our bodies operate as a series of pathways that work synchronously, a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
"We're not just this collection of switches, it's how everything comes together to work that makes the magic," he says. "There are definitely cases for different illnesses where CBD alone will suffice ... [however] high-CBD strains, in general, I would say, would be better than using CBD [alone] because you'll get these accessory molecules and they'll all play in together.
"In cannabis there's what's known as the 'entourage effect,' and the entourage effect basically means that the entourage of chemicals that are in that plant will cooperatively have some kind of beneficial effect on whatever pathway you're looking at. But not because it's a simple on-off switch, but because they regulate those pathways in different ways."
Bjork acknowledges this, but says then the problem becomes one of not knowing what compound did what. "You would really like to nail it down to a molecule," he says, "like a molecule of Methotrexate, for example, or a molecule of Imuran, that we know what the chemistry is, and we know the properties; the melting point, the boiling point and all this, and the absorption in the GI system, or IV availability."
For her part, Mayes is skeptical of separating the cannabinoids, yet waits on further testing. In the meantime, the industry continues to evolve; the beauty of it remaining in the fact that it's already in a pretty good place, thanks to cannabis' variety.
"If a high-CBD works for you, go for it. If a hybrid works for you, go for it. You just have to choose which medicine works best for you."

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Marijuana restrictions: Appeals court backs DEA, rejects pot advocates argument

What is your Take on this???

Anthony Bolante / Reuters file
A marijuana starter plant is shown at Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle on Nov. 20.
Advocates of looser federal restrictions on marijuana suffered a significant legal setback Tuesday, as a panel of three judges found that the federal government acted properly in refusing to loosen restrictions on pot.

Pro-marijuana groups and a disabled veteran who said it improves his medical condition asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to put marijuana on a lower tier of federal restrictions. They said the agency was ignoring a growing body of scientific evidence that it has some medical benefits. When the DEA refused, they sued.
But by a 2-1 vote, a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said Tuesday that the DEA did consider all the available information. "We find nothing in the record that could move us to conclude that the agency failed to prove by substantial evidence that such studies confirming marijuana's medical efficacy do not exist," the majority opinion said.

The ruling comes as a stark contrast to actions by a growing number of states that allow use of marijuana on the recommendation of a doctor. And voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot measures in November that ease state restrictions against recreational use.
The DEA has long classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the most-restrictive category, finding it "has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." The production, sale, and use of marijuana remain illegal under federal law as a result.
Judge Harry Edwards, who wrote Tuesday's opinion, took note of the controversy. "There is a serious debate in the United States over the efficacy of marijuana for medicinal uses," he said.

Live Poll

Q: Should marijuana be placed on a lower tier of federal restrictions?

Yes. Pot has been shown to have definite medical benefits.78%No. Marijuana is still a dangerous drug.19%I'm not sure.3%
Total Votes: 22042
But the issue for the court, he said, "is not whether marijuana could have some medical benefits." Instead, Edwards said, the court's job was to determine whether the DEA acted within the scope of its authority in declining to reclassify the drug, given claims in the lawsuit that peer-reviewed scientific studies found some evidence that it could be beneficial.
"We defer to the agency's interpretation of these regulations and find that substantial evidence supports its determination" that no studies exist that are "adequate and well-controlled" proving its effectiveness in medical treatments.
The dissenting judge, Karen LeCraft Henderson, expressed no view on whether marijuana has medical benefits. Instead, she said the court should have dismissed the case on the grounds that none of those filing the lawsuit had legal authority to bring the case to court in the first place.

Hemp Facts

Information from Hemp.com
Hemp facts and some fun hemp history
Here are some fun and very interesting facts regarding hemp. Some of them are more scientific than others but I think we all can agree on how interesting they are.
  • Until 1883, 75-90% of all paper in the U.S. was made with hemp.
  • Hemp seed was the # 1-selling bird feed; 4 million pounds were sold in the U.S. in 1937.
  • In the mid-to-late 1800′s the 2nd & 3rd most commonly used medications were concentrated cannabis extracts and resins (a.k.a. hashish).
  • A bridge in the south of France dated at 500-700 A.D. was built with a mixture of hemp.
  • In 1941 Henry Ford built a car with a plastic made from hemp and wheat straw.
  • Until 1937 70-90% of all rope and twine was made with hemp.
  • Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations.
  • In 1850 the U.S. Census reported 8,327 hemp plantation of at least 2000 acres in size. Not counted were thousands of smaller crops.
  • The original Levi Strauss jeans were made from hemp.
  • In 1942 the U.S. government strongly encouraged hemp cultivation to help with the war effort, going so far as to produce a film entitled “Hemp For Victory“.
  • The version of the Declaration of Independence released on July 4, 1776 was written on hemp.
Hemp and Industry
There are over 25,000 known uses for hemp.
The heating and compressing of hemp fibers can create building materials superior to wood in strength, quality and cost.
Hemp is heat, mildew, pest, light, and rot resistant.
Hemp fabric is softer, warmer, more water resistant and more durable than cotton. Hemp fabric also uses less chemicals to produce.
Industrial uses of hemp in China date as far back as 10,000 years.
Hemp as a Fuel Source
A bio-diesel fuel is one made from hemp oil, vegetable oil, or other animal fat(see hemp fuel). The original idea wax developed in 1895 by Dr. Rudolph Diesel, who developed the first engine than ran on vegetable oil. He demonstrated the engine at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, France, running the engine on peanut oil.
Hemp can be blended with diesel fuel in any ratio or used alone.
Biodiesel fuel is the only alternative fuel that can be used as-is, in any un-modified diesel engine.
The increased use of biodiesel fuels would reduce dependence on foreign sources while increasing national agricultural jobs and revenues.
The flashpoint of petroleum fuel is 125 degrees Fahrenheit while the flashpoint of biodiesel fuels is 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Biodiesel fuels have been used successfully in Europe for over 20 years.
Hemp as a Profitable Crop
  • Hemp is cold hardy, able to withstand even NH winters.
  • Hemp is pest resistant ( except from the 2-legged kind)
  • Hemp is drought resistant
  • It is estimated that if 6% of the continental U.S. planted with hemp would provide for all national energy needs.
  • Hemp has a production rate of up to 10 tons per acre, every 4 months.
  • 1 acre of usable hemp fiber is equal to the usable fiber of 4 acres of trees or 2 acres of cotton.
  • Trees mature in 50-100 years; hemp matures in as little as 100 days.
  • The University of Missouri estimates that an average-size metropolitan area production of 100 million gallons of biodiesel fuel could generate $8.34million in personal income and 6000 temporary and permanent jobs. (Ref: National Biodiesel Board)
  • In 1776 a hemp shirt cost .50 cents to $1.00; a cotton shirt cost $100-$200
Hemp drying in Haiti
Hemp and the Environment
  • Biodiesel fuels emit 80% less carbon dioxide & nearly 100% less sulfur dioxide.
  • Hemp paper can be recycled up to seven (7) times; wood pulp paper can be recycled four (4) times.
  • Hemp fuels do not destroy the ozone layer or contribute to global warming.
  • Hemp fuels burn clean; they do not cause acid rain.
  • Hemp fuel is 10 times less toxic than salt, and as biodegradable as sugar.
Hemp and Health
Hemp oil is the highest source of essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which, among other things, help control cholesterol, arterial blockage and the immune system.
Commonly-known medicinal uses of hemp include: nausea & vomiting; multiple sclerosis/muscle spasm disorders; spinal cord injuries; Chron’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; Tourette’s syndrome; digestive disorders; glaucoma; asthma; neurodegenerative disorders;
At one time American companies Eli Lily, Squibb and Park Davis produced cannabis extract medicines.
Hemp and the Law
In 1619 Jamestown Colony, Virginia enacted laws ordering farmers to grow hemp. Similar laws were enacted in Massachusetts in 1631, Connecticut in 1632 and the Chesapeake Colonies in the mid-1700′s.
In England, foreigners were awarded with citizenship if they grew cannabis; those who refused were fined.
From 1631 until the early 1800′s, hemp was used as legal money, with which one could buy goods and pay bills.
Hawaii is the first state sine the 1950′s to legally plant a hemp crop.
Hemp and the Arts
“Alice in Wonderland” was originally printed on hemp paper. It’s author, Lewis Carroll, was a frequent marijuana smoker.
The paintings of Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt were regularly painted on hemp canvases.
In 1935 116 million pounds (58,000 tons) of hemp seed was used to make paints and varnishes.
Industrial Hemp Production and US Marijuana Prohibition
During the years 1916-1937, William Randolph Hearst created a yellow journalism campaign to associate hemp with marijuana. Even though smoking hemp, like most fibers, will just make you sick, Hearst, along with his friend Pierre DuPont, succeeded in outlawing hemp in America. They actually robbed the world of an environmental cash crop. Why would they do such a thing? Because instead of using hemp for paper, clothing, fuel, oils, resins, medicines, and many other uses, we now use trees and synthetic petrochemicals. Hearst owned huge forests and interests in lumber mills. DuPont made synthetic fuels and fibers (nylon, rayon, plastics) from petroleum. And so the story goes…. Learn more at the Hemp University

Monday, January 21, 2013

Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch

Check out my cookbook!
Cookbook Cover
Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch
View My Cookbook
25 great recipes including:
Hemp & Mushroom pate
---
Chipotle Refried Beans
---
Garlic Hempen Hummus
analytics image

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Meet the Author: Derek Cross, author of ‘Hemp Healthy Coooking: Hemp for Lunch.’ Cookbook

by • January 14, 2013 • • 0 Comments

When:
January 16, 2013 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where:
Cookbook Cafe
http://bakespace.com/news
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Cookbook CafeEvent website
Categories:
derek cookbook cafe
Meet the Authors is a series on BakeSpace.com which features a new cookbook author every week. Join us for a lively discussion with some of our favorite chefs, authors, food bloggers and home cooks.
This week on Cookbook Cafe:
Derek Cross is from West Chicago, IL and served in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist Mate. Between working in construction all over Wisconsin to owning a successful electrical contracting company in Fond du Lac, Derek fell in love with the concept of creating delicious recipes with hemp.
I enjoy experimenting with new and creative ways to incorporate Hemp into the daily diet, and educating people about all the uses of hemp. - Derek Cross
Derek is a proud father and grandfather and just published two hemp cookbook series Hemp Healthy Cooking which is available for download on the BakeSpace.com Cookbook Cafe cookbook marketplace.
Download his cookbooks at: Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch
My goal is to keep learning more about hemp, and educating people the importance of what Hemp brings to the Table. – Derek Cross
For More information on Derek:
Follow him on twitter: @HempHealthy2Day
Visit his website: http://hemphealthytoday.blogspot.com


Check out my cookbook!
Cookbook Cover
Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch
View My Cookbook
25 great recipes including:
Hemp & Mushroom pate
---
Chipotle Refried Beans
---
Garlic Hempen Hummus
analytics image

Comments

0 comments

About

Our blog is home to several live-streaming shows including: KitchenParty: the first web series to produce a community cookbook from recipes submitted by our audience during each show. Cookbook Cafe: aspiring cookbook authors and cookbook fans meet a new cookbook author every week. TECHmunch: based on the popular food blogger conference TECHmunch, this online chat brings one pro to the table to chat about optimizing a food bloggers content, growing their brand and building buzz.
http://www.bakespace.com

Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch

My cookbook, Hemp Healthy Cooking: Hemp for Lunch is now available online and as an iPad app on Cookbook Cafe -- the new grassroots way by @bakespace to publish and shop for cookbooks! Get it now and please click the share button below to tell your friends. http://www.bakespace.com/cookbooks/detail/Hemp-Healthy-Cooking%3A-Hemp-for-Lunch/553/ !


Even more important for building a strong immune system, hempseeds are the highest source in the plant kingdom of essential fatty acids. These essential oils, linoleic and linolenic acids, are responsible for the luster in your skin, hair, eyes, and even your thought processes. They lubricate (clear) the arteries and are vital to the immune system.

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Cure for Cancer - Educational Documentary - Cannabinoids



Hope you enjoy and most of all LEARN some new information,  it might just save your LIFE!

Hemp seed oil vs. fish liver oil


An issue on this blog has been Omega-3 oils, which are found in hemp seed. They are also found in fish oils, and it is always suspect that fish oil is sold so heavily by the likes of Whole Foods while hemp oil is ignored. Maybe something to do with the wealth of the fishing industry? The following piece by Dionne Payn which appeared last year in HempLifestyleMagazine.com gives us a lot of insight into this issue:



You've probably heard about how good omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are
for human health. The common advice is that to get a good supply in
your diet you need to eat oily fish on a regular basis.

Not many people know that hemp is a fantastic source of omega-3 and
6 fatty acids. But can hemp replace fish oil in the diet? Before we
get into that, let me start by giving you the lowdown on why these
fatty acids are important for good health.

What are essential fatty acids anyway?

Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) is an omega-3 fatty acid and is known as
an 'essential' fatty acid. Our bodies can't make it so we need to
consume it through the food we eat. Our bodies convert ALA to the
longer chain fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

EPA and DHA are very important for good health. They are powerful
anti-inflammatory compounds, which is beneficial as inflammation is
the cause of many degenerative diseases. EPA & DHA also lower blood
pressure and blood triglycerides which can reduce the risk of
strokes and heart disease.

Linoleic acid (LA) is an essential omega-6 fatty acid and is the
precursor to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). We get plenty of omega-6
fatty acids in our diet from sources such as cooking oils (soybean,
sunflower, and canola oil), poultry and eggs.

The problem is that our intake of omega-3 fatty acids is too low,
yet our intake of omega-6 fatty acids is too high. The typical
Western diet has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 15:1 but the
recommended ratio is 3:1. In a number of clinical studies, patients
with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma have reduced
their symptoms just by eating the correct balance of omega-6 to
omega-3.

The general advice is to consume more oily fish such as mackerel,
salmon & sardines, or take supplements that contain concentrated
amounts EPA & DHA. But what if you don't want to eat fish or take
fish oil supplements?

The problem with fish and fish oils

There are a few issues to consider when deciding to consume fish or
fish oils. Firstly, there is the human health aspect. Our oceans
are polluted with methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's)
and dioxins, and these contaminants are found in fish. Fish that
are predatory (eat other fish) are large and at the top of the food
chain, and so tend to contain more toxins.

Governments around the world are advising pregnant and
breastfeeding women to limit the amount of fish they eat as mercury
can cause harm to unborn babies or young children.

For the general population, the medical consensus is that the
benefits of eating fish far outweigh the risk to human health from
these toxins. However to be on the safe side, many people choose to
avoid fish and fish oil supplements altogether.

Then there is the environmental issue. In 2010, Time Magazine
published an article which asked the question, "Is the fatty-acid
craze threatening our ecosystem?" They made the point that the
market for omega-3 supplements doubled to $1 billion US dollars
between 2006 - 2010.

Environmentalists feared that menhaden, a small filter feeding
species of fish, were being overfished to produce fish oil
supplements. This led to 13 out of 15 Atlantic States banning the
fish oil company that caught 90% of the fish from their waters.

Fish oil companies strenuously deny that they are having an effect
on declining fish stocks arguing that only 1% of fish catch is used
for making supplements. However, a Canadian research group argued
that the recommended dose of 100 mg of fish oils per day was not
sustainable and would lead to fish stocks collapsing by the middle
of the 21st century.

Then there is the question of whether it is ethical to kill fish
for food or fish oil. The Vegetarian Society's website states that:

"Fish have a nervous system and pain receptors like all other
animals" and "an estimated 23% of that total catch is killed and
discarded as a result of 'incidental capture".

So if you choose not to eat fish or use fish oils, where do you get
your beneficial omega-3 fatty acids?

Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids

Because eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
are only found in oily fish, a lot of research has focused on how
much alpha linoleic acid (ALA) can be found in plants.

By far, the best source of ALA is flax seed (over 50%), followed by
hemp (15-20%), walnut (14%), canola (11%) and soy (7%). While ALA
can be converted to EPA & DHA in the body, the conversion between
ALA to EPA is not very efficient; even in healthy people it is only
2-5%.

The reason for this is that ALA has to be converted to a fatty acid
called stearidonic acid (SDA) before it can be converted to EPA.
The enzyme responsible for this conversion is very inefficient and
this effect is worse in the elderly, people suffering from diabetes
or obesity, and people that have a high omega-6 intake.

The good news is that if you take SDA directly, the conversion to
EPA is much easier, which hasn't gone unnoticed by big
Agri-companies. Monsanto have cottoned onto this (excuse the pun)
and have genetically modified the soya bean to produce SDA, while
BASF is working on genetically modifying canola to do the same.

Thankfully for us, hemp is a natural source of SDA and we don't
have to resort to GM foods to get a plant based source of our
omega-3's.

Hemp is one of the few sources of a rare omega-6 fatty acid,
gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA has a similar chemistry to EPA and
has many of the health benefits of EPA.
Ideal dosages

According to the Good Oil Website, a daily dose of 1 tablespoons of
hemp oil will gove you 94% of your recommended daily allowance of
omega-3 and 94% of your recommended daily allowance of omega-6
fatty acids.

A comparison of flax and hemp oil

As I mentioned before, flax contains more ALA than hemp, but does
not contain SDA. Many people that try flax oil find it has a strong
aftertaste which can be a bit off-putting. Flax oil also has a
short shelf life, needs to be used as quickly as possible after
pressing and should be kept in the freezer, otherwise it turns
rancid.

In comparison, hemp contains linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha
linoleic acid (omega-3) in the optimum 3:1 ratio for human health
and it has a pleasant nutty taste. It does need to be kept
refrigerated to preserve the quality of the oil, but is more robust
and doesn't go off as quickly as flax oil.

Summary

Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids are important for our health and longevity,
and it is great to know that we aren't restricted to consuming fish
or fish oils to get our recommended dose. If you want to avoid fish
for ethical reasons, hemp is a fantastic alternative.

Reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid
http://heart-disease.emedtv.com/fish-oil/fish-oil.html
http://www.professional-counselling.com/omega-3-side-effects.html
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/mercury_in_fish?open
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/mercuryinfish.cfm
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953700,00.html
http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=723#
http://ontheshelf.com/attached-file/hempandflax.pdf
http://manitobaharvest.com/articles_studies/3810/Hemp-Seed-Oil---Your-source-for-essential-fat.html
http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/654/are-dietary-recommendations-for-fish-oils-sustainable
http://www.echiumoil.eu/health-benefits.php
http://goodwebsite.wordpress.com/2009/07/
Posted by

Friday, January 11, 2013

Canadian Hemp Industry Growing like a Weed

November 6th, 2012 – EDMONTON — Canada’s small hemp industry is growing like a weed, but still faces some hurdles because of its illegal and potent cousin, marijuana. This week, farmers, scientists, health food experts, retailers and fashion designers are meeting in Edmonton to celebrate hemp and discuss how to help products derived from the plant to blossom on world markets.
Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trading Alliance, says production in this country is forecast to almost double by 2015.
“That will translate to about $100 million to the Canadian economy,” she said from her farm near Steinbach, Man. “Saskatchewan is by far the leading province, followed by Manitoba and Alberta.” Both hemp and marijuana stem from the Cannabis sativa plant family, but hemp contains virtually none of the elements of the THC compound found in marijuana that makes people high.
The 200 or so growers across the country are all licensed by Health Canada and can only plant seeds that have been approved by the federal government. Canadian hemp growers are more interested in filling food bowls than bong bowls.Hemp is filled with nutritious Omega 3 and 6 and is used to make breakfast cereals, pretzels, protein powders, salad dressings and lactose-free milk. Fibre from the hardy plant is made into building products, paper and clothes. Hemp oil is used to make cosmetics.
Shukla said Canada’s main market for hemp products is the United States, where the federal government has been leery of approving cultivation of the plant because it looks similar to marijuana. But U.S. officials have no problem with Canadian-grown hemp products. Demand for health food and other products derived from the plant is high. “Everyone is much more conscious about their health,” she said. “That is a market that hasn’t even nearly reached what the potential is.”
The hemp business is downright respectable in Canada. Alberta’s agriculture minister is to open the convention and trade show today and the federal government plans to make a funding announcement in support of Canada’s growers. Source.
Thank you / HempNews

Colorado: First Farmer to grow Hemp legally

Hemp, not marijuana is the topic of a story on Colorado Public radio. Industrial hemp is a relative to the more often talked about marijuana but hemp has many more uses. It has been the believe of the owners of this site that hemp can change the planet in a multitude of ways but this story brought it back to the most simple of positive facts. Hemp can bring money to the farmers. When the farmers harvest that hemp the people of the United States can again see a whole industry come back to life. Growing hemp in Colorado would reinvigorate the term “Made in America”. CPR’s story below is short but shows that the history of hemp is still being written and we should all pay attention.
Colorado Public Radio – This week, the governor made owning small amounts of marijuana in Colorado legal when he signed Amendment 64 into the state Constitution. With the same stroke of his pen, he also opened the door to hemp. You see, the amendment directs state lawmakers to regulate industrial hemp. Right now, hemp products, from clothes to cereal, pull in hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the U.S., but farmers here aren’t getting any of that money. A federal ban on growing hemp means manufacturers must import the raw material. Well, now that Colorado’s thrown its support behind hemp, farmer Michael Bowman says he’s going to grow it. Bowman lives in the eastern plains town of Wray.
 
Article from Hemp.com/ Thank you Hemp.com

Monday, January 7, 2013

Hemp: Could the US Make It Legal Once Again?

by, Joe Martino January 6, 2013

You wouldn’t know it today but Hemp was once a major crop in the United States. The first US flag was made form it and it was used for the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was printed. This is just naming a few of course, as hemp was used for countless everyday items. The crop was banned because it was a sizable threat to many industries at the time and those who had voting power did not want to see their business get hurt. Tactics to make hemp out to be a very dangerous drug began in order to shape public opinion. What many did not know was that hemp and marijuana (containing much more THC) were two different plant strains and hemp could not get someone high. More on Hemp becoming illegal here.
Although hemp has been illegal for many years, is it possible that change is in the air? Will the US make it legal once again like many other countries?
Those who recognize the power of this plant are very large advocates of hemp becoming legal once again and it is also very popular amongst the public. A recent 2012 report by the Congressional Research Service estimated that the annual US retail hemp market could exceed $300m in value. While money is not what’s important here when it comes to using this plant, the stat demonstrates the versatility of it.
Before we get into it, I always like to remind everyone that the push to make this legal is not for psychoactive purposes. While anyone should be able to smoke what they choose, hemp does not boast enough THC to get someone high very easily. One would have to smoke incredibly large amounts in a short period of time to get high.
As of right now, states such as Oregon, North Dakota, Vermont, Montana and West Virginia have backed the idea of hemp becoming legal once again. In Congress, a coalition of lawmakers has formed containing right-wing Republicans and liberal Democrats who are all pushing for hemps legalization. It further goes to show the support behind hemp isn’t based on what political party you come from but instead realizing the importance this plant has for humanity. Could this be the start of the motion to legalize hemp?
Some notable mentions:
  • In August of 2012, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul co-sponsored a bill with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden which would exempt Hemp from the Controlled Substances Act.
  • Industrial hemp is grown in Europe, but China is the biggest producer
  • Some 17 states have passed hemp-related legislation and 10 (Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia) have approved bills to remove barriers to its production.
As you might imagine, the key obstacle remains the federal authorities. Hemp cannot be grown without a DEA permit. While awareness is growing at lower levels of government, it seems to be squashed the closer it gets to the top. It is also necessary to mention that before any government or state could make this legal once again, agreements would have to be made with the multinational corporations who own and run the united states beyond the government. This is where the challenge lies. There also lies a challenge in public opinion as well.
“‘Hemp’ is simply a term used by some to create the false impression that so-called ‘hemp’ is not the same as marijuana,” a DEA spokesman says. “In fact, under federal law, all cannabis plants (that is, all plants of the genus cannabis) are marijuana.”
This quote is a perfect example of how easy it is to reshape public opinion on the matter. While the DEA spokesperson is right in that it it still cannabis, hemp does NOT contain anywhere near enough THC to get someone high.
Many opponents of legalization of hemp say that it would be very difficult to differentiate between the strains of cannabis-sativa. meaning, it would be difficult to tell whether or not the plant was marijuana or hemp based on it’s appearance. Seems a weak argument considering the benefits of hemp which are widely discussed here and here.
While it is still difficult to say where things are headed, there is positive movement and awareness growing. It is really only a matter of time.
 
Thank you Joe for the Great News!

Hemp Seed Oil Pulling For Healing Originating From Ayurvedic Medicine…

Posted by hempoutgirl1 on 10/02/2012 ·        
oil-pulling
If you have bad breath, bleeding gums, cavities, or tooth pain–you need this book! If you suffer from asthma, diabetes, arthritis, migraine headaches, or any chronic illness, and have not found relief, this book could have the solution you need. All disease starts in the mouth! As incredible as it may seem, most of the chronic and infectious illnesses that trouble our society today are influenced by the health of our mouths. Our mouths are a reflection of the health inside our bodies. If you have poor dental health, you are bound to have other health problems. Despite regular brushing and flossing, 98 percent of the population has some degree of gum disease or tooth decay. Most people aren’t even aware they have existing dental problems. Recent research has demonstrated a direct link between oral health and chronic illness. Simply improving the health of your teeth and gums can cure many chronic problems. More brushing, flossing, and mouthwash won’t solve the problem. What will work is Oil Pulling Therapy. Oil pulling is an age-old method of oral cleansing originating from Ayurvedic medicine. It is one of the most powerful, most effective methods of detoxification and healing in natural medicine.
Great read we suggest by: Dr. Fife’s Oil Pulling Therapy is a revolutionary new treatment combining the wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine with modern science. The science behind oil pulling is fully documented with references to medical studies and case histories. Although incredibly powerful, Oil Pulling Therapy is completely safe and simple enough for even a child.
Interestingly, Ayurveda advises oil gargling “to purify the taste-buds and the entire system”, as explained by Dr Deepak Chopra in Perfect Health. According to this life science, the tongue is mapped by organ-locations — that is, each section of the tongue is connected to the kidneys, lungs, spleen, liver, heart, pancreas, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine.
Thus, an oil-mouth-massage soothes and stimulates the key meridians where taste meets the organ. Simultaneously, as in any skin-massage, the inner skin and lining of the mouth, palate and tongue become warm and supple and the lubrication prevents dryness (the vatic effect).
In modern dietetics too, dryness is discussed. For example, lack of Vitamin A (retinal) causes the outer lining of the eyeball to dry and wrinkle, and affects vision.
And as any dietician would tell you, all oils contain 960 micrograms of vitamin A per 10 gm (the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A per adult is 600 micrograms). So, it’s possible that oil gargling helps in reaching the required retinal to the eyeballs and keeps them elastic and smooth.
Likewise, the Ayurvedic `purification of taste-buds’ also has its equivalent in dietetics as `antioxidants’. Oxidation literally means `the putrefaction of body-tissues’.
How to do your home base oil pulling:
Organic Cold-Pressed Hemp Seed Oil In the morning before breakfast on an empty stomach you take one tablespoon in the mouth but do not swallow it.
The oil is slowly swished in the mouth and drawn through the teeth
for fifteen to twenty minutes.
It is thoroughly chewed and mixed with saliva as it is done in the Mayo cure. Chewing activates the enzymes and the enzymes draw toxins out of the blood. thus, the oil must not be swallowed, for it has become toxic. As the chewing process continues, the oil gets thinner and white.
It is then spit from the mouth into the toilet bowl. If the oil is still yellow, it has not been masticated thoroughly or long enough. After the oil has been removed from the mouth, the oral cavity must be thoroughly rinsed several times.
It is preferable to use a cup of pure warm water to which has been added one-half teaspoon of salt and on-half teaspoon of baking soda. The teeth, gums and tongue must be brushed carefully.
It is recommended that salt and soda be applied directly to the brush. After rinsing, gargle with the warm salt-soda water.
You can add cooler water to what remains in the cup, thereby diluting its strength.
Then tip the cup under the nose and gently sniff up the water to clean the nasal passages. Gently blow the nose.
The sink must be cleaned because the spittle contains harmful bacteria and toxic bodily waste.
FACT: If one were to see one drop of this liquid magnified 600 times under a microscope, one would see microbes in their first stage of development. It is important to understand that during the oil-swishing process one’s metabolism is intensified. This leads to improved health. One of the most striking results of this process is the fastening of loose teeth, the elimination of bleeding gums and the visible whitening of the teeth.
The oil swishing is done best before breakfast. To accelerate the healing process, it can be repeated three times a day, but always before meals on an empty stomach. The therapy is not harmful if it is repeated several times a day. Repetition hastens the healing process and renders it more effective.
How long? This therapy should be repeated until one has returned to his original vitality and his sleep has been returned to a peaceful state.
Partial referenced: http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/oil_pulling.html
Oil pulling originated as an ancient Indian remedy thousands of years ago. Dr. F. Karach M.D. popularized the concept in Russia in the 1990s and today, many health-conscience people regularly practice the procedure as part of an overall health program.
Read more: Oil Pulling With Essential Oils | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5977590_oil-pulling-essential-oils.html

Education Hemp! Protein Powder vs. Hemp Seeds 101:

Posted by hempoutgirl1 on 12/16/2012 ·        
HempOut
The main difference between hemp seeds, hemp flour and hemp protein powder is in the amount of protein and fibre. Here’s a quick snapshot of how these products are made…
  1. Starts form the seed. Hemp seeds can be ground up to change their consistency but are essentially the first stage of processing.
  2. Hemp seeds are squeezed to extract the oil.
  3. The remaining material is called hemp seed cake.
  4. This seed cake is milled and turned into powder.
  5. The powder is then sifted to produce hemp flour. The product of this initial sift is hemp flour, a high fibre but lower protein material. To make hemp protein, the powder is sifted to a finer degree. This removes more of the fibre leaving a higher concentrate of protein.
Fact: The Hemp protein powder has more protein and less fat equaling fewer calories when you compare it tablespoon to tablespoon with hemp seeds. Hemp’s nutritional advantage over other sources of fats and protein thus lies in its highly desirable balance of basic nutrients. Simply put, when eating hempseed, nut and/or oil, our body obtains much of what it needs without the caloric ballast of non-essential nutrients.
Yet, unlike fish and flax oil supplements and protein powders, properly processed hempseed offers these benefits “in taste”, i.e. with a nice flavor profile.
We hope that helps clarify hemp 101!

Thanks Hempout for the Great Info!!!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Hemp Seed: Nutritional Value and Thoughts

by KimiHarris on March 11, 2009
ng_hempseed
Yesterday, I briefly talked about flax. Today we will discuss hemp, and look for another post about chia seeds soon!
What do you think of when I say “hemp”? I think of marijuna and hippy homeless young women selling homemade hemp bracelets on the streets. However, hemp is appearing everywhere now in the form of hemp milk, hemp seed, hemp protein powder, etc. I decided it was time to look into the matter and see what all of the hype was about.
(I will do a food tasting review of hemp at the bottom of this page, but in case you can’t wait to find out, hemp seeds taste great-a little like pine nuts).

Benefits
Hemp is a high protein seed containing all nine of the essential amino acids (like flax). It also has high amounts of fatty acids and fiber as well as containing vitamin E and trace minerals. It has a balanced ratio of omega 3 to 6 fats at around a three to one ratio. This won’t help correct your omega balance if it’s off, but it gives you the right balance to start with.
Further the protein content of the hemp seed is supposed to be very digestible. Many people noted their personal experience of finding that hemp seed protein did not cause bloating or gas, like some of their whey, or other protein shakes did.
And, get this, unlike soy which has super high amounts of phytic acid (that anti-nutrient that prevents us from absorbing minerals), hemp seed doesn’t contain phytic acid. At the very least, this makes hemp seed a step up from soy.
The Body Ecology Diet site has an article discussing hemp here.
It contains a list of benefits including what I mentioned above plus including some others as well.
Hemp contains:
* All 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) our bodies cannot produce.
* A high protein percentage of the simple proteins that strengthen immunity and fend off toxins.
* Eating hemp seeds in any form could aid, if not heal, people suffering from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed has been used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away.3
* Nature’s highest botanical source of essential fatty acid, with more essential fatty acid than flax or any other nut or seed oil.
* A perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 Linoleic Acid and Omega-3 Linolenic Acid – for cardiovascular health and general strengthening of the immune system.
* A superior vegetarian source of protein considered easily digestible.
* A rich source of phytonutrients, the disease-protective element of plants with benefits protecting your immunity, bloodstream, tissues, cells, skin, organs and mitochondria.
* The richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids.
This article claims that because hemp’s protein is in the globulin edistin form it is a superior source of protein. It ends that thought with this paragraph.
“The best way to insure the body has enough amino acid material to make the globulins is to eat foods high in globulin proteins. Since hemp seed protein is 65% globulin edistin, and also includes quantities of albumin, its protein is readily available in a form quite similar to that found in blood plasma. Eating hemp seeds gives the body all the essential amino acids required to maintain health, and provides the necessary kinds and amounts of amino acids the body needs to make human serum albumin and serum globulins like the immune enhancing gamma globulins. Eating hemp seeds could aid, if not heal, people suffering from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away. [Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study, 1955] “
Can it make you high?
In short, no. To grow marijuna you have to have special seed that grows a plant high in THC, the property responsible for the drug response. Commercial hemp seed contains very low amounts, plus they contain a substance that counteracts THC. Dr. David West says:
“Reality: Hemp oil is an increasingly popular product, used for an expanding variety of purposes. The washed hemp seed contains no THC at all. The tiny amounts of THC contained in industrial hemp are in the glands of the plant itself. Sometimes, in the manufacturing process, some THC- and CBD-containing resin sticks to the seed, resulting in traces of THC in the oil that is produced. The concentration of these cannabinoids in the oil is infinitesimal. No one can get high from using hemp oil. ” Hemp and Marijuana:
Myths & Realities
Nutiva also answers that concern
“Q:What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
A. Marijuana and hemp both come from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa L., but from different varieties. There are different varieties of Cannabis, just as Chihuahuas and St. Bernards are different breeds of dogs, Canis familiari.
Marijuana is the flowering tops and leaves of psychoactive varieties of Cannabis that are grown for their high THC content.
Hemp, also referred to as industrial hemp, are low-THC varieties of Cannabis that are grown for their seeds and fiber. Hemp is grown legally in just about every industrialized country except the USA”
Nutiva, as well as other companies, are part of the “Test Pledge”. It’s a pledge that their products won’t have amounts of THC in them that would cause someone to fail a drug test.
Was it Historically used as a food?
One thing is clear. Hemp has been grown for a long time. It may even be one of the first crops. Hemp was used for making paper, clothes, and ropes and oil for lamps. But was it produced for food, or was it simply eaten in times of famine?
It looks like it was definitely used as a medicine for a variety of uses. The Chinese especially utilized hemp seed for medicine. Go here for some of the historical medicinal uses of hemp seed.
This quote gives a good overview of some of the information I found about the historical uses of hemp as food.
“The use of hemp for food and medicine may be as old as the human race itself. Recent interest in the seed arises from the awareness of the nutritional need for omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, as well as the need for cheap sources of protein to feed a burgeoning population in Asia and the developing world. In addition to its nutritional value, hemp seed has demonstrated positive health benefits, including the lowering of cholesterol and high blood pressure.
In the second century, Galen recorded that some people enjoyed eating fried hemp seeds with their desserts. As recently as the 1950′s in Southern Africa, mothers of the Sotho tribe served the ground seed “with bread or mealie-pap” to children during weaning. Human uses of hemp seed for food are naturally found in India where the oil is pressed to provide a table oil, and in Russia where the oil is made into a kind of hemp butter or margarine.
In Europe, it was once required of monks that three meals made of hemp seed were eaten daily, whether in soups, gruel, or porridges. In the belief that the spirits of dead relatives visit every Christmas Eve, the Polish and Lithuanian people prepared them a soup of hemp seed which was called “semieniatka”. The Ukrainian and Latvian people made a similar offering on the day of Three Kings. In China, hemp seed was consumed by farmers in the north and the seed were listed as a famine food for the starving multitudes of China near the end of World War II. Australians also used the seed during two famines in the nineteenth century.
Today’s hemp seed products are being developed on the working premise of that which can be done with flax seed and soy beans might also be applied to hemp seed. Very basic food preparation, and the processing techniques have been the start of such seemingly remarkable foods as a hemp seed tofu and a low fat cheese substitute that even melts and stretches like real cheese.”
Source
I felt like the historical use of hemp as a food seems about as high as the case for flax historically being used as a food (some people think that flax was just a “famine food” as well.)
Ending Thoughts
I would like to give hemp a chance, but would like to see more long term studies done on hemp before I add it into my daily diet. It does seem like the Chinese consumed it for a long period of time, and that reassures me. I would just like to read a little more about the long term effects of eating it often. Like flax, I wonder if hemp seed is really meant to be consumed on a constant basis in the form of hemp milk, hemp cheese and hemp protein shakes. That seems to be taking moderation out of the picture.
I don’t like overly processed foods, so if we were to start adding in hemp seed, it would be in the form of hemp seeds, pure and simple. I also don’t think that hemp should replace your animal protein sources-but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have a place in your diet. One last note, I mentioned yesterday that flax was high in phytoestrogens (in fact, even higher than soy), from what I can tell from my reading, hemp either doesn’t contain any phytoestrogens or very little. (One article said it has some and a bunch of others claimed it didn’t have any). I will try to keep my eye out for more information about hemp and flax.
Hemp Product Review
This post was really inspired by some samples of Nutiva’s hemp products. I had received some of their Organic Coconut Oil (which is great) and some of their different hemp products which they generously gave me. I have been impressed with the quality of products we received from them. Here are some of my thoughts on the samples I received.
Hemp Seeds
Their hemp seed taste great! A very nutty, almost sweet taste. I would have to say that it tastes almost like a pine nut, but a bit more mellow. I can imagine it would be great in a variety of dishes.
ng_hempoil
Hemp Oil
This has a slightly nutty flavor and lightly green color (similar to some olive oil in color). I could imagine adding it to a salad dressings, but not using just hemp oil for the oil part.
Organic Hemp and Flax Seed Bars
These were delicious. Sweetened only with honey, they were just perfect in their level of sweetness. Of course, none of the seeds in these bars are soaked and dehydrated, but they sure were good! All three of us liked them. If it wasn’t for the enzyme inhibitors in seeds, I would definitely like to have these bars around for a quick bite on the run.