Today marks the start of the 3rd Annual Hemp History Week (June 4-10)! How are you celebrating? The folks who put on Hemp History Week have joined with natural products pioneers, health and wellness advocates and interested citizens across the country to celebrate “Hemp for a Healthy Future.”
What does that mean exactly? It means that they’re on a mission — educating the public, debunking myths and changing public policy — to support US farmers who want to join the thriving industrial hemp market. Here are some interesting facts from the Hemp History Week website:
Since 1937 American farmers have basically been banned from growing hemp. Hemp used in products sold in the US is imported from other countries, such as Canada.
Hemp fiber is one of the strongest natural fibers, and hemp is often used to strengthen plastics, paper, textiles and even building materials.
Hemp can be grown without any pesticides or agricultural chemicals and, if so, is a non-toxic source of fiber for clothing.
As a food, hemp is loaded with digestible protein, omega essential fatty acids (EFAs) and naturally occurring minerals.
Hemp is not the same as marijuana. It has little to no measurable THC and has no drug value.
Visit the Hemp History Week website opens in a new tab to read more about the issues, find local events going on across the country and learn what you can do to take action to support hemp farming in the US. You can also celebrate this week by picking up some products that contain hemp. Here are some that you’ll find in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide:
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Made with a rich blend of organic extra-virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils for effective yet gentle cleansing, this classic soap produces a velvety lather that leaves skin silky smooth. Available in liquid or bar and scented only with real essential oils, choose from Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Baby/Mild, Tea Tree, Rose, Citrus or Almond.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
Sprinkle these raw, shelled hemp seeds on salads, cereal, yogurt or other foods to add a nutty flavor, omega-3 and -6 EFAs, 10g protein per serving and a satisfying crunch. The hemp seed’s hard outer shell has been removed to reveal the nutritious inner kernel, so you can enjoy them straight from the package.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 50 Protein Powder and Hemp Pro 70 Protein Powder
Add this easy-to-digest raw hemp powder to smoothies, oatmeal and homemade baked goods. It is virtually flavorless, has a creamy texture when blended and contains only one ingredient — hemp! The Pro 50 has 15g protein per serving and the Pro 70 has 21g protein per serving, plus both have fiber and omega-3 and -6 EFAs.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro Fiber
Boost daily fiber intake by adding this raw hemp powder to smoothies, oatmeal or homemade baked goods (substitute ¼ cup for 1 cup flour). It contains 14g of balanced soluble and insoluble dietary fiber per serving, plus 11g protein per serving.
Nature’s Path Organic Hemp Plus Granola
Start the day satisfied with crunchy granola clusters of organic whole-grain rolled oats, hemp seeds and flax seeds. Available in the EnviroBox, which is 10% less packaging than a standard cereal box, or the recyclable ECOPac value-size bag. Nature’s Path has been an independent, family-owned company since 1985.
Nature’s Path Organic Sunny Hemp Granola Bars
Packed with raisins, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds, these bars are an excellent source of omega-3s. They’re packaged in the EnviroBox, which is 36% smaller than a standard 6.2-ounce box to reduce waste. Nature’s Path has been an independent, family-owned company since 1985.
Nutiva Organic Hemp Oil
Canadian grown hemp seeds are cold pressed to yield this unrefined hemp oil, which provides the ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Add the light nutty flavor of hemp oil to smoothies, salad dressings, vegetable dishes, soups, pastas and whole-grain dishes. Nutiva donates 1% of sales to responsible agriculture groups.
Nutiva Organic Shelled Hemp Seed
Nutiva shelled organic hemp seeds are a purely delicious, simple, raw snack with a mild flavor similar to pine nuts. Enjoy them straight from the bag, or add them to smoothies, cereal, baked goods, yogurt, soups, salads and veggies.
Tempt Hempmilk
Rich, smooth and creamy this non-dairy alternative is made from hemp seeds and provides easily digestible, dairy-free, soy-free protein plus omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs. Sip a tall glass, pour it on cereal, add it to coffee or use it for baking.
You could also celebrate this week by cooking up some great-tasting recipes that highlight the light, nutty flavor of hemp:
These are just some of the great ways to incorporate hemp into your diet. Have you tried a hemp product or recipe recently? Tell us about it in the comments below.
