I’m happy to report (in a healthy way) that in the past two months, my experience with hemp protein has been a good one. I first learned about the nutritional benefits of hemp in an article I read from Runners World. Up until a few months ago, I’d always associated hemp with the eclectic people I would encounter when I walked through parks in Moscow, ID while attending school down there. I still think about those guys, and the word “hippie” comes to mind.
Yet when I read about the nutritional benefits of hemp, I
thought it would be kind of fun to try. After all, I’d already embarked on a
new diet emphasis that aligns with the Paleo diet (minus the pieces of dark
chocolate I regularly enjoy, which I’m sure no caveman would EVER have been so
lucky to come upon while ambling through the woods). Speaking of Paleo, in
addition to adding hemp protein to my diet, I’ve developed a huge appreciation
for the oh-so-versatile sweet potato. I used to have oatmeal
every morning, but because Paleo’s stomach doesn’t agree with grains, I’ve
substituted sweet potato, nuts, and dried fruit for it. Apparently, my
dermatologist noticed. He took one look at my hands and thought I had an orange
hue. (Maybe a new tanning technique?)
Back to hemp: I did some research online about the
nutritional benefits compared to other protein and healthy fat sources.
Interestingly enough, the hemp nut contains mainly oil (44%), carbohydrates
(12%), and vitamins, specifically those of the Vitamin E complex.1
What makes hemp so nutritionally beneficial is the composition of its oil (or
its fatty acid profile) and its protein, which contains all the essential amino
acids in nutritionally significant amounts.
The bottom line is that, hemp contains all of the essential
amino acids in a more nutritionally significant amount and at a ratio closer to
“complete” sources of protein, like meat, milk, and eggs. This comes as good
news to me, as I have had trouble tolerating other supplemental sources of
protein in the past. (I must add, however, that my re-introduction of meat into
my diet—thanks to Paleo—has been a HUGE deal. Steak and pork chops have never
tasted so good after a long bike ride!)
Finally, the next thought on your minds (I’m sure) is that
I’m essentially consuming cannabis. I had to do some research on this because, quite frankly, my entire professional and racing career depends on a
clean background check. Here’s what I found:
The two cannabinoids most preponderant in cannabis are THC
(the psychoactive ingredient) and CBD (an antipsychoactive ingredient).2
Marijuana is high in THC and low in CBD, yet industrial hemp is low in THC and high in CBD
(the opposite of marijuana). Marijuana has a potency of 3-20% by dry weight of
THC (psychoactive ingredient), yet hemp has a potency of less than 1%, and the
normal range is under 0.5%.2 Therefore, don’t get any ideas that I’m
over here at home sniffing my protein powder. I couldn’t possibly get high off
it, and believe me, it tastes so good I wouldn’t think of ingesting it in any
other way.
Like I noted before, hemp is low in THC (the psychoactive
ingredient), but relatively high in CBD (the antipsychoactive ingredient).
As I approach my first race of the season, St. George 70.3,
I continue to eat my sweet potatoes, snack on carrots and broccoli embellished
with almonds and raisins, and recover from hard workouts with meals that most
closely resemble that of a caveman: meat, vegetables, tubers. I’m not sure
Paleo would be impressed by my addition of hemp protein smoothies to his menu,
but they sure do make for a delicious, healthy “dessert.”
References
1. Leson,
Gero. Nutritional Profile and Benefits of
Hemp Seed, Nut and Oil. Article accessed April 16, 2013. Original article taken from The Vote
Hemp Report. 2002/2003. < http://www.votehemp.com>
2. Hemp vs. Marijuana. Arizona Industrial Hemp Council. 2001. Article accessed April 20, 2013. <http://www.azhemp.org/Archive/Package/Legal/legal.html>
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