Hemp Seed Oil & Essential Fatty Acids

Hemp seed oil comes from the same seeds that produce marijuana, but don't let that scare you. Hemp oil is rich in essential fatty acids and is sold in the United States and other countries. Though it's not ideal for high-heat cooking, you can use hemp oil for stir-frying and dressings and as a dietary supplement. You can also apply hemp oil to your skin and hair.

Origin

When planted, hemp seeds produce the cannabis sativa plant. While some people harvest cannabis leaves for marijuana -- usually illegally -- consuming hemp seeds is perfectly legal. Hemp seeds have a nutty flavor, and they are also rich in unsaturated fat and protein. Hemp oil is extracted from these seeds.

Composition

While hemp seed is protein-rich, hemp seed oil is entirely composed of fat. One tablespoon contains 14 g fat, just 1 g of which is saturated. Hemp oil contains a high concentration of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, in about a 3-to-1 ratio. Nearly all the omega-6 essential fatty acid is linoleic acid, but some is gamma-linolenic acid. Most of the omega-3 fatty acid is alpha-linolenic acid, though some is stearidonic acid. Hemp oil also provides nearly a third of your daily value of vitamin E, hence its popularity as a skin and hair treatment.

Benefits

Some medical experts believe Western diets contain too high a ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s, which may lead to heart disease and other disorders. Hemp oil might then be considered a well-balanced oil, and incorporating it into your diet could increase your omega-3 consumption. As the University of Maryland Medical Center notes, alpha-linolenic acid turns into eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Studies show that EPA and DHA -- commonly found in fish oil -- can reduce heart disease and inflammation, along with blood pressure and cholesterol.

Consumption

Unlike some traditional cooking oils, hemp oil has a low smoke point, which means it should be used for lower-temperature cooking, such as stir-frying. You can also add hemp oil to salad dressings and other dishes that require cooking oil. As a nutritional supplement, you could swallow a spoonful of hemp oil.

Considerations

Hemp oil contains fat, so if you're concerned about your fat intake, you may want to use it sparingly. According to the PeaceHealth website, hemp seeds may contain low levels of THC, the psychotropic compound in marijuana. Study volunteers who ate hemp seeds or oil did not experience a psycho-physiological response or test positive for marijuana. Like other compounds rich in omega-3s, hemp oil may thin your blood, so if you're taking blood thinners, you should discuss using hemp oil with your health care provider.