Hemp Protein Information

Hemp seed, the edible part of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, is an excellent source of protein. Hemp seed and foods made from hemp seed also provide fiber, essential fatty acids and other essential nutrients including calcium, iron, phosphorus, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin. As it is both nutritious and has a delicious, nutty flavor, hemp seed is used as an ingredient in various foods and nutritional supplements. Hemp seed is also pressed for oil, which can be used in cooking.

Hemp's Unique Protein Profile

Hemp seed provides all the essential amino acids your body needs to make proteins in a tasty, easy-to-digest package. Hemp protein can be obtained from whole hemp seeds, hulled hemp seeds or hemp seed meal. Whole hemp seed, which can be eaten raw, toasted, or ground into flour, contains about 22 percent protein. Hulled hemp seeds, which don't have their fibrous outer shells, can contain up to 31 percent protein and are used to make various hemp-protein foods. Even hemp seed meal -- hemp seeds that have been pressed for oil -- contains about 25 percent protein, and is a suitable ingredient for both nutritional supplements and animal feed, according to the North American Industrial Hemp Council.

Hemp Protein Food Products

Hemp seed provides protein and nutrition as an ingredient in hemp food products and protein supplements. Hulled hemp seed can be used to make protein bars and can also be processed into other high-protein food products like hemp milk, hemp "nut" butter, hemp cheese, hemp ice cream and even hemp burgers. Ground and hulled hemp seeds or hemp meal can also be used as an ingredient in baked goods, salads or other foods, and to fortify foods, such as smoothies, with extra protein. Hemp meal is also used to make hemp protein powder, which is sold as a nutritional supplement. Hulled hemp seeds sold commercially for cooking purposes contain about 5 g protein per 2 tbsp serving, or about 10 percent of daily protein needs.

Hemp Protein Advantages

Hemp protein offers certain nutritional advantages over other types of seeds and vegetarian protein sources such as flaxseed and soy. While flaxseed and soy also provide all the essential amino acids, hemp seed has the unique advantage of being very high in the amino acid globulin edistin, which serves several important roles in the body including helping your immune system resist infection. Hulled hemp seeds are also easier to digest than flaxseeds. Unlike soy, hemp protein does not contain known allergens or enzyme inhibitors and phytates that prevent your body from absorbing all of its nutrients. Besides protein, hemp is also a rich and complete source of essential fatty acids, including stearidonic acid and gamma linolenic acid, nutrients not found in flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, soybeans or pumpkin seeds.

Legal Status

Although hemp seeds come from the same species of plant as its illegal cousin, marijuana, eating hemp protein will not give you a "buzz" or cause you to fail a drug test. Unlike the leaves and flowers of cannabis strains grown for marijuana, the protein-rich seeds of industrial hemp plants contain only minuscule amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Nevertheless, it is illegal to grow industrial hemp plants in the United States. US hemp-food retailers may import seeds and other hemp products from Canada and other countries where it is legal to grow industrial hemp, however. As a consumer, hemp foods and other hemp products such as textiles made from hemp fibers are perfectly legal to purchase and enjoy in the US.