Nutrition Information For Hemp Seed Protein

Hempseed, derived from the Cannabis sativa L. marijuana plant, is an ancient food and oil source from Asia and Africa. Removing the hard, outer shell makes the hempseeds edible. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 20 percent of hempseed is a digestible, high-quality protein suitable for human consumption. Hempseeds contain large amounts of nutritional fatty acids, antioxidants and the two globular proteins, albumin and edestin.

Globular Proteins

Globular protein is the most common off the three types of proteins your body needs for sustaining life. These proteins are soluble, making them easy to digest. Globular proteins are structural proteins essential for cell functioning, membrane transport, converting and storing energy, and producing hormones and amino acids. The globular proteins in hemp produce all the amino acids your body needs for a healthy metabolism. Hemp seed contains 65 percent edestin and 33 percent albumin, the highest amount of globulin protein content than any other plant seed.

Food Sources

The nutritional benefits of hemp seed nutrition are available in pure, hulled hemp seeds or in food products manufactured with hemp seed ingredients. Hemp food companies add ground hemp seeds to flour, cakes, cookies, breads, waffles, frozen desserts and pasta. Substituting hemp seed oil made from hulled seeds for other vegetable oils in baking or in salad dressings adds both edestin and albumin proteins to your diet. Hemp protein powder is another supplemental source of hemp seed.

Benefits

Hemp seed protein is highly digestible and contains plant protein that is similar to the complete protein source found in meat and eggs. Unlike soy, hemp seed protein does not hinder protein synthesis so your body can metabolize all the amino acids for optimum benefits. Albumin and edestin proteins provide you with a source of readily available amino acids transported through blood plasma.

Daily Amounts

Two tablespoons of hemp protein powder gives you 10 percent of your daily value of protein. If you are using whole hemp seeds, the typical daily serving is 1 tablespoon, twice per day. Taking the recommended amounts will give you all the benefits of the essential amino acids.