Answer 13 An Analysis of Hemp

13. An analysis of the Hemp plant: Fiber from the stalk and the seeds or technically the nuts!

Hemp-stalk is basically the whole plant without the leaves, seeds or roots. Stalk can be divided into bast on the outside and hurds on the inside:

Schematic Processing of Hemp Fiber

Hempseed is rich in proteins composed of all eight essential amino acids and contains an oil very high in poly-unsaturates. In fact, it has the highest percentage of protein (25%), by weight, of any plant-based source, except for soybeans. But unlike soy products, the majority of hempseed protein is readily digestible, being composed of two proteins (edestin and albumin) normally found in human blood plasma. Hempseed can be made into food products such as sprouts, porridge, milk, butter, yoghurt, icecream and cheese. Most of these Hemp-based food products are readily assimilated even for those with nutrition-blocking ailments, such as tuberculosis:

Hempseed is also the best source available for our essential fatty acids: the oil that can comprise 35% of the seedweight contains 19-25% linolenic acid and 43-62% linoleic acid, a ratio identical to human dietary requirements. Whole seeds and the seed meal cake left after separation of the oil are also superior animal feeds:

Hemp oil, light green in color, contains 55.4% Linoleic Acid (LA, Omega-6) and 17.9% Linolenic Acid (LNA, Omega-3) in the 3:1 ration that matches human nutritional requirements. (*) fatty acids that are essential to human health

"Linoleic acid (LA) and Linolenic acid (LNA) are involved in producing life energy from food and the movement of that energy throughout the body. Essential fatty acids govern growth, vitality and state of mind. LA and LNA are involved in transferring oxygen from the air in the lungs to every cell in the body. They play a part in holding oxygen in the cell membrane where it acts as a barrier to invading viruses and bacteria, neither of which thrive in the presence of oxygen.

The bent shape of the essential fatty acids keeps them from dissolving into each other. They are slippery and will not clog arteries like the sticky straight shaped saturated fats and the trans-fatty acids in cooking oils and shortenings that are made by subjecting polyunsaturated oils like LA and LNA to high temperatures during the refining process.

LA and LNA possess a slightly negative charge and have a tendency to form very thin surface layers. This property is called surface activity, and it provides the power to carry substances like toxins to the surface of the skin, intestinal tract, kidneys and lungs where they can be removed."

Dr. Jace Callaway on Hemp-oil:
This information was sent to HCF by Dr. Jace Callaway, please also see Finland.

HEMP SEED OIL
as you probably know, the seed of even drug varieties of cannabis do not contain THC, or even other cannabinoids. instead, cannabis seed contains food for the body, especially an edestin-type protein (similar to albumin in our blood) that contains all of the 8 essential amino acids, and both of the oils that are considered essential to human health; linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA). These oils are both essential fatty acids (EFAs) and 'omega' fatty acids. they are essential because they must be obtained from the diet. we can not make them ourselves, and most foods are lacking in sufficient amounts of these fragile oils. some well documented deficiencies are listed below.LA is an omega-6 fatty acid while LNA is and omega-3 fatty acid. the same enzyme in the body, delta-6-desaturase, is responsible for adding one more site of unsaturation to each of these EFAs, thus converting LA to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and LNA to stearidonic acid (SDA), in situ.

EFAs, PUFAs, UNSATURATION, CIS AND TRANS
hemp seed oil is an exceptionally rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are naturally balanced in the oil for optimal nutrition. no other oil compares in its nutritional potential for the human diet (see the brief reference list for more on this). because of its delicate nature, these oils should not be heated, as the natural 'cis' conformation of the molecule will change to 'trans' and this form will block the enzymatic activity of desaturase enzymes. if you must fry, use a saturated oil like clarified butter (gee), peanut oil or coconut oil. due to the nature of saturated oils, they do not possess the possibility to be either cis or trans configurations, since the have no double bonds, and thus no sites of unsaturation to orient the possibilities of such structural isomers.

PEROXIDES AND RANCIDITY
PUFAs are easily oxidized to toxic peroxides, so be sure the oil you use is fresh and has a nutty smell. if it smells slightly of fish or paint, then use it as an excellent wood varnish or other non-food use. most importantly, store these oils away from light, in the freezer is best, it will still pour easily at -20 °C. avoid seed oil pressed from steam-sterilized or heat treated seeds. also, seek out oil pressed from organically grown seeds, since cannabis can concentrate heavy metals from the soil. in general, avoid gel capsules that contain omega fatty acids, unless one can determine the freshness of such products by empirical or analytical testing. in my opinion, it would be healthier to be deficient in PUFAs then to deal with the toxicity of their rancid by-products. agua das from denver informs us that a peroxide value (PV) of fresh pressed oil is about 0.05, and the nutty taste still remains at a PV of 20. at PV 50 a fishy smell develops and the FDA informs that a PV over 100 is unacceptable for internal consumption. in my opinion, fine varnishes begin somewhere between 50 and 100. also, check the color of the oil (which is not readily apparent in opaque containers); the oil should have a green quality, indicating that chlorophyll and phytosterols have not been foolishly filtered away. the green will change to amber over time, again an indication of the inevitable.

EFAs, PUFAs AND HEALTH
lactating mothers, typically produce sufficient amounts of these PUFAs in breast milk. most infants have not developed delta-6-desaturase activity, and may be deficient in levels of GLA and SDA when fed artificial formulas. GLA and SDA are the only precursors for which the body produces prostaglandins. These are short-lived agents that allow cells to communicate with each other. deficiencies are also seen in the elderly and sick individuals with compromised immune systems, and the remedy in such cases is to acquire these vital PUFAs through dietary supplements.known deficiencies in

EFAs manifest as:poor growth and development in infantsimpaired energy utilization, as inhibited electron transport impaired function of cellular water barriers itching and scaly dermatitis electrophysiologic abnormalities in heart and retina impaired cell-mediated immunity leading to increased susceptibility to infection impaired platelet aggregation testicular degeneration pre- and post menstrual syndromes optimal EFAs in the diet are associated with:stimulated hair and nail growth stronger hair and nails improved skin health decreased plasma cholesterol (as LDL) reduced inflammation reduced blood pressure (hypertension)

For more detailed information on EFAs, PUFAs and hemp seed oil, please consult the following references:
Callaway JC, Tennila T and Pate DW (1997). Occurrence of "omega-3" stearidonic acid (CIS-6,9,12,15-octadecatetraenoic acid) in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed. Journal of the International Hemp Association, volume 3 number 2, pp. 61-63.
Callaway JC and Laakkonen TT (1996). Cultivation of Cannabis oil seed varieties in Finland. Journal of the International Hemp Association, volume 3 number 1, pp. 32-34.
Deferne J-L and Pate DW (1996). Hemp seed oil: A source of valuable essential fatty acids. Journal of the International Hemp Association, volume 3 number 1, pp. 4-7.
Udo Erasmus: Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill. Alive Press this is a well referenced text on the health of fats and oils, which
includes a chapter on hemp seed oil as nature's perfect oil. suggested reading for anyone who would like to know more about dietary fats and oils.

Do you know more about this? E-mail us at Matthew@HempWorld.com

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hempseed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.

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