Hemp oil composition
Your shopping cart is currently empty. If you would like to make a purchase today, add items to your shopping cart. Search Term. Advanced Search. Hemp seeds are second only to soybean in protein content. Proteins serve a variety of functions in the human body such as acting as enzymes, antibodies, and the structural components of tissues, hormones and blood protein.
INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT: HEMP OIL IN THE PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY
Traditionally used for food and body care, but almost forgotten, it is now making a strong comeback. If used for cooking, cold pressed unrefined hemp oil lends its nutty flavour and healthy composition to a variety of foods. It is a delicious alternative wherever olive oil, walnut oil, or butter are used. Or just try dipping bread into it. Hemp oil has its limitations in cooking applications.
Like other unrefined oils, hemp oil tends to smoke at relatively low temperatures. This indicates the formation of unhealthy oxidation and polymerization products and suggests that unrefined hemp oil should not be used for frying or deep-frying. This brochure takes a closer look at the nature, health benefits and various uses of hemp oil.
As with other vegetable oils, its main constituents are the so called fatty acids. The following sheds some, hopefully not too technical, light on the connection between fat composition and health. Fatty AcidsFats and oils have the same chemical structure but a different melting point: fats are solid at room temperature, oils are liquid.
Chemically they are composed of a glycerol backbone with three fatty acids FAs attached. Each type of oil has a characteristic fatty acid composition see Table below. Fatty acids are distinguished by their chain length, i. Saturated fatty acids SaFAs are straight molecules. All carbon atoms are bonded the same way and with maximum strength.
The parallel molecules stick easily to one another and fats high in SaFAs e. The human body uses SaFAs primarily for energy storage.
Until a few years ago, fats and oils with a high SaFA content had been preferred for foods because their saturated bonds are stable, resist oxidation and thus rancidity. They can be used for frying, and are inexpensive.
They contain one monounsaturated or several polyunsaturated double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms. UFAs are the raw material for the construction of cell membranes and contribute to cell membrane fluidity.
A diet low in UFAs forces the body to use SaFAs for the construction of cell membranes, resulting in cells with stiff, rigid membranes. UFAs also are needed as raw materials for many important messenger and regulator substances in our body prostaglandins, hormones, neurotransmitters.
There are many different UFAs produced in nature, primarily found in plant seeds but also in fish oil. They are necessary for cell and body growth, maintenance of cell membranes, and as precursors to a variety of physiologically active regulators. Instead, they must be present in our diet. The human body synthesizes another important fatty acid from linoleic acid: gamma-linolenic acid see below. Alpha-linolenic acid, a triple unsaturated fatty acid, is found in algae, crustaceans, and in fish oil.
In order to provide our body with sufficient, yet not too much EFAs, a nutritionally balanced diet should contain EFAs in a ratio of roughly linoleic acid: alpha-linolenic acid. The distribution of essential fatty acids in hemp oil is close to this favourable ratio to Thus, if hemp oil is our only source of fatty acids, roughly two to four teaspoons per day suffice to meet our EFA needs.
Flax oil, with its higher total EFA content has a much less favourable ratio of below Thus, it is suitable as a supplement in case of ALA deficiency, but not as everyday food oil. Typical fatty acid composition of unrefined edible oils. In addition to the two EFAs, hemp oil is a source of yet another important polyunsaturated fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid GLA. Because of their unattractive taste these oils are offered as dietary supplements, not as cooking oils. As already mentioned, our diet usually contains sufficient linoleic acid, which our bodies convert enzymatically into GLA.
Yet, in many people this conversion process is too slow for several reasons high meat and fat diets, alcohol, genetic causes. This can result in decreased GLA levels and contribute to a number of common illnesses see below. Supplementation of GLA with the diet can alleviate the resulting health problems. In addition to fatty acids, cold pressed hemp oil provides low to moderate quantities of other beneficial nutrients, for example: other rarely occurring polyunsaturated fatty acids, Tocopherols Vitamin E , phytosterols and flavour compounds.
Their amounts vary strongly with the hemp variety and the type of processing of the oil. The following lists a few of the successes. Health specialists now recommend that fat consumption be limited to no more than 30 percent of our total calorie intake. However, fats and oil are not only a source of energy, they also provide the necessary EFAs. Thus, if we eat fats, they should contain as much EFAs and other unsaturated fatty acids as possible…in the proper ratio.
Their benefits have been proven in numerous clinical studies. A variety of diseases can be successfully treated with GLA and linoleic acid, both well represented in hemp oil. Patients with neurodermitis suffer from agonizing itching, especially at night.
The skin feels very dry and the activity of perspiratory and sebaceous glands is low. Neurodermitis — as is psoriasis — is characterized by a high water loss through the skin. Deficiency in EFAs can be one of the main causes. Essential fatty acids have a strong influence on the barrier function of the skin, because they regulate water loss through the epidermis outer layer of the skin.
Patients with neurodermitis show a deficiency of essential fatty acids which affects the whole body. It is assumed that low enzymatic activity leads to reduced transformation of linoleic acid to GLA and subsequently to prostaglandin deficiency. Hemp oil, due to its high content in both, linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid, thus can assist in the treatment of this disease. The daily oral dose found to improve skin condition over a twelve week period corresponds to 18 grams or about four teaspoons of hemp oil.
Another study showed improved skin conditions through external application of an ointment containing gamma-linolenic acid. Most of the cardiovascular diseases threatening the health of people around the world are caused by the formation of arterial plaque, i. This process may eventually block blood flow and cause arteriosclerosis and strokes. LDL cholesterol, a sticky substance present in the blood, has been identified as one of the main contributors to arterial plaque formation. Among other factors, such as smoking and stress, the intake of the saturated fatty acids present in animal fat is known to contribute to a high LDL level in the blood.
Reversely, dietary treatment of patients with daily doses of linoleic acid and GLA which correspond roughly to four teaspoons of hemp oil, has shown to rapidly decrease elevated blood levels of both, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. Thus, the replacement of oils and fats high in SaFA with hemp oil will help reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, can include varying intensities of painful muscular tension, swelling of the breast, tension and irritability as well as aggressiveness and depression. Investigations indicate that women with PMS suffer from a fatty acid metabolism disorder, where the ability to convert linoleic acid into gamma-linolenic acid and subsequently into prostaglandins is impaired.
A daily dose of 1. This dose corresponds to one teaspoon of hemp oil a day. Some fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid, are indicated as effective anti-inflammatory and immune system stimulating factors. Daily oral administration of 1.
Other studies suggest administration of EFAs and GLA as preventive measure and a treatment for multiple sclerosis, schizophrenic psychosis, and cancer. Multiple sclerosis occurs more frequently in geographical regions where the diet includes high amounts of saturated fats. Dietary supplementation of unsaturated fatty acids may have a positive effect on the course of the disease.
In patients with schizophrenic psychosis disturbances are found in the fatty acid metabolism which might be treated through administration of essential fatty acids. Cancer treatment may be assisted by administration of linoleic acid and GLA. Cancer tissue and cells have lower contents of GLA and other related metabolites compared to healthy tissue. Linoleic acid enhances die-off of cancer cells. Administration of this essential fatty acid might therefore prove to have positive effects. Hemp oil used in the kitchen provides as much of the EFAs as necessary — in the right composition.
The following table shows the GLA and linoleic acid content in hemp oil in grams and teaspoons and allows you to determine desired dosages. As the GLA content in hemp oil may vary refer to product label , so may the amount of oil required to achieve a certain dose.
The increasing popularity of hemp oil in cosmetics is also largely due to its high EFA content. Facial creams, body lotions, soaps, lip balm, shampoo and conditioner, massage oil with hemp oil are just some of the available products. As a natural ingredient in the formulation of cosmetics, hemp oil provides the following benefits: The emollient, lubricant, and moisturizing properties of EFAs are well established.
Although true EFA deficiency in humans is a rare condition, cosmetic skin problems such as scaling or dry, cracking skin also respond cosmetics containing EFAs. The slow-down with age in the metabolism of cells in the basal layer of the epidermis also reduces the amount of EFAs released into the epidermis. This age related decline in activity is a major contributor to the above mentioned detrimental effects to the skin, thus contributing to the formation of wrinkles and overall skin aging.
Topical application of EFAs partially compensates for their decline in the skin and the obvious effects of aging. Even when grown conventionally, hemp farming does usually not involve the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Rather, it provides additional agricultural benefits, such as suppression of weeds and pests. This compares favorably to evening primrose and borage, specialty cultures which are sensitive to pests and weeds and require, unless grown organically, the use of synthetic chemicals. Many plant oils naturally contain unsaturated fatty acids. Unfortunately, a high content in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as in hemp and flax oil, increases the tendency of an oil to become rancid, especially when exposed to oxygen, light, and elevated temperatures.
Rancidity results from the breakdown of fatty acids causing formation of rancid tasting and unhealthy compounds, such as aldehydes. Most edible oils on supermarket shelves have been treated by mechanical and chemical refining processes to increase their shelf-life, enhance clarity and remove other undesirable compounds. The latter may result from poor seed quality or from the extraction process.
Commercial oil making may include any or all of the following steps: solvent extraction of oil from the ground seeds, de-gumming, alkali refining, bleaching deodorizing, hydrogenation, and others. Margarines, shortenings, and shortening oils for example are hydrogenated — or hardened — which removes unsaturated fatty acids, including the essential fatty acids.
Hemp seed oil contains linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid. (LNA) as its major omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. (PUFA), respectively. These. However, it is of utmost importance to consider that its healthy properties are strictly related to its chemical composition, which varies depending.
Industrial hemp is as a class of non-drug Cannabis sativa varieties, and hempseed is technically an achene, or nut. Both the seed and hemp's tall stalk provide significant carbohydrate feedstocks for a wide variety of industrial purposes in several countries. The oil pressed from hempseed, in particular, is a rich source of polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for human health. These same fatty acids in hempseed oil make it a fine drying oil that is used in the production of paints, varnishes, and other coating materials.
Beauty and Personal Care products using hemp oil and cannabidiol CBD oils are hitting the shelves due to their many skin benefits. Apart from suitability for natural, vegan and halal formulations, CBD and Hemp oils present many benefits that appeal to the growing natural beauty market.
With the CBD craze in full swing, there is still a lot of confusion going around. No, they are actually completely different things—one of them is used primarily in cooking and the manufacturing of beauty products, whereas the other is an oral tincture that is said to provide its own range of benefits. Both are made from hemp, so it is sometimes hard to figure out which one is which.
Hempseed oil in a nutshell
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Hemp Seed Nutrition
Hemp seed oil is well known for its nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical properties due to a perfectly balanced content of omega 3 and omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its importance for human health is reflected by the success on the market of organic goods in recent years. However, it is of utmost importance to consider that its healthy properties are strictly related to its chemical composition, which varies depending not only on the manufacturing method, but also on the hemp variety employed. In the present work, we analyzed the chemical profile of ten commercially available organic hemp seed oils. Their cannabinoid profile was evaluated by a liquid chromatography method coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Besides tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, other 30 cannabinoids were identified for the first time in hemp seed oil. The results obtained were processed according to an untargeted metabolomics approach. The multivariate statistical analysis showed highly significant differences in the chemical composition and, in particular, in the cannabinoid content of the hemp oils under investigation. Cannabis sativa L. Actually, the fresh plant produces the acidic form of phytocannabinoids, thus it is now accepted that the neutral forms derive from the non-enzymatic decarboxylation of their acidic counterpart.
Hemp oil hemp seed oil is oil obtained by pressing hemp seeds. Cold pressed, unrefined hemp oil is dark to clear light green in color, with a nutty flavor.
Traditionally used for food and body care, but almost forgotten, it is now making a strong comeback. If used for cooking, cold pressed unrefined hemp oil lends its nutty flavour and healthy composition to a variety of foods. It is a delicious alternative wherever olive oil, walnut oil, or butter are used.
Hemp Seed Oil
Metrics details. The oil from industrial hemp seeds Cannabis sativa is an ideal source of stearidonic acid, which is a precursor fatty acid for the long-chained n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids are important for neonatal development, health and immunity. Hemp seed oil has been investigated for the influence on human health, but research on the impact in pig nutrition is scarce. The fatty acid composition of the hemp seed and the soybean oil influenced the fatty acid composition of sow plasma, colostrum and mature milk. The effect of dietary oil supplementation to sows was reflected in the plasma fatty acids profile of piglets. Dietary fat source also influenced number of born piglets, their weight gain during first week, plasma concentration of glucose and IgG, and haematological profile. The sow milk is the main source of nutrients for the piglets during the first weeks of life [ 1 ] and plays an essential role in the rate of survival and growth of the piglets. Pigs are born energy deficient and with very low fat deposits [ 2 ], but the absorption of lipids and fatty acids from the colostrum and mature milk of the sows is very efficient [ 3 ]. Furthermore, maternal antibodies play a crucial role in the protection of neonatal piglets from infectious agents during the first weeks post birth before they develop their own active immunity [ 4 ]. It is well recognised that immune components of colostrum and mature milk such as immunoglobulins can be affected by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFA composition [ 5 ]. Moreover, it is well established that the fatty acids profile of newborn piglets is affected by the maternal fatty acids intake during pregnancy and lactation [ 6 ]. However, when provided the sow during gestation and lactation, more fatty acids reach the piglet through colostrum and mature milk than via the placenta [ 7 ]. The dietary essential fatty acids and their long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives are crucial for foetal and postnatal development [ 8 ], the function and development of the brain and retina [ 9 ], and maintenance of optimal pre- and postnatal growth and development of immunity of newborns [ 5 , 10 ]. Manipulation of the content and composition of dietary fat in sow diets during late gestation and lactation seems one of the promising methods to influence fat content and composition of colostrum and mature milk, thereby improving the development of the immune system in early life and robustness of their progeny [ 2 , 11 ].