origin

Hemp belongs to the hemp family (Cannabaceae) and is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It originated in Central Asia and has been spread globally by humans over the years. A distinction is made between common hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and Indian hemp (Cannabis indica Lam.). Hemp is a highly versatile renewable resource. Almost all parts of the plant are used for a wide variety of purposes: seeds, leaves, flowers, and fibers.

The fibers are used in paper, cosmetics, and clothing production. Hemp is also used as a lightweight and durable material: for example, as a component of bandages, and for the production of ropes and sails.

While leaves and flowers are used as culinary delights, hemp seeds have been a popular food source for centuries due to their high content of high-quality protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The seeds contain approximately 22-25% protein, 35-37% carbohydrates, and 30-35% fat; they also have a high proportion of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Hemp seed oil is produced by cold-pressing the seeds contained in the hulled hemp nuts at around 40-60°C. Higher temperatures (hot pressing) would destroy some of the valuable nutrients.

Since misunderstandings often arise regarding hemp products, it is important to clarify that a fundamental distinction must be made between so-called "industrial hemp" varieties and hemp used as a medicinal or recreational drug. Whether a hemp plant falls under the Narcotics Act depends primarily on its THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) content, which is the psychoactive substance in hemp and must not exceed 0.2% for a plant to be classified as industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is... v.a. about the variety “Cannabis sativa”.

Benefits and mode of action

What makes hemp oil special is its high content of healthy, unsaturated fatty acids, which makes up approximately 70%. This includes nutritionally valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids such as: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid), palmitic and stearic acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids, the so-called "essential fats," cannot be produced by the body itself and must therefore be obtained through food. They are particularly important for a normal heart and brain function, as well as energy and oxygen balanceWhile omega-6 fatty acids are also found in numerous vegetable oils, omega-3 is a so-called "marine fatty acid". v.aIt is found in fatty cold-water fish such as salmon. Hemp seed oil is therefore a good alternative for vegans and vegetarians to still obtain valuable omega-3 fatty acids.

Also important vitamins, minerals and trace elements Other components of hemp seed oil include vitamins E, B1, and B2; the minerals phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium; and the trace elements iron, manganese, zinc, and small amounts of copper. The ingredients of hemp seed oil have... anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are attributed in particular to alpha-linolenic acid.

An in vitro study published in 2016 on antioxidant effect of hemp seed oil postulates that v.aThe polyphenols it contains could be responsible for its strong antioxidant properties.The abstract of the study states:

“The aim of this study was to characterize the polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of cold-pressed seed oil from the industrial hemp variety Finola (Cannabis sativa L.). Various methods were employed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of Finola hemp seed oil (FHSO). The results show that FHSO exhibits high antioxidant activity, as measured by the DPPH radical (146.76 mmol TE/100 g oil), which inhibited β-carotene bleaching, quenched a chemically generated peroxyl radical in vitro, and demonstrated high iron ion chelation activity. FHSO contains a significant amount of phenolic compounds, including 2780.4 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g total flavonoids. Our results suggest that the significant antioxidant properties of Finola seed oil may generally depend on the phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids such as flavanones, flavonols, flavanols and isoflavones.Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.5623

Legal consumer information

German and European law aims to protect consumers from potentially misleading claims about product effects. The statements made here refer to original Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts. This millennia-old, traditional knowledge is based on experiences passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended that the products described here have any effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medications and have no medicinal effect. If you are ill and require medical attention, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.