Getting High on Hemp Milk

When HealthyDaddy determined that dairy was a huge contributing factor to his seasonal allergies (a major issue for most Austinites), he began seeking alternatives.  There are many options to dairy and each has their own pros and cons.  Unfortunately, soy milk, which is probably the most popular option for most, caused it’s own share of problems.  Rice milk and almond milk are good choices too, but hemp milk has a whole world of benefits not shared by the others.   Despite it’s name, Hemp milk is a perfectly legal (and healthy) beverage.  I will admit, it is a bit of an acquired taste, but it really is good.  And from a health perspective, it’s hard to beat.  Compared to normal animal milk, hemp milk contains more nutrients and vitamins .  Hemp seeds and nuts do not pose the threat that tree nuts do and as a result anyone allergic to soy or dairy should be able to consume hemp milk without any fear of allergic reaction.

I think Hemp Milk gets overlooked because many people have visions of  Cheech and Chong and School Daze when they hear the word hemp.   While Hemp milk, or more specifically, hemp seeds, do come from the same hemp plant that keeps the worlds’ drug dealers in business, it contains little to no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive substance found in marijuana.  In addition, it contains a wealth of health benefits, many of which cannot be found in any other natural source.

Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds and contains a three-to-one ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3  fatty acids.  This has the benefit of preventing heart disease and certain cancers .  It also contains many other nutrients not found in regular milk like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, magnesium, calcium, fiber, iron, potassium, ascorbic acid, and  beta-carotene.  There are also a few less well known nutrients such as phytosterols, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin.

Hemp milk also contains 10 essential amino acids, which not only makes  it a good vegetarian source of protein, it also boosts the immune system.  Hemp protein does not contain enzyme inhibitors found in some soy proteins that can interfere with the body’s ability to assimilate essential minerals. Hemp protein may also be more digestible than soy protein because unlike soy, it doesn’t contain oligosaccharides, complex sugars that can cause flatulence if not properly broken down during digestion.  Without going into gory detail, I can tell you that I know several people who have experienced this phenomenon.  :)

Hemp milk contains no sugar, no cholesterol, and is gluten free.  Some claim that drinking hemp milk increases their mental capacity, and a healthy heart.  It is said to reduce the risk of heart-related illnesses like heart attacks, hypertension, stroke, and many other ailments.  Hemp milk balances the keratin in the body, which helps encourage healthy skin/complexion, nails, and hair.  Another important benefit of hemp milk, unlike dairy milk, is the fact that it has absolutely no cholesterol, which means you don’t have to worry about gaining weight from drinking it!

Some words of wisdom – all hemp milk is not created equal!  I prefer the Pacific Natural Foods brand, as it tastes much better than most of the others I’ve tried.  It comes in original and vanilla, sweetened and unsweetened varieties.  For adding to Matcha Tea, I prefer Vanilla but for most purposes Original is best.  Another option is to make your own.  I’ve experimented with this, and find that the flavor isn’t quite as appealing as the Pacific Natural, but definitely worth a try.  Organic shelled hemp seeds can be purchased online or at most local health stores such as Whole Foods.

How To Make Your Own Organic Hemp Milk!

Happy Hemp Days, Everyone!!