Hemp Protein Powder

Hemp protein powder

Hemp Protein Powder: How Is It Made?

Not heard of hemp protein powder? We have seen an explosion in hemp-based products in recent years, from textiles to industrial components and even hemp milk. Hemp is extremely popular because it can be grown with much less water and nutrients compared to other crops. This means it is cheaper to grow while being better for the environment.

It is hardly surprising, therefore, that hemp has also emerged as a source of protein. Hemp protein powder is becoming increasingly popular with athletes and bodybuilders as a safe and effective source of protein. In fact, hemp protein powder is useful for anyone who wants to increase their protein intake.

Hemp has become increasingly popular in recent years, with all sorts of products on the market claiming to promote health while offering an all-natural format.

To find out whether hemp protein is just a gimmick or the real deal, let’s take it back to basics.

What Is Hemp Protein Powder?

When we think of protein sources, we typically think of animal-based foods like dairy and eggs. However, some plants are also an excellent source of protein, including hemp. A 30-gram serving of hemp protein powder contains around 12 to 15 grams of protein, making it one of the best vegan protein sources.

Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that is related to, but not the same as, the marijuana plant. Unlike its more controversial cousin, hemp is completely legal. It has been used for millennia for a range of medicinal and industrial uses. And, modern hemp plants have less than 0.3% THC, the chemical in marijuana that produces the high. This means that they have no psychoactive effects on humans.

Hemp protein powder is made from the seeds of the hemp plant. It has an earthy, nutty flavour and is a high-quality source of completely vegan protein. Hemp protein includes all nine essential acids humans need to maintain their muscles and other parts of their body. It also contains fibre, healthy fats and a number of minerals, making it great for general health. The powder is consumed in a variety of ways, most commonly by adding it to shakes or smoothies.

Probably the first thing you need to know about hemp protein is that while hemp is one of the species Cannabis sativa, its products do not have a psychoactive effect like marijuana, a different but related plant. The hemp crop is incredibly versatile, and can be used to create fabric, biodegradable plastic alternatives, paint, and biofuel, among many other products.

Hemp protein is made by extracting the oil from hemp seeds with the remains of the seeds being turned into a powder supplement. A 30-gram serve of hemp protein powder provides up to 15 grams of protein. For comparison, the same serving of whey protein powder gives around 26 grams of protein, while 30 grams of soy protein powder yields around 24 grams of protein. So if other types of protein powder give higher levels of protein, what are the unique benefits of hemp protein powder?

What’s so special about hemp protein powder?

The first obvious benefit of hemp protein powder versus whey or other animal-derived protein powders is that it is suitable for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone sensitive to dairy products.  Hemp is also high in fibre, which is great for gut health, while whey has almost none. The soluble fibre found in hemp boosts friendly digestive bacteria while the insoluble fibre eases waste through your intestine. And because fibre makes you feel full, you can use hemp protein powder successfully in shakes as a nutritious meal replacement. It’s also easy to digest, so it gets to work in the body quickly.

In addition, hemp contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which keep your heart healthy. In fact, hemp is one of the few non-fish foodstuffs that contain omega-3, so is ideal for vegans looking for a good source of this health-giving substance.

Hemp protein contains all nine essential amino acids, though it must be said that not all of them are present in high quantities. But it has good levels of tyrosine — which helps improve mental functioning — and arginine which converts into nitric oxide, a neurotransmitter that improves the circulation. Aside from the above benefits, hemp is known to contain high levels of magnesium and iron, as well as antioxidants which can guard against diabetes and heart disease.

So who benefits the most from hemp protein?

We can conclude from what we’ve learnt above that while hemp doesn’t contain the highest levels of protein of all the supplements available, it has many added benefits — promoting heart and gut health, and better circulation, among others.

Hemp protein is highly recommended to anyone who is a vegan, vegetarian, or is simply mindful of the environmental effect of dairy farming.

Hemp protein is gentle but effective on the digestive system, so it’s a great choice for people with dairy sensitivities or who simply need more fibre in their diet. It works well in conjunction with sensible eating and exercise if you’re trying to lose weight, and provides many other benefits as we’ve seen in terms of mineral and antioxidant content. In short, it’s a great all-rounder for health and lifestyle reasons.

How should I take hemp protein supplements?

Hemp has a distinctive earthy taste, so many people like to take it as part of a flavoured powder supplement in shakes. You can blend it with fruit for smoothies, or even use it in baking your favourite goodies.

Living up to the hype

This versatile and abundant protein supplement certainly lives up to some of the hype — its many positive properties combined with a good protein content makes it a winner for anyone keen to live a clean and healthy lifestyle.

Hemp Protein Production

As mentioned, hemp protein powder is derived from hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are small and brown, with a hard outer husk and an oily inner seed. After harvesting, the hemp seeds are thrashed to break the outer shell of the seed, removing the hull. The seeds are sifted to separate the outer shell from the inner seed.

The seeds are pressed to extract the hemp oil, typically using a cold expeller press. Hemp oil itself is a popular product with a variety of uses and benefits, including relieving muscle pain, managing stress and reducing the signs of ageing in the skin. The oil is typically set aside to be sold separately.

After the seeds are pressed, this leaves a “seed meal,” sometimes also known as a “cake”. This seed meal is put through a drying process to remove any remaining oil through evaporation. The dry meal is then ground into a fine powder. Often, the outer shell that was removed earlier is crushed and mixed back in with the seed meal. And, it is all ground together, creating hemp protein powder. Both the inner hemp seed and its outer shell are high in protein and nutrients, so they are valuable components of hemp protein powder.

Hemp Protein Powder Uses

Hemp protein powder is most commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders to promote better muscle growth. As a complete source of all nine essential amino acids, hemp protein can help to repair muscles and build more muscle mass when taken in conjunction with training.

Hemp protein powder can also aid with weight loss. Being high in protein as well as vitamins, minerals and fibre, it can be taken as a healthy meal replacement. Additionally, the high protein content helps consumers to feel fuller for longer, reducing the urge to snack on unhealthy foods.

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