Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jan 2015
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2015 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Sherry Boas, Orlando Sentinel

GET 'HOOKED' ON MARIJUANA COUSIN, HEALTHFUL HEMP SEEDS

Eaten any hemp lately? I have - for lunch. I sprinkled hemp hearts,
which are raw, shelled hemp seeds, on top of a sweet potato. It was
delicious.

Hemp's nutty, buttery flavor blends wonderfully with the soft, smooth
texture of a cooked sweet potato. My husband Ralph has been enjoying
this highly nutritional food for years, but I have only recently begun
to realize what he's been saying all along: Hemp seeds are a
delectable addition to so many of our meals.

Some people may be concerned because hemp seeds are related to
marijuana. Although both products come from a cannabis sativa plant,
the illegal drug comes from a different variety of cannabis than the
healthy seeds. It's like comparing a sweet pepper to a hot pepper, two
varieties with completely different properties and uses.

The mind-bending component of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol or
THC. Edible hemp seeds contain only a minuscule amount of THC, so
eating the seeds won't result in a failed workplace drug test.
Research by consultants for the North American Industrial Hemp Council
show that people eating the equivalent of a half pound of shelled hemp
seeds every day for 10 days - far more than even an enthusiast ever
would consume - tested at less than 5 parts per billion of THC. Most
employers, including the federal government, require 50 ppb or less.

In short, you won't get high by eating it. Not even a little. What you
will get is a hefty serving of plant-based proteins and heart-healthy
essential omega fatty acids. Hemp seeds are low in carbohydrates and
are gluten free. They are high in Vitamin E and minerals like iron,
phosphorous, thiamine, zinc, magnesium and manganese. Because hemp
hearts are seeds, people who are allergic to nuts can eat them.

In addition to sprinkling hemp hearts on sweet potatoes or adding them
to smoothies, stir-fries, baked goods, salads, soups or cereal, there
are many other ways to reap the benefit of this healthy food. The
Whole Foods Market website lists hemp products such as milk, oil,
granola bars, a breakfast cereal, protein powder and fiber powder.

Also available in the marketplace are a variety of hemp seed products,
including a "nut" butter to use as an alternative to peanut or almond
butter, tofu and frozen waffles containing hemp and ice cream made
from hemp milk. The Swiss even make a beer from hemp blossoms. While
none of these cannabis products provides a buzz, each does pack a
powerful nutritional punch.

Despite the wide variety of edible hemp products, the only one I've
had personal experience with is hemp hearts, which are soft
tan-colored seeds about the size of sesame seeds. Until recently, we
used to roast the seeds in a cast-iron pan over low heat on the stove.
Roasting released a wonderful aroma not unlike the pleasant smell of
roasted nuts or popcorn. It's one of those smells that draws you into
the kitchen.

The just-roasted morsels tasted so good, I often ate the warm seeds by
the spoonful. But after a while, we got lazy. Although I enjoyed the
process of roasting them, Ralph didn't. He had other things he wanted
to do with his time besides standing over the stove slowly stirring
the seeds as they browned. Eventually, he began spooning them directly
on food and, as usual, I followed his lead.

The hemp hearts we eat come from a Canadian company called Manitoba
Harvest. They are available online, at health food stores and at some
grocery stores. The seeds sold for consumption are hulled and
"sterile," and they will not grow if planted.

That's because a law passed in 1937 made it illegal for farmers in the
United States to grow hemp or to import seeds to plant. The 78-year
ban on growing a beneficial food product - not to mention the vast
array of non-edible hemp products such as paper, fabric and rope -
began to change last February when President Obama signed the 2014
farm bill, which included a provision allowing hemp to be grown in
some states for research purposes. The United States is the only
industrialized nation where hemp farming is outlawed. Hopefully, the
farm bill is only the first step toward returning a useful crop to
American farmland.

Times have certainly changed. Legislation passed in 1619 by the
Assembly of Jamestown Colony, Virginia, made it compulsory for every
farmer to grow hemp to use for the production of clothes, ropes and
sails. The need for twine, rope and other industrial fibers during
World War II prompted farmers in the United States to grow about a
million acres of hemp, subsidized by the federal government.

It's important to revisit old ideas, and cannabis sativa is an old
idea long overdue for a complete reexamination. A good place to begin
is at the kitchen table by sprinkling some hemp hearts on a fresh
baked sweet potato. But be forewarned: Once you taste it, you might
get hooked by the nutritious flavor of a good-for-you food that has
been unfairly maligned for far too long.

Sherry Boas can be reached at  Her
columns can be found online at OrlandoSentinel.com/lake.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D