By: HR January 31, 2010
Hemp Seeds
This article is one of a series describing particular supplementary food items that are thought to be effective in lowering blood glucose as well as providing other health and nutrition related benefits.
Diabetes is a deadly disease. Diabetes claims more lives yearly than AIDS and breast cancer combined. People diagnosed with diabetes should eat a balanced diet, with decreased sugar and salt consumption, and low in saturated and trans fat. If you are currently following a diabetes-friendly diet but still need an extra boost when it comes to controlling your blood sugar, then you should look into incorporating hemp seed into your meals.
What is Hemp Seed?
Hemp seed is a little-known power food that can benefit everyone, especially people who are diagnosed with diabetes. Studies show that the consumption of Omega 3, and Omega 6 essential fatty acids can be helpful in treating diabetes. Hemp seeds are a great way to incorporate Omega 3 and Omega 6 into your diet. Hemp seeds are a great source of pure digestible protein (33%) without the worry of consuming unnecessary fats.
The nature of diabetes is such that the symptoms can cause an essential fatty acid deficiency in the body. A person may even experience numbness or tingling in the lower extremities because of this deficiency. Studies show that consuming the equivalent of three tablespoons of hemp seed oil can help alleviate those symptoms.
How to Add Hemp Seeds to Your Diet
Many foods on grocery store shelves already contain hemp seed. Salad dressings, nutrition bars, breads, cookies, granola, and even some frozen desserts can contain this super-food. Natural food stores sell hemp oil and flour and seeds that you can incorporate into many of the foods you already eat. It is recommended that you consume three to four teaspoons per day to reap the full benefit of hemp seeds.
You can blend hemp seeds with fruit and ice for a natural smoothie or bake it in homemade breads. Hemp seeds are a great alternative to pine nuts in stir-fry’s and have a similar flavor. You can use hemp seed flour as a substitute in baking or use the natural oil to toss a salad.
All foods that are currently on your diabetic food list can be improved nutritionally by the addition of hemp seeds. You can make your own diabetes foods from healthful recipes. There is no need to buy overpriced products or packaged foods labeled “dietetic.” These foods may still raise blood sugar levels and in many cases can have a laxative effect.
When you hear the word hemp it is understandable that it might bring to mind thoughts of pot smokers and such but the hemp seeds used as a food item are from a related plant to cannabis but definitely not the same plant. So there is no reason to worry about psychotropic effects from consuming hemp seeds. Hemp seeds, or products made from them, do not contain THC, which is the substance in the cannabis plant itself. Hemp seed is considered safe but be sure to check with your doctor before adding them to your treatment plan.
Hemp seeds are rich in an easily digestible form of all of the amino acids and fatty acids essential to the human body and are considered to be an excellent substitute for meat protein in the meat free meals of vegetarians or for those on a diet.
Because evidence suggests that an insufficient intake of Omega 3 can contribute to the development of diabetes, everyone should be mindful of what they eat and make sure to incorporate plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids. Adding hemp seeds to your diet is a good way to add Omega 3s to your diet.
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