Description
Description
Z Natural Foods is committed to offering our customers a diverse selection of high-quality foods in their most versatile forms.
Our Organic 50% Hemp Protein Powder and Organic Hemp seeds are prime examples of our commitment to quality. Today, I aim to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these versatile foods, known as the true king of plant proteins, to ensure you have all the information you need to make informed choices about your food supplement purchases. So, let’s begin.
1) What are some unique items made from hemp?
Hemp is one of the few crops worldwide with almost unlimited potential to produce products across many markets, including food, beverages, textiles, construction, biofuels, and medicine.
For example, Levi’s jeans are made of hemp. Furthermore, hemp is more durable than wood-based paper; it has the strongest and longest plant fibers, and is stronger than steel in specific contexts due to its higher tensile strength and strength-to-weight ratio.
2) Are hemp seeds and hemp protein concentrates complete sources of protein?
There seems to be a lot of controversy over whether plant-sourced foods are complete proteins. Therefore, before I answer this question, let's take a look at some general facts about proteins and amino acids.
- There are 20 different amino acids that your body needs for various functions.
- Eleven of the twenty are produced by the body, called non-essential amino acids, and we must get the other nine(called essential amino acids) from food because the body can’t produce them.
- Amino acids are organic compounds, and building blocks your body uses to make protein.
- A food is considered a complete protein when it contains all nine essential amino acids in appropriate ratios (Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine).
It was once believed that a complete protein is one that contains all nine essential amino acids. However, modern research has shown that the need for these essential amino acids in adequate and consistent amounts is equally important in defining a complete protein.
Therefore, a food can be considered an incomplete protein if one or more essential amino acids are insufficient, even if all nine EAAs are present.
Inadequateness is defined in the above case through the amino acid score. The score is calculated by dividing the content of individual EAAs in food protein by the same amino acid content in the reference pattern.
However, when creating muscle and enzyme proteins, the body is only concerned with ensuring all nine essential amino acids are present. The overall result is the same whether the protein comes from a single source of complete protein, like egg and whey, or combined sources, like plant proteins.
So, while hemp protein does supply all nine essential amino acids like many plant proteins, there is an imbalance of these amino acids. Hemp is high in arginine, methionine, and cystine, and low in lysine. Therefore, while it is a complete protein, it is not as efficient a choice as animal-based proteins.
3) How exactly is Hemp Protein made?
Like most plant-based protein powder concentrations, hemp protein is created using minimal processing to make it as complete and straightforward as you can get for a whole-food source of concentrated protein. Creating hemp protein is a simple three-step process.
- The hemp seeds are first cleaned and dehulled to remove the tough outer shell. What you have left is the earthy, nutty hemp hearts.
- Next, the seeds are pressed to remove most of the oil using a cold-pressing process. This process results in creating what are known as “hemp cakes”.
- It is important to note that some manufacturers leave more oil in the final product, creating a richer, fattier product. However, this comes with two pitfalls: a lower protein concentration and a tendency to go rancid much more quickly.
- The final step is to grind the hemp cake, creating a fine, dense, defatted protein powder.
4) What does it mean when a hemp protein label says 50% protein?
In simple terms, whole hemp seed contains about 25% protein per serving. After pressing and removing most of the fats, you end up with a 50% protein concentration.
This represents a less-processed product than protein isolates, which require more advanced techniques that strip away other components of the food, such as fiber. To clarify, it went from 25% to 50% because, when most of the fat is removed, the remaining material’s surface is now 50% protein.
In order to increase the protein concentration of a food, something must be removed.
This is why protein isolates contain a much higher protein content than concentrates.
Isolates undergo more extensive processing to remove additional components. However, if you are looking to consume 20 grams of a true whole-food protein, adding four tablespoons of whole hemp hearts is the way to go.
5) Are the Omega-6 fatty acids in Hemp seeds bad for you?
Before answering this question, here is the general breakdown of the Omega-6 fatty acid profile of hemp seeds:
- Linoleic Acid is around 55%
- Alpha-linoleic acid is around 20%
- Oleic acid makes up around 15%
- The remaining 10% is made up of GLA and palmitic acids
Next, to understand this information, it is essential to discuss the two primary forms of fat.
There are two primary types of fats: saturated and unsaturated. Structurally speaking, saturated fats have no double bonds, whereas unsaturated fats have one or more of these bonds. A fat with one double bond is considered monounsaturated, whereas if it has more than one, it is polyunsaturated.
Polyunsaturated fats are broken down into two classes: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
An important point to understand is that while specific foods may be higher in a particular type of fat, all foods contain a mixture of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Like most other “nuts,” or, in this case, seeds, hemp contains the majority of its calories from fat, making it an energy-dense food.
Hemp protein, on average, contains around 12% fatty acid content. However, this can vary depending on the process used to create the product.
Finally, yes, hemp seeds contain a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids. While it is true that you want the total omega balance to have the omega-3s much higher than the omega-6 fatty acids (ideally 4:1), hemp is an excellent source of GLA (around 6% of its total fatty acids) and an anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. For your reference, primrose oil is the highest-quality source of GLA, containing 7-10%.
Because we understand that not all omega-6 fatty acids are created equal, the proper omega-6 fatty acids and ratio to omega-3 fatty acids are essential for heart, brain, and cellular function. Therefore, it seems that a food like hemp, which contains a 3:1 ratio of good omega-6 fatty acids, is a good choice.
6) What is the difference between whole hemp seeds and hemp protein powder?
For starters, both items are minimally processed. Whole hemp seeds undergo a process to remove the hard outer shell, yielding the soft, nourishing seed. This is known as hulling. Whole hemp seeds contain the following:
- 30% fatty acids
- 25-30% protein
- 40% fiber
- 7% moisture
Four tablespoons of hemp seeds contain 20 grams of protein and around 32 grams of quality omega-6 fatty acids; 3 grams saturated, 24 grams polyunsaturated, and 3 grams monounsaturated.
On the other hand, as stated in a previous question, hemp protein powder is a minimally processed food where the oil is pressed and removed, resulting in a 50% protein concentration. Furthermore, to increase protein content, more advanced techniques are needed that strip away other components of the food, such as fiber.
7) What are the pitfalls of using hemp protein powders?
For starters, I don’t believe there are pitfalls. I prefer to say there are challenges when creating and consuming plant-based protein powders due to instability or deficiencies.
The two challenges with hemp protein powders are:
- Hemp protein, while mostly defatted, still contains 12-14% fatty acid content. Much like with any plant-based fats, once you grind them, you have exposed them to oxidation. Because plant-based essential fatty acids are less stable than animal-based ones, these products tend to require refrigeration to maintain a good shelf-life.
- While hemp protein does supply all nine essential amino acids, like many plant proteins, there is an imbalance of these amino acids. Hemp is high in arginine, methionine, and cystine, and low in lysine. Therefore, while it is a complete protein, it is not as efficient a choice as animal-based proteins.
Proteins with imbalances in their amino acid profiles often exhibit lower biological value.
Biological Value (BV) measures how efficiently the body utilizes dietary protein sources—foods with a high BV correlate with a greater supply of essential amino acids. In simple terms, it is the percentage of nitrogen utilized. Nitrogen is a core component of amino acids, the building block of protein, and nucleic acids, the building block of genetic material.
In conclusion, here at Z Natural Foods, we believe that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and foods containing the whole food matrix are the cornerstone and future of understanding the power of foods. We also encourage people to use the tools available to them to support health and longevity. I hope today's FAQ has clarified the importance of using all these powerful tools at your disposal.
For more information about Organic Hemp Protein, go here: Organic Hemp Protein (50% Protein)
For more information about our Raw, Organic, Shelled Hemp Seeds, go here: Hemp Seeds - Raw, Organic, Shelled
The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing, with over 25 years of experience in various aspects of the field. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael shares his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel, "A Master Herbalist Perspective." He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.
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