Why You Should Be Eating Cannabis Seeds Everyday
Eat Marijuana Seeds Everyday for Your Own Health from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
By now we surely know that there is a lot of talk about the health benefits of Cannabis, whether it is smoking, drinking or eating. Long gone are the days where this amazing plant was only sought after for recreational purposes. More and more people are starting to look into ways to use all of the plant for health benefits.
We know how to use Cannabis for recreational purposes. We also might have a fairly good idea how to bake or cook with it. I might be a bit more difficult to make extractions, but even there we have articles written and research done on how to do just that.
But then there are the seeds; but am I talking about Hemp seeds here, or am I talking about Cannabis seeds? What benefits are captured in the tiny Cannabis seeds and how can we use it?
Not to get confused we need to understand the difference between Cannabis and Hemp seeds. The rather the question should be; is there a difference between Hemp and Cannabis seeds?
Both Cannabis and Hemp seeds form part of the sativa plant. The difference lies in the levels of THC in cannabis when the plant is matured. This means that essentially when in seed form, there is no real difference between hemp and cannabis seeds. You cannot get high eating cannabis seeds.
The benefits are breathtaking though as these seeds are loaded with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that are specifically known for their health purpose, especially with regards to the heart. It is also excellent for lowering blood cholesterol. Cannabis seeds have a 3:1 balance of Omega-3 (alpha-linoleic acid) and Omega-6 (linoleic acid) that make them a perfect source for Essential Fatty Acids. In addition it also is an excellent source of GLA (gamma linolenic acids). This Omega-6 acid is essential for hormone balancing.
Apart from the healthy fats in the plant, it also has a vast array of other nutrients such as proteins (25% of calorie content), vitamins and minerals to name some. The vitamins included are Vitamin A, E, D and many B vitamins. It acts as a powerful antioxidant and has also live enzymes and a variety of minerals.
The minerals found in cannabis seeds are Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Calcium, Iron and Zinc. All this is found in a tiny seed. No wonder it is one of the world’s most powerful foods.
Could there be any more benefits? This seed packed with essential nutrients is also a powerful anti-inflammatory especially useful for muscle and tissue repair after exercise.
As a Protein cannabis seeds are the only natural source of Edestin, an amino acid that has a similar structure to our DNA. It is considered a complete protein source as it provides all the essential amino acids our body needs. This makes cannabis seeds the closest source of protein to our own amino acid profile. Cannabis seeds have the amino acid lysine that is absent in most other plant proteins. Quinoa is another plant that contains lysine, but it not so easy to consume daily where cannabis seeds could be used easier. The protein in Cannabis seeds are very easy to digest, even easier than those found in nuts, legumes and grains.
Another amino acid found in cannabis seeds is arginine. This amino acid produces nitric oxide in the body that causes blood vessels to dilate resulting in lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart diseases. Some more benefits are
- Prevent blood clot forming
- Lowers blood pressure
- Helps recovery after heart attacks
- Helps with skin diseases
- Helps with eczema and dermatitis
An additional benefit is that cannabis seeds also reduce symptoms of Menopause and PMS. The symptoms in PMS are most likely caused by sensitivity to the hormone prolactin. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) produces prostaglandin-E1 that reduces the effects of prolactin. Because cannabis seeds are high in GLA, studies suggest that it might help to reduce the symptoms of menopause to. It seems that it regulates the hormone imbalance and inflammation associated with menopause.
Cannabis seeds are also a very good resource of both insoluble (80%) and soluble (20%) fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in our guts and is a great source of nutrients for the beneficial digestive bacteria. It also reduces blood sugar spikes and cholesterol levels.
Insoluble fibers help passing waste through the gut and is known to reduce the risk of diabetes. Notice though, if the shell is removed, it contains very little fiber because the fiber lies in the shell.
Cannabis seeds are truly healthy and should not be discarded. This versatile part of the plant has so much to offer and could be beneficial to anyone at any age.
