ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS - Hemp Seed

For travel I use Manitoba Harvest Canadian made hemp seed oil capsule. These are all organic. This is what I take to supply with Essential Fatty Acids EFA. I have tried hemp seed butter on toast, but found the green color slightly off putting. I drizzle a teaspoon of hemp oil on my salad or raw vegetables. Hawaii is the only state within the United States with approval for growing industrial hemp. Other forms of EFA, essential fatty acids such as flaxseed (avoid) and fish oil (avoid), creates discomfort and pain and it increases the girth of my abdomen causing my liver cysts to grow and ache. Flaxseed oil creates liver aches and liver cyst growth. For this reason, I am using hemp seed for a daily source of omega 3's and essential fatty acids. Here is a site that compares prices. Some frequently asked questions of Manitoba Harvest hemp seed company.

Hemp oil.

I have found hemp meal which can be added and baked into a spelt hemp bread. There is hemp cereal, a hemp protein meal, hemp butter for toast, hemp oil, and more. Manitoba Harvest company is one source of hemp seed nut butter. Information on hemp seed food products from Manitoba Harvest and their Recipe list. - For an interesting way to obtain your daily essential fatty acids.

Why is hemp seed oil better than other oil supplements for obtaining EFA essential fatty acids? Hemp oil contains more EFA essential fatty acids than flax; it is free of potential toxic contaminants (fish oil has high levels of mercury and pesticides); it provides the perfect 3:1 EFA essential fatty acid proportions needed by the body. Hemp has a perfect balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs. Not having this perfect ratio can in the long run (i.e. a year or longer), taking exclusively Flax oil, can leave you deficient in Omega 6's. Hemp oil doesn't have this problem as it already has the perfect ratio. The only down side is that taking Hemp oil/seeds can theoretically lead to a positive drug test for marijuana, because of the minute amount of trace compounds present in the oil. If you have a job which requires drug testing, then it is probably a good idea to avoid Hemp oil for this reason.
Hemp oil can be substituted for flax oil in any regime. Serving of hemp seed oil you will get:
     Omega 6 - 7 grams
     Omega 3 - 2.4 grams
     GLA - 2 grams
     Vitamins A, D, C, and E
     Chlorophyll
     Rich in Antioxidants
Hemp seed oil is very high in tocopherols, natural preservatives which extend shelf life and are a powerful anti-oxidant.
The oil has a nice, nutty taste. Hemp Seed Oil has a low flash point, so it is best served cold. Please avoid frying with it as much of the nutrients will be burned off if you attempt to do this. Instead, use it as a condiment, salad oil, or in a morning smoothie. It is a lovely emerald green color caused by the oil's naturally occurring chlorophyll. According to hemp seed oil processor Manitoba Harvest, a distinct advantage of hemp seed oil vs. flax is its content of the rare direct metabolites of Omega-6 and -3 called Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Stearidonic Acid (SDA). These metabolites are the same fats that are found in fish oils and are involved in the production of prostaglandin for hormones and in immune functions. GLA is a “super” omega-6 that some studies have shown may help reduce heart disease; enhance effectiveness of cancer treatments; treat problem skin conditions; prevent inflammation-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis and asthma; and modify lipids to reduce triglycerides. GLA is also believed to help bypass enzymatic blocks in sluggish bodies that have metabolisms compromised by stress, environmental toxicity or aging to allow proper utilization of omega-6 EFAs. SDA is a powerful omega-3 that is purported to offer about five times the potency of “regular” ALA omega-3.

Of the three hemp shakes, the only one that might be useful for PKD'rs the Berry Pomegranate Hemp Shake might be useful to try. The chocolate contains caffeine, harmful to PKD'rs and the Amazon Acai contains Maca. Maca stimulates progesterone receptors. Any questions contact Nutiva directly.

There is also a bread made with hemp seed but it contains soy. I bake my own non-yeasted spelt bread with hemp seeds for a balance of omega 3's and essential fatty acids.

Overview Omega 3 to Omega 6
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids, which means that they are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish and certain plant oils. It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 (another essential fatty acid) in the diet as these two substances work together to promote health. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

There are three major types of omega 3 fatty acids that are ingested in foods and used by the body: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Once eaten, the body converts ALA to EPA and DHA, the two types of omega-3 fatty acids more readily used by the body. Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent certain chronic diseases such as heart disease and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive and behavioral function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems.

As mentioned previously, it is very important to maintain a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health. A healthy diet should consist of roughly one to four times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet tends to contain 11 to 30 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids and many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.

In contrast, however, the Mediterranean diet consists of a healthier balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and many studies have shown that people who follow this diet are less likely to develop heart disease. The Mediterranean diet does not include much meat (which is high in omega-6 fatty acids) and emphasizes foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids including whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, garlic, as well as moderate wine consumption.

The Hemp Sisters
have a clothing line and some hemp brownie mixes and other food products available.

AVOID Flaxseed if you have liver cysts. I have tried in every form made. Each time it has caused my liver to ache and grow. I am sorry to say but quite a few individuals have reported that flaxseed increases their liver cysts. I thought perhaps it was from freshly ground flaxseed. I was taking a tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseed daily and I too noticed that my liver started enlarging. I was determined to get my omega 3 essential fatty acids, I tried flaxseed oil gel caps (organic Barleans). I tried these daily and this too made my liver grow and ache. I even tried the golden flaxseed with the same results. The golden had a better taste, to me. Perhaps it may be the phytoestrogens in flaxseed that causes this growth in liver cysts? Liver cysts have estrogen receptors. Exposure to estrogen, phytoestrogens or xenoestrogen triggers the growth of these cysts.
Other sources of daily omega 3 essential fatty acids are sesame seeds (tahini), borage oil, and almonds. I have found that fish oil supplements and eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and catfish triggers liver cyst growth,aches, and pains.

The only source of omega 3's I have found to impart the protection and leave me without any increase in abdominal girth and pain is hemp seed oil.

last updated Fri November 12, 2010 4:41 PM