Hemp Seed Oil

Name: Hemp seed oil, cold-pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Food-grade hemp seed oil contains negligible amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound associated with cannabis, and is legally distinct from cannabis grown for that purpose.

Description

Hemp has been cultivated for food, fibre and medicine for thousands of years across Europe and Asia. Its characteristic essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, was first chemically identified in hempseed oil by German chemists in 1887, though the modern hemp seed food and oil industry in markets like the United States really took shape from the 1990s onward, as regulations distinguishing food-grade hemp from other cannabis cultivation became clearer.

Main nutrition value

Like all pure oils, hemp seed oil is essentially 100% fat and around 884 kcal per 100g. Over 80% of that fat is polyunsaturated, split between the omega-6 fat linoleic acid and the omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid in a ratio of roughly 2:1 to 3:1 — widely considered a favourable balance, and notably better than most common seed oils. It also contains small amounts of two rarer fatty acids, GLA and SDA, not found in most other food oils.

How best to be consumed

Like flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil's rich polyunsaturated fat content makes it best suited to cold or low-heat use.

1. Use raw in dressings, drizzled over vegetables, or stirred into smoothies.
2. Avoid using for frying or high-heat cooking, since its polyunsaturated fats degrade with prolonged heat.
3. Store in the refrigerator after opening, and use within the timeframe the label recommends.
4. Look for cold-pressed, unrefined hemp seed oil to get the most of its natural nutrient content.

Overconsumption could cause…

Hemp seed oil's main considerations mirror those of other rich-in-polyunsaturated-fat oils.

1. Excess calorie intake if used generously, since a tablespoon carries well over 100 kcal.
2. Consuming oxidised (rancid) oil if it's stored improperly or heated, given its high polyunsaturated fat content.

GroupsPlant/Fruit Oils

Made fromHemp Seeds

Related foodsAvacado OilCanola OilCoconut OilCorn OilExtra-Virgin Olive OilFlaxseed Oil

Wikipedia — Hemp oil, used for fatty acid composition and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_oil