cannabisnews.com: Nutty Hemp a Hot Food Trend





Nutty Hemp a Hot Food Trend
Posted by CN Staff on January 15, 2007 at 13:21:29 PT
By Phil Lempert, Today Food Editor
Source: MSNBC
USA -- One of the hottest food trends for 2007 may well have its origins dating back thousands of years. Take a look down the aisles … and it's all about hemp!Hemp has been grown for at least the last 12,000 years for fiber and food. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and in fact Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.
First thing to understand is that "hemp" is NOT "marijuana." Industrial hemp and marijuana are both classified as Cannabis sativa, a species with hundreds of different varieties, which is a member of the mulberry family. Industrial hemp is bred to maximize fiber, seed and/or oil, while marijuana varieties seek to maximize THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana). Industrial hemp has a THC content of between 0.05 and 1%. Marijuana has a THC content of 3% to 20%. The hemp plant is tall and stalky and the marijuana plant is short, shrub-like, and has "buds". It's an annual plant that grows from a seed, and because of its quick growth (average of 4 months) it requires limited pesticides. In Canada and the European Union, only varieties containing less than 0.3% THC in their flower portions are permitted as commercial crops. Hemp growing has been illegal in the United States since the early 1950s, but the importing of foods made from hemp seeds and oils is allowed. Before the seed is used as a food ingredient, the hull is usually removed, effectively removing all but the most microscopic amounts of THC. The shelled hempseeds used in food each typically contain less than 3 parts-per million (ppm) of THC. For example, if 20% of a food's ingredients are shelled hempseeds, and assuming a 2 ppm THC level, a human being would have to eat 50 lbs of the food in question to become intoxicated. Thirty countries around the world permit the cultivation of industrial hemp and the subsequent use of hemp by-products in human food. Regulations governing acceptable thresholds for human ingestion vary quite considerably between these jurisdictions or are simply non-existent. For example, Canada's food safety regulator, Health Canada, currently permits foods to contain up to 10 ppm THC but is expected to revise this level to 2 ppm. In Switzerland, government policy mandates below a 20 ppm limit. In contrast, U.S., regulators prohibit any level of THC in food — an assessment based in large part upon a 1937 U.S. tax act on marijuana. Why Foods from Hemp?Hempseeds are actually nuts (31% of the nut is fat) with a nutty flavor similar to pine nuts and while the nuts are very small, they are big on nutrition, with up to 35% of the hemp nut being protein. Most of this protein is edestin, a highly digestible storage protein. Unusual for plant protein, hempseed protein contains all nine essential amino acids in a favorable ratio for human needs. There are twenty different types of fatty acids that our body needs for optimum health. We can manufacture all but two (2) of these twenty - known as the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs); OMEGA-6 Linoleic Acid (LA) and OMEGA-3 Linolenic Acid (LNA) the source of these two come from our foods nutrients. To be most effective, these two EFA’s need to be consumed in a balanced ratio; the World Health Organization recommended ratio is 4:1. The hempseed is one of the most balanced sources of omega-3 and omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Studies link many common ailments to an imbalance and deficiency of EFAs in the typical Western diet: too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3. Fish and fish oils are typically recommended because they provide the omega-3 derivatives of SDA, DHA, and EPA, but for some consumers the concern over the contamination of fish by mercury and other environmental toxins (which has led the FDA to warn pregnant women and nursing mothers to restrict their fish intake) hemp’s omega profile is a good alternative to fish. The seeds also provide other phytonutrients, including phytosterols and carotenes as well as Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Hemp oil is the richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (the "good" fats) and it is also rich in some essential amino acids, including gamma linoleic acid (GLA), a very rare nutrient also found in mother's milk.Since the early 1990s, shelled hempseeds have been used as a food ingredient in a wide variety of foodstuffs, including baked goods, snacks, breakfast cereals, beverages, frozen desserts, tofu, and milk substitute.Let’s Taste Some Hemp!Nutiva Organic Shelled Hemp Seeds - These shelled hempseeds are 33% protein and rich in vitamin E as well as Omega-3 and GLA. While some other firms heat their hempseeds, Nutiva simply removes the seeds' hard shells, yielding a 100% raw gourmet product that tastes like pine nuts. 1.1oz. packet $1.89: 10 oz. packet $9.99 http://www.nutiva.comManitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil has a nutty flavor and is one of the few vegetable oils that contains large quantities of the omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) called alpha-linolenic acid (20%). Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil is made by hemp seeds that are cold pressed to ensure that valuable enzymes are not destroyed and nutrients such as chlorophyll and vitamin E remain intact. Unlike conventional oil refining, their "Fresh Pressed" process does not subject the oil to poisonous chemicals or destructive heat. 8-ounce bottle $10.99; 16-ounce bottle $19.99. http://www.manitobaharvest.comManitoba Harvest Hemp Seed Butter is a spread that contains more omega 3 & 6 essential fats than any other nut butter and is one of nature's richest sources of complete protein (35%). Hemp Seed Butter contains no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, no cholesterol, no added sugar, low saturated fat, no gluten, no preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors. To produce Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seed Butter, hemp seeds are cracked to expose the soft inner "nut." This inner nut is then ground at a low temperature until a rich, creamy texture is achieved. No other ingredients are used in this raw "living" food that is made in small batches. Hemp seed butter has an attractive emerald green color due to its content of chlorophyll, a powerful antioxidant. A 10-ounce jar sells for $9.99. http://www.manitobaharvest.comLiving Harvest's Hempmilk™ is a nutty tasting non-dairy beverage that provides essential and balanced nutrition for the whole family. An alternative to soy milk or dairy, it has a naturally occurring well-balanced ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids that can help maintain a healthy heart, a sharp mind, a strong immune system, and glowing skin. Available in three flavors: Original, Chocolate and Vanilla. Each serving contains: 0.9 grams Omega-3, 2.9 grams of Omega-6 with GLA, all 9 Essential Amino Acids, 4 grams of Protein , Essential Vitamins A, B12, D, E, Riboflavin and Folic Acid, Essential Minerals Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron and Zinc, 46% of RDA of Calcium. 32 oz. carton retails for $3.99. http://www.livingharvest.com/Nutiva® HempShakes™ - The powdered shakes contain nourishing superfoods, such as hemp, blueberries, pomegranates, açai and goji berries, maca root, and ramon nuts, that are rich not only in protein but in minerals, antioxidants, and healthful fatty acids. Hemp protein contains 66 percent edestin—easier to digest than soy—and, unlike most soy protein, isn’t processed with hexane solvents.  1.1oz packet $1.89; 16 oz. container  $19.99  http://www.nutiva.com/ Nature's Path Hemp Plus Granola - Organic rolled oats, organic evaporated cane juice, organic expeller pressed soybean oil, organic brown rice flour, organic flax seeds, hemp seed, organic oat syrup solids, sea salt, organic molasses, rice bran extract. Sells for $3.99. http://www.naturespath.com/Healthy Hemp Brownie Bites - Chewy dense chocolate brownie swirled with caramel and packed with hempseed. Hempseed are packed with Omegas 3 & 6 fatty acids. A sweet and satisfying dessert! Healthy Hemp Brownie Bites will be sold nationally in Natural Food Stores and conventional supermarkets beginning in 2007   $4.99-$5.99. http://www.frenchmeadow.com/Healthy Hemp Bagels, bread and tortillas - contains the highest amount of protein and fiber of any bread available! Packed with organic shelled hempseed, organic flaxseeds, and organic pumpkin seeds. A rich source of protein, dietary fiber, minerals, vitamin E, iron, all 9 amino acids, and a near perfect composition of the fatty acids Omega 3, 6 & 9. Sold in the frozen section. $3.99-$5.99.  http://www.frenchmeadow.comNature's Path Hemp Plus Organic Waffles - Frozen waffles contain organic whole wheat flour, organic expeller pressed soybean oil, organic evaporated cane juice, organic flax seed, organic hemp seed, leavening, organic oat bran, non-GMO soy lecithin, organic pear juice, sea salt, organic rice bran. Net weight: 11oz (312g). Sells for $3.59.  http://www.naturespath.com/Phil Lempert is food editor of the TODAY show. He welcomes questions and comments, which can be sent to phil.lempert nbc.com or by using the mail box below. For more about the latest trends on the supermarket shelves, visit Phil’s Web site at: http://www.SuperMarketGuru.comSource: MSNBC (US Web)Author: Phil Lempert, Today Food EditorPublished: January 15, 2007Copyright: 2007 MSNBCContact: letters msnbc.comWebsite: http://msnbc.com/news/URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16637630/CannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on January 16, 2007 at 07:17:51 PT
and...
About Steve KubbySubmitted by admin on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 16:51. Steve Wynn Kubby (born December 28, 1946) is a Libertarian Party activist who played a key role in the drafting and passage of California Proposition 215. The proposition was a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana which was approved by voters in 1996. Kubby himself is well-known as a cancer patient who relies on medical cannabis. He was a candidate for Governor of California in 1998 and has declared his candidacy for the Libertarian Party's 2008 presidential nomination. -- WikipediaBut enough dry biography!Steve Kubby is the only 2008 presidential candidate who's played a key role in passing pro-freedom legislation, then gone to court -- and to jail -- defending that legislation. Since the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996, twelve states have adopted "compassionate use" laws to protect patients whose ailments require them to use medical marijuana.As a founder and director of the American Medical Marijuana Association, Steve Kubby has continued to fight for Americans' right to protect their health without facing political persecution. In that role, he has negotiated with federal regulators, including the Attorney General of the United States, on behalf of patient rights.Like some other former, current or likely presidential candidates, Steve Kubby is a cancer patient. As a matter of fact, he is the longest-surviving known victim of malignant phenochromocytoma, a rare form of adrenal cancer with a 100% fatality rate within five years. Steve has lived with malignant phenochromocytoma for more than 30 years, and his condition remains under control ... thanks to medical marijuana.Since his first cancer diagnosis in 1968, Steve has led a National Geographic expedition up Mt. Shasta, flown jet fighter aircraft at the US Navy's "Top Gun" school, skied most of the world's most prominent slopes, conducted exploratory scuba dives in Aruba, Bonaire and the British Virgin Islands, published the number one ski magazine in seven countries, and built a successful property management company, which he sold and which remains in business.Steve is the author of The Politics of Consciousness (1995) and, with Ed Rosenthal, Why Marijuana Should Be Legal (1996).http://www.kubby2008.com/node/4
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Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on January 16, 2007 at 06:58:56 PT
Martin Luther King Day Message
Free at last?Submitted by Steve Kubby on Mon, 01/15/2007 - 12:07. 
I wonder what Martin Luther King, Jr., would think of the America we live in -- how he'd feel had he and his assassin not met on that fateful April morning and if instead he had awakened this morning to his 78th birthday. I wonder what he'd have to say about a country that treats one in thirty of its own citizens as criminals.I wonder how he'd characterize a country that imprisons more of its own people than any other nation on earth. I wander what he'd call a country that incarcerates one in four of its young black males.I wonder if he could tolerate a country that differentiates between "white people's cocaine" and "black people's cocaine" in its sentencing laws. I wonder if Dr. King would have the moral strength to stick to his philosophy of non-violence in this era of militarized police, "no-knock" raids, death sentences for self-defense, and the cold-blooded murder of elderly black women by their alleged protectors. I wonder if Dr. King would even recognize the America we live in today.I don't think he would. I think he'd still be leading marches and working for justice -- demanding that America make good on what he called the "architects of our republic['s] ... promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. ... a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Dr. King is not often described as a "libertarian" when his work for racial equality is remembered -- and maybe there are other, better words to describe his ideas. Certainly the movemement he led for so many years has sometimes struck out in directions he'd likely not have supported. But, just as clearly, he understood the importance of freedom. On this, his birthday, I like to take a few minutes to remember the closing words of his famous 1963 speech in Washington: "When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'" I hope that you'll spend a few moments pondering those words with me -- and the coming years working with me to renew them and to make them real.Let freedom grow!
Steve Kubby
Libertarian for Presidenthttp://www.kubby2008.com/node/17*****On August 26th, 2006, surrounded by leaders of America's drug reform movement, Steve Kubby announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. Speaking to 50,000 fans of freedom at Hempfest, he stated "I'm running for President because I'm fed up with bad government, corrupt politicians, and arrogant officials. Like you, I'd like the government to support my liberty, protect and serve my family, respect my personal property and stop passing and enforcing laws that assume Americans have the intelligence of a child." Since announcing, Steve has campaigned in California, Washington and Colorado while he works on creating the organization that will run a national campaign -- not just to elect Steve Kubby, but to take America back, restore the Bill of Rights, and set our nation back on a course of freedom and prosperity.http://www.kubby2008.com/node/5
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on January 15, 2007 at 20:23:03 PT
Leaves of the tree of life.
We know a lot about hemp / cannabis (kaneh bosm) but it seems We don't know more about it than We know.Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is significant. We know it contributes to a strong immune system. GLA is only available from 5 obscure places on earth and another one of them is mother's milk; WHO DO YOU THINK PUT THAT THERE?Do cancer rates increase where hemp is scarce or prohibited? Did US cancer rates increase due to the US prohibition of hemp and cannabis?Hemp contains minute amounts of THC, but it still may be enough to bind to those receptor sites in the human brain that are waiting for nothing else but THC to join and bind to.  For people unaware, in about 1982, at St. Louis University, they discovered that THC binds to receptor sites in the brain that exist and seem to be waiting for the connection to be made when THC becomes present. Receptor sites that nothing else binds to.Who do You think put those there?The largest amount of those receptor sites exist in the front of the brain; an area attributed to higher levels of thinking and imagination...For those who do not use cannabis, to get high and perhaps feed those receptor sites, it may be enough to feed those receptor sites through hemp food products and get benifits.Benifits that the government has previously prohibited but now is no longer able to prohibit that connection of THC to the receptor sites in the brain that Christ God Our Father created for just such purpose.Higher levels of thinking may lead to peace, love & the end of war, etc.Things that The Master requested of Us.Things governments, especially the US FED'S want nothing of.The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations; As told on the very last page of the Bible.What a beautiful creation.The Green Collar Worker 
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on January 15, 2007 at 18:21:34 PT
MSNBC
We ought to thank them!For those who haven't heard...MARCH ON D.C. - JANUARY 27TH:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/index.php
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