There are a total of four different cannabis seeds. Each has a specific purpose, depending on your individual needs. But before we take a closer look at what those seeds are, let’s explore some of the benefits of cannabis seeds by looking at what they can bring to your health.
1 – They Happen To Be Extremely Nutritious
Okay, before we get into the details on that one, you need to know that hemp seeds come from the hemp plant. The hemp plant comes from the same species as cannabis but is a different variety of plants. The hemp seed itself is not really a seed. It’s a nut and you are probably used to seeing and hearing them being referred to as hemp hearts. What’s so cool about them is that they have a nutty flavor that is often described as being on the mild side and are loaded with great nutritional value. Hemp seeds have two essential fatty acids and have over 30% fat in them. There’s a ton of protein (over 25% of the calories in the average seed), Vitamin E, and several minerals.
2 – They Provide A Lot Of Plant-Based Protein
Compared to beef or lamb, hemp seeds provide much the same amount of protein according to Healthline. For example, roughly 25% of the calories found in hemp hearts are from protein so if you were to consume 30 grams of hemp seeds you would be getting 11 grams of protein and the bonus is that not only are hemp seeds considered a complete protein source but with that protein comes essential amino acids. Since your body doesn’t make those, you have to get them inside of you from the foods you eat. Complete protein sources sit on the rare side of the scale in the plant world which makes hemp hearts a special dietary item like another complete plant-based protein called Quinoa.
3 – They May Help With Digestion
Digestive health requires fiber and hemp seeds are a good source of this. They contain about 20% soluble fiber and 80% insoluble fiber. What does that mean? Well, soluble fiber is made up of nutrients that feed digestive bacteria and may be responsible for reducing cholesterol and regulating blood sugar levels. Insoluble fiber helps food to pass through your digestive system and bulks up your stool. It may also help in reducing diabetes risk factors. While this all sounds pretty great, the key to these benefits for your digestion rest in keeping the hemp seeds intact. The shell of the seeds has the highest amount of fiber compared to the hulled hearts.
4 – They Could Reduce Heart Disease Risk
There is an amino acid named arginine. This little fella produces nitric oxide inside of your body which happens to be a gas molecule. This gas molecule helps to dilate and relax your blood vessels. When your blood vessels are relaxed, it reduces your blood pressure. With lower blood pressure, your heart doesn’t have to work so hard to pump blood through your body and this reduces the risk of various conditions that can lead to heart disease. What does this have to do with hemp seeds? They happen to contain a high volume of that interesting amino acid called arginine. So, eating hemp seeds may reduce your risk of heart disease as a result.
5 – They Might Cut The Symptoms Of Menopause and PMS
Here’s one for the ladies. One of the most visible reactions caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is physical or emotional conditions. These symptoms are believed to be the responsibility of sensitivity to a hormone called prolactin. An acid found inside hemp seeds produces something scientists have called prostaglandin E1. This curious byproduct works to reduce the work that prolactin can do inside of the body. In other words, prostaglandin E1 can reduce the symptoms of PMS and menopause. There are a few studies that have been conducted that back this up and point to the amount of prostaglandin E1 producing Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) as the reason.
6 – They Seem To Help With Skin Disorders
Your body needs a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The right balance impacts your immune system. Hemp seeds happen to be filled with polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. The ratio is in the 3:1 area and that is considered to be the optimal range. Since an imbalance within your immune system can trigger various things including skin irritations, it is important to have enough of these fatty acids in your diet. Studies have been conducted that indicate that individuals suffering from eczema who were given hemp seed oil saw improvement in the condition of their skin as the oil was believed to increase blood levels of the essential fatty acids.
A Quick Review Of The Four Types of Cannabis Seeds
There are a total of four types of marijuana seeds. They include the following:
CBD Seeds
These seeds are sort of like decaffeinated seeds in that they contain a very small amount of THC. THC is what produces the psychoactive “high” that one gets from marijuana. CBD oil may appear to have some of these effects, but chemically-speaking, do not. However, CBD use does produce a sedative feeling and is used by many as the relaxing feeling assists in treating numerous symptoms related to pain.
Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
As the name suggests, this variety of seeds will automatically switch from vegetative growth to the flowering stage. It does this based solely on age rather than the amount of light to dark hours used during cultivation. Typically these seeds will be harvest-ready within ten weeks. There are several varieties such as those called “super autos” which take 100 days to mature and can grow to six feet tall.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
The seeds in this category have been genetically engineered. The results are that 99.9% of these modified seeds will become female plants. You can also learn more about feminized cannabis seeds in this article.
Regular Cannabis Seeds
Typically, these seeds contain a 50/50 split of male and female seeds. However, to properly identify which is which, the seeds need to be germinated and grown until they start to exhibit the traits of either a male or female plant. This means that you cannot distinguish the sex of the seeds just by looking at them.
Summary
Hemp seeds provide the potential for many different health benefits. However, there are four different types of seeds to choose from. Once you know the right ones for your specific needs, you can begin cultivation and harvesting of plants knowing that each crop you produce may be able to assist with such ailments as heart disease, skin problems, menopause/PMS, digestive problems as well as provide your diet with high concentrations of protein and nutrition.
