FitSugar

7 Ways to Get a Healthy Hemp Fix

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:23:55 PDT

If you've shied away from hemp because you think it's a form of marijuana, you'll feel relieved to know hemp contains very low levels of THC. Aside from its fibers to make clothes and paper, hemp also has highly nutritious seeds. They're easily digested, contain all the essential amino acids (they're a complete protein), and are an excellent source of the essential fatty acids that lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. These nutritious nuggets also offer vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper.

Now that you know why you should eat hemp, here are seven foods you can enjoy to reap all the health benefits.

Hemp seeds: Hulled hemp seeds have a nutty flavor and creamy texture when chewed. Eat them by the handful, sprinkle them on salads, cereal, or oatmeal, or add them to baked goods as you would flaxseeds. For 90 calories, a two-tablespoon serving of hemp seeds offers two grams of fiber, five grams of protein, and 883 mg of omega-3s.
Ground hemp seed: Ground hemp seed, also called hemp seed meal is a powder that works well in baked good recipes, smoothies, or sprinkled on yogurt or peanut butter toast. It's a great way to get the protein and omega-3s of hemp seeds without the crunch. In stores, you might also see hemp protein powder. This is a little different as its main ingredient is hemp protein concentrate, which is often used in homemade shakes or smoothie recipes.

Keep reading for five other ways to enjoy healthy hemp.

5 Gluten-Free Protein Powder Options

Heather Dale — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:05:33 PDT

On days when I don't have time to eat a full breakfast, I try to make a gluten-free protein shake to fuel myself before heading out for the day. With endless smoothie recipe ideas, I often mix protein powder with either almond or rice milk and then get creative with the fruits and other ingredients that I decide to add in. For g-free individuals like me, finding gluten-free protein powder options isn't always the easiest task, so here I've rounded up a few you may want to include in your morning shake!

How to Be an Eco-Conscious, Totally Gorgeous Bride

Noria Morales — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:33:46 PDT

Yes, there are ways to add green goodness to your wedding without compromising even a little bit of beauty and sophistication. A crop of sites are dedicated to eco-conscious weddings, supplying sources for everything from the invitations to the flowers. We're focused on your stylish self, of course, and we hunted down gorgeously green options, from conflict-free diamond rings to a romantic hemp and bamboo dress to a recycled veil. Click our slideshow to see just how you can get hitched and help save the world - yes, help save the world - at the the same time.

Ecotot: Simple Infant Weebit Booties

LilSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:24 PDT

This little piggy went to the market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy put on her tiny treehugger booties and followed mommy to the co-op. These easygoing hemp Simple Infant Weebit Booties ($24) are a paragon present for an earth mama's infant. They're leather free and topped off with a felt pig. There will be no need to cry wee wee wee all the way home.

Simple Infant Weebit Bootie - Sold Out	Simple Kids - Weebit (Infant) (Peppercorn/Antler) - Sold Out
Simple Kids - Weebit (Infant) (Slate Rose) - Sold Out	Simple Kids - Weebit (Infant) (Nile Green) - Sold Out

Food Review: Hempmilk

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:00:00 PDT

If you're trying to watch your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, then you may be into milk alternatives. Soy milk and rice milk have been around for a while, and when I went to pick some up, I saw a new kind on the shelf. Living Harvest Hempmilk. I was curious to try it since hemp seeds seem to be the latest health buzz because the seeds are high in protein and contain a well-balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. These are the healthy fats our bodies need to sustain heart health, mental acuity, strong immune system, and glowing skin. This Hempmilk is soy free, cholesterol free, vegan, gluten free, and contains no cane sugar.

OK, so this Hempmilk sounds healthy, but to see how it compares to other dairy alternatives and what I think about the taste,

read more.

Here's the nutritional info of 1 cup of vanilla-flavored dairy alternative milk.


Calories	130	160	130
Total Fat	3g	3g	2.5g
Saturated Fat	.5g	.5g	0g
Omega-3	900mg	220mg	-
Omega-6	2800mg	550mg	-
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	0mg
Sodium	120mg	90mg	105mg
Carbs	20g	25g	27g
Fiber	1g	less than 1g	0g
Sugars	18g	16g	12g
Protein	4g	7g	1g
Ingredients	Filtered Water, Whole Hemp Nut (shelled hemp seed), Brown Rice Syrup, Natural Vanilla with Other Natural Flavors, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Phosphate, Vitamin A, Palmitate, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12, Riboflavin.	Purified Water, Organic Soybeans, Naturally Malted Organic Wheat and Barley Extract, Vanilla Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Kombu Seaweed, Sea Salt	Filtered Water, Brown Rice (partially milled), Expeller Pressed High Oleic Safflower Oil, Natural Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavors, Sea Salt.

As you can see, the Hempmilk has an outstanding amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It doesn't have as much protein as the soy milk, but it definitely has more than the rice milk. As for taste? When I poured it into the glass, I've got to be honest - it was thicker than I was expecting, so I was a little nervous to try it. When I took a sip, the thickness actually complemented the vanilla flavor, and reminded me of a healthy vanilla milkshake. It was very similar to the consistency of soy milk, and it went down smooth without the grainy or bitter aftertaste that some milk alternatives have. Even though it's slightly higher in sodium and sugars than the soy and rice milk, I'd definitely buy this again.

Love It Or Leave It: Hemp iPod Case?

GeekSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:00:53 PDT

Danny Seo of Simply Green captured this photo of hemp iPod covers at a magazine industry trade show recently. Like most of us, the magazine industry is already prepping for the holiday season and thinking about what items will make it big this year. Could it be that hemp iPod covers will trump designer iPhone cases, or are they a little too green for your liking? Personally, I love the textures and colors and think these would be great, durable cases. What do you think?
Source: Apartment Therapy

PVC Shower Curtains = Bad For Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Air pollution affects our health, but most of us think about the air outside being polluted - not the air in our homes. There are many silent culprits polluting our air from odorless radon to stinky off-gassing PVCs (polyvinyl chloride). It seems that PVCs are in just about everything from household items like vinyl flooring, vinyl shower curtains, and children’s toys to beauty products like perfumes, nail polish, and lotions. Plus PVC is very difficult to recycle and never breaks down.

Since many "plastic" shower curtains are made from PVC which off-gasses plasticizers that are potential hormone disruptors. Plus, they are easier to throw away than to clean once they become covered with mildew. These plastic/PVC shower curtains never breakdown and they are difficult to recycle. On so many levels, plastic shower curtains are just plain bad news.

A simple way to improve the quality of air in your house is to replace vinyl shower curtains with cloth ones made of organic cotton or hemp. Of course you should use a nylon liner in stead of a plastic one. You can easily wash both a cloth shower curtain and the nylon liner, so they will be around in your bathroom for a long time, rather than clogging up landfills. Plus hemp is naturally mildew resistant and sturdy, there's a reason sailors made ropes out of the fiber. Some hemp curtains are so thick, they don't even require a liner!

The only downside that I can see is that hemp curtains only come in "natural" and "white" - not so fashionable. Since the green revolution has begun, I think we will start seeing fun colors in these shower curtains.

And you, what kind of shower curtain do you have? Let me know in the comments section below.

What is the Deal With: Hemp Seeds

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:30:00 PDT

I write almost weekly about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Well, after a bit more research I found another non-fish source for my beloved healthy fat: hemp seeds.

I have been seeing hemp products around for the last decade and thought they were simply part of the "legalize marijuana campaign," but I was mistaken. Hemp, used for the manufacturing of rope in Elizabethan England, is part of the cannibas family of plants, but contains only a trace amount of the THC (the "active ingredient" if you will of "pot" that makes you high). So while it is related to "pot" it has a different make up and is considered by some to be a super food.

What hemp does contain is a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are both important for healthy circulation, cell growth and the immune system. While western diets are generally high in omega-6s they lack sources of omega-3s, so hemp seeds provide another source of this essential fatty acid. Hemp seeds also contain small amounts of magnesium and zinc that can boost energy levels and regulate hormone balance. Hemp seeds also have a high protein content.

You can eat just the seeds - it is said that you can snack on toasted hemp seeds at the cinema in China. However, it is most commonly found as oil that has a sweet taste reminiscent of pine nuts. Folks generally use it as they would flax seed oil - spread on toast, in salad dressing, or added to smoothies. People who eat hemp oil regularly claim it has an amazing impact on their skin by making it feel naturally moisturized from the inside out.

Hemp seed oil has really taken off in the UK, and I suspect it will become easier to find state side soon since even our most reputable alternative therapies doctor, Andrew Weil, is a fan of the oil.

What's a Complete Protein? Inquiring Vegetarians Want to Know

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:00:00 PDT

Protein is essential for many bodily processes, including building and repairing tissue. You use protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Plus, your hair and nails are mostly made up of protein. It is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

Protein is made of smaller components called amino acids, 12 of which are manufactured by the human body. Another 9, called essential amino acids, must be obtained from food.

A complete protein or whole protein is a protein that contains all of the essential amino acids.

All animal proteins are complete, including red meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy. Vegetarians will be happy to know that complete proteins can also be obtained through certain plants, such as soy, spirulina, hemp seed, amaranth, buckwheat, and my fave quinoa.

Foods can be combined to make complete proteins like pairing beans with rice or corn. There are other combinations as well. Beans and seeds, beans and nuts, and beans and grains will form a complete protein. When you eat hummus and pita bread, nut butter on whole grain bread, pasta with beans, veggie burgers on bread, split pea soup with whole grain bread, and tortillas with refried beans, you are eating complete proteins.

Fit's Tips: Recent studies show that the beans and the grains don't even need to be eaten at the same meal, so if you eat beans for lunch and rice with dinner, you've got yourself a complete protein. You may spread your food combination over a 2-day period.

You Don't Know Chuck

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 09:45:00 PST

I thought I'd seen it all when it comes to going green, but Converse has since proven me wrong.

Your good ole' Chuck Taylors are going green, literally. The hemp slip on Chuck Taylor ($62) by Converse is quite possibly the maker's only eco-friendly shoe. The normally canvas upper part of the shoe is made from hemp. Yup, hemp.

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em." Buy them here.