14% of Americans say they use CBD products.
Many folks swear by its benefits, including natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties, anxiety relief, and clear skin. There is even some evidence suggesting that it may help with post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder.
But what about hemp oil for cooking?
Is it safe, and how can it benefit your food and your health? Which is the best oil to use?
Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
1. What Is Hemp Oil?
Hemp oil refers to a spectrum of oil from the Cannabis sativa plant or hemp seed oil, which comes from the seeds of a hemp plant.
All forms of hemp oil come from food-grain strains of hemp, so there is little risk of intoxication. Food-grain strains of hemp must contain less than 0.3% of the THC that causes intoxication.
Hemp oil can get taken orally, or it can get applied to your skin.
Hemp seed oil comes from the small stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant. They do not contain the same levels of the compound as the plant itself, but they do still contain a rich amount of nutrients, fatty acids, and bioactive compounds.
2. What Are The Benefits of Hemp Oil?
Many folks use hemp oil to relieve pain that gets caused by inflammation. It can be a helpful natural treatment for pain, often substituting for over-the-counter or prescription pain medication. Hemp oil that contains CBD can also help to relieve general tension in muscles.
Hemp oils can help clear up skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. This is due to the high quality of fats and other compounds in the oil.
Hemp oil for cooking may also have a positive effect on heart issues, including high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and cholesterol levels.
Hemp oil can also help with premenstrual syndrome, which may get caused by sensitivity to the hormone prolactin and low prostaglandin. The linolenic acid in hemp oil can help in prostaglandin production. Hemp seed oil may also protect against the complications in menopause.
Your brain requires lots of healthy fats in order to function optimally. This and other compounds can help protect the brain and keep it working at its best.
3. Hemp Oil For Cooking
Hemp oil gets used in cooking for a number of reasons. It contains sitosterol, which helps reduce cholesterol in our bodies. It also contains Omega-9, Omega-6, and Omega-3.
Omega-3 fats are very important and have many powerful health benefits for your body and brain. It can help combat depression and anxiety.
Omega-3’s can also help lower your risks for heart attacks and strokes by reducing your triglycerides and lowering your blood pressure. It can keep your heart arteries smooth and free from the plaque that can restrict and harden them. They can also raise your levels of good cholesterol and help prevent the formation of unhealthy blood clots.
Omega-3’s can help promote brain health and reduce your levels of inflammation. They can also fight off autoimmune disease. Omega 3’s can also help with weight control and reduce your waist circumference.
Omega-6 fatty acids have similar benefits, lowering your bad cholesterol levels and reducing your cancer risk. They can also reduce your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Omega-9 fatty acids are monounsaturated. They can improve your insulin sensitivity and decrease inflammation.
Hemp oil contains twenty amino acids. These help with burning fat, reducing muscle fatigue, and endurance. It also contains dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Hemp oil can get added to salad dressings, smoothies, and sauces for maximum benefits and taste.
4. Organic Hemp Oil
Organic hemp oil is cold-pressed and affordable. It is created in small, handcrafted batches that are best for quality. Find a great hemp processor for your own supply.
Organic hemp oil for cooking has anti-inflammatory properties and contains amino acids, collagen, and vitamin E. Collagen can improve the overall look of your skin, as well as joint health. It can also prevent bone loss and support your heart.
Vitamin E helps protect us from the free radicals that damage our cells and cause certain types of cancer. It can also boost our immunity and help us fight off other diseases.
Some organic hemp oil may also contain chlorophyll, which can help with weight loss and skin healing.
Many organic oils are GMO-free and not tested on animals.
5. Cold-Pressed Hemp Oil
The best hemp oil is cold-pressed using modern steel presses. It uses minimal heat. This means that the oil has not gotten bleached or deodorized.
These oils can help oil maintain their full nutritional value, flavor, and aroma.
It can get used to enhance the flavor of salads, pasta dishes, and desserts.
6. Unrefined Hemp Seed Oil
The unrefined hemp seed oil has a shorter shelf life and should get stored in the refrigerator once it is opened. It is created by cold-pressing hemp seeds and may improve your health in a number of ways. Unrefined hemp seed oils retain more fatty acids than refined oils.
Unrefined hemp seed oil can lower your blood pressure and improve arrhythmia. It can also decrease your risk of heart disease. Unrefined hem oil contains lots of vitamins and nutrients.
Many unrefined hemp oils work great for those on special diets, including vegan, paleo, and keto.
7. Extra-Virgin Hemp Oil
Extra-virgin hemp oil is cold-pressed, with a dark green color and nutty flavor. It is great for dressings, dips, soups, and salads.
8. How To Use It
Hemp seed oil tastes a little like walnuts or sunflower seeds, making it good for salad dressings or bread dip. It has a strong flavor and won’t work well with things that are sweet or delicate. Hemp seed oil could, however, get mixed with a milder oil in a salad dressing.
Hemp seed oil can get used as a substitute for other common cooking oils, including olive oil or coconut oil. It makes a colorful finishing oil for drizzling on soups or other entrees.
Hemp seed oil is darker and more intense than vegetable oils. It has a low boiling point, which could negatively affect flavor if it is used in frying.
Hemp seed oil is, however, great when drizzled on rice or grain salads, such as quinoa. It is also good for dipping toast points.
You can add hemp seed oil to homemade sauces, such as pesto. You may also want to drizzle it on hummus or roasted veggies.
Most well-stocked grocery stores in the US will carry at least one brand of cold-pressed hemp seed oil. It will be on the shelf with other cooking oils or with refrigerated health food products. You can also order it online.
Hemp seed oil is usually stored in a refrigerator or freezer once opened.
9. What To Make
You can whip up your own hemp vinegarette using a little balsamic oil, salt, pepper, and lemon. It can also get used on roasting veggies such as potatoes, squash, and turnips. Try this garlic hemp vinegarette for a nutty flavor on your spinach leaves.
If you are whipping up a basic stir-fry with chicken, veggies, garlic, rice, or rice noodles, add some hemp oil along with your soy sauce for kicked-up flavor and maximum health benefits.
Try quinoa, couscous, or tabouleh bowl with roasted veggies, mushrooms, feta, or tofu. These grains are rich in selenium and may lower your cancer risk. Finish up with a sweet balsamic and a little hemp oil for flavor.
Hemp oil for cooking can also work great in granola. This is a great way to start your morning, as granola is rich in fiber and protein. It may also provide iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamin E.
Granola is good for weight loss because you get a lot of satiety in every bite without a lot of carbs. And hemp oil can boost your nutrition and satisfaction levels.
Try it in homemade salsa with some lemon juice or tomatoes. Or add a little nuttiness to your own hemp butter with maple syrup. This makes a great addition to pancakes or waffles in the morning.
You can even make a vegan gluten-free pumpkin spice latte for the ultimate morning pick-me-up.
Hemp oil is a great source of plant-based protein nutrition. It is easily digestible and supports weight loss.
The Finest Hemp Oil
The best hemp oil for cooking is pure, clean and delicious. It provides endless nutritional benefits and can be added to any number of recipes for a healthful, nutty flavor.
For more information on healthy eating and hemp oil for cooking, read our blog today.
