Do not be confused with CBD oil and hemp seed oil. But they are both made from cannabis plants. Marijuana and hemp are the two types of cannabis (hemp is Cannabis sativa, while marijuana is Cannabis indica1). Hemp seed oil, an omega-rich2 cooking oil, is made by cold pressing hemp seeds. While the substance known as CBD, or cannabidiol, is extracted from the hemp plant’s flowers, leaves, and stems to make CBD oil.
The key difference between hemp and marijuana is that, whereas marijuana may contain the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)3, hemp contains very little of it. In other words, hemp does not get you high like marijuana does.
The hemp plant has been used for various purposes since ancient times. It is one of the plants with the quickest growth rates, and 50,000 years ago, it was one of the first plants to be spun into useful fiber.
Its seeds can be used to make protein powder, tea, hemp milk, baking mixes, and other things. Clothing, bags, ship rope, cardboard, nets, and many other products can be created from its fiber. While the oil can be utilized as food-grade oil, and can be used to produce non-toxic lubricants, cosmetics, body care products, and fuel.
Benefits and Uses of Hemp Seed Oil
Since it contains a lot of unsaturated fatty acids4, hemp seed oil is frequently used in place of conventional cooking oils in the kitchen.
When hemp seeds are cold-pressed into hemp seed oil, the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are still there and may have some cardiovascular therapeutic properties. Gamma-linolenic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B9, vitamin D, and vitamin E are all present in it too.5
Because it gives our bodies essential nutrients, it can help strengthen the immune system6. No sodium, sugar, carbs, or proteins can be found in hemp seed oil.
The nail, hair and skin benefit greatly from this oil as well! And it also contains a lot of important fatty acids, which are useful in treating eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and other skin irritations7. Skin cell production and repair are made possible by nutrients like the linoleic acid found in hemp seed oil8. Additionally, it possesses anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antiviral effects9.
Hemp seed oil has been referred to as “Nature’s most perfectly balanced oil.”
How to Cook with Hemp Seed Oil
Although hemp seed oil is rich in nutrients that are good for the body, cooking cannot be done with it. It can easily become rancid if exposed to heat. Yes, it has a low smoke point. However, it can be used to drizzle over dishes, salads, and many other things.
It appears clear green in hue, with thin consistency and tastes nutty, peppery and herbaceous.
Unexpectedly, hemp seed oil can be consumed undiluted or added to a variety of raw foods, including dip, salads, spreads, smoothies, and more. Hemp pizza rolls, garlic hemp oil salad dressing, hemp pesto, halloumi wraps, bean salad, rice da-al, and other well-known recipes are just a few that highlight hemp seed oil’s distinctive flavor.
Products
1. Unrefined Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp oil that has not been refined has not been deodorized or bleached. It has a nutty flavor and ranges in hue from dark to clear bright green. The flavor is more grassy the darker the hue.
2. Expeller-Pressed Hemp Seed Oil
During expeller pressing, up to 95% of the oils from the hemp seeds are extracted. Since no solvents are employed in the process, there is no risk of any hexane residue remaining even though no additional heat is utilized; nonetheless, the pressure and friction may still produce natural heat with a temperature range of 140° to 210°.
3. Virgin Hemp Seed Oil
Virgin hemp seed oil denotes the highest level of plant qualities and is the result of the initial pressing of the hemp seeds. Dark green hue and earthy odor are its distinguishing features.
4. Pure Hemp Seed Oil
The hemp seed itself is used to make hempseed oil, which typically contains no other ingredients.
5. Cold-Pressed Hemp Seed Oil
Pressing the seeds preserves the flavor and nutrient content of cold-pressed hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil that has been cold-pressed has a mellow, nutty flavor and is pale green in color.
6. Extra Virgin Hemp Seed Oil
It indicates that it is made without chemical additives and from the first pressing of hemp seeds. It has a very low acidity and a delicious oil by nature, and it is only mechanically extracted.
7. Organic Hemp Seed Oil
Cannabis sativa plants are regarded as organic if they were cultivated on soil that has not had any proscribed compounds applied for three years prior to harvest.
8. Hemp Seed Butter
Butter made from hemp seeds has the same benefits as hemp seed oil. Typically, it is made by milling raw hemp seed and cold-pressed hemp seed oil.
Conclusion
Let’s quickly review the key distinction between CBD oil and hemp seed oil. The species they originate from is their primary distinction. While cannabis indica is known as marijuana or CBD, cannabis sativa is hemp. Hemp does not contain any psychotropic ingredients, but marijuana does. Hemp seed oil is merely a carrier oil, all-purpose oil, or artisan oil that can be used in food, on the face or skin, or as an ingredient in skincare and cosmetic goods.
Reference
1 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/indica-vs-sativa
2 https://www.goodhemp.com/hemp-hub/why-hemp-oil-is-better-than-flax-oil/#:~:text=Hemp%20Seed%20Oil%20Benefits&text=It%27s%20naturally%20rich%20in%20omega,form%20of%20the%20fatty%20acid.
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol
4 https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/hemp-seed-oil-properties.html#:~:text=Hemp%20seed%20oil%20contains%20high,acid%20in%20the%20seed%20oil.
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2868018/
6 https://open.maricopa.edu/nutritionessentials/chapter/essential-nutrients/
7 https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-oil-benefits#:~:text=Part%20of%20what%20makes%20hempseed,skin%20conditions%20like%20atopic%20dermatitis.
8 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hemp-oil-for-skin
9 https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2021/jul/04/antifungal-anti-ageing-properties-and-more-the-many-benefits-of-hemp-oil-2324137.html#:~:text=Antifungal%20Properties,microorganisms%20that%20are%20already%20there.