No pressure, right?
Despite this never-ending climb, one little plant is paving the
way for people to reach their health and wellness goals: hemp. Hemp oil is a
nutty and flavorful oil that is extracted from the stalks or seeds of the hemp
plant. There are different uses for each type of hemp oil, each offering its
own array of uses and unique wellness benefits.
Three powerful uses for hemp
Hemp oil’s benefits are so bountiful and unmistakable that
scientists studied it in-depth even while it was banned in most of society,
including the U.S. Thankfully, the 2018 Farm Bill completely cleared the air and legitimized hemp’s legality by
separating it from its notorious cousin, marijuana. Both are from
the cannabis family, but hemp doesn’t get
you high.
There’s no doubt more benefits will be discovered, but for now,
let’s jump into what hemp oil has already proven.
Hemp seed oil uses for cooking
Hemp seed oil offers a healthy alternative to vegetable oil,
canola oil, or butter.
Its delicious nutty flavor makes it perfect for sautéed
vegetables or meats, salad dressings, or dipping in bread. The main reason for
swapping popular oils for hemp seed oil, is because of the wellness benefits it
offers. It’s very high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), with a perfect 3:1
ratio of omega-3 and omega-6. As the name suggests, EFAs are essential for human health.
Another nutritious benefit of hemp seed oil is its content of
insoluble fiber, protein, and array of minerals such as potassium, magnesium,
iron, zinc, and calcium. These nutritional benefits make hemp a great choice
for anyone, including vegetarians and diabetics. Aside from being extreme
healthy, hemp seed oil is a delicious and flavorful alternative to vegetable
oil and butter.
There is one catch. Using hemp seed oil to cook has some
limitations. Mainly, it can smoke at low temperatures, so it should not be used
for frying or deep-frying.
The other thing to keep an eye out for with hemp seed oil, is if
it is being sold as either hemp oil or CBD hemp oil. Hemp seed oil does not
contain cannabidiol (CBD) like hemp oil does. Therefore, hemp seed oil is much
less expensive than CBD hemp oil or commonly referred to as CBD oil.
CBD hemp oil uses for health
Hemp oil is a loose term often used to talk about oil from any
part of the hemp plant. It’s vital to distinguish the different types, so this
next one is typically called CBD hemp oil or more commonly, CBD oil.
Oil extracted from the mature stalks and flowers (NOT the seeds) of the hemp plant
contain an incredible compound called cannabidiol, or CBD for short. CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System to support a healthy balance throughout the body. Studies have
shown it has potential for concerns related to anxiety and inflammation, with
virtually zero side
effects.
The benefits of CBD hemp oil don’t stop there. It’s also packed
full of important vitamins and minerals that are important for your daily
regimen. Most CBD oil supplements also feature the therapeutic benefits of
plant terpenes.
It’s worth noting the potential medical uses for CBD hemp oil
that are being studied. CBD research topics include inflammation, anxiety, PTSD, sleep,
and much more.
Popular types of CBD hemp oil products
CBD hemp oil can be added to your diet in many ways, such as edibles, pure extracts, and even flavored tinctures. Edibles are available as gummies, chocolates, and more. Pure
extracts are straight CBD hemp oil with no added ingredients. Finally,
tinctures are liquid extracts from the hemp plant and come in many flavors.
These liquid drops are a great way to enhance your diet and supplement your
nutrition.
If you are just starting out with CBD hemp oil, our CBD Oil Buyer’s Guide is a helpful place to figure out which product type to start
with.
Hemp oil uses for skin
Believe it or not, the benefits and uses of hemp oil are not
limited to food or supplements. Hemp oil is becoming increasingly popular in
cosmetics including lotions, shampoos, sunscreens, lip balms, and other skin products.
Hemp oil is rich in vitamins A and E, which act as antioxidants
that heal the skin. It also contains fatty acids that keep the skin hydrated,
and calcium to keep it smooth. For these reasons, it’s becoming wildly popular
for rashes and dry skin. We’re starting to see hemp seed oil added to products
like moisturizers and lips balms as well.
However, it’s still fairly uncommon to find skin care products
made with CBD hemp oil. The skincare benefits of CBD are nothing short of amazing, particularly for inflamed muscles
and joints.
With so many amazing vitamins, minerals and compounds, CBD hemp
oil is a natural defense against dry, aging or sore skin.
Where does hemp oil come from?
Hemp oil can come from the seeds, stalks, or flowers of the hemp
plant. Depending on which part it’s extracted from, it creates different types of hemp oil.
Hemp oil that comes from the seeds is rich in nutrients,
vitamins, and EFAs. It does not contain cannabinoids, like CBD.
When hemp oil comes from the stalks or flowers, it contains a
blend of cannabinoids (CBD, CBDa, CBN, CBC, CBG), terpenes, and other
phytonutrients.
Difference between hemp oil and CBD oil
Sometimes there’s a major difference between hemp oil and CBD
oil, and other time they mean exactly the same thing. It’s all about the
context.
Hemp oil can refer to the oil extracted from any part of the hemp plant, even though
we know there’s a huge difference between them. Both are, technically, “hemp
oil.” It makes sense to use this term in either situation, but then how do we
know what we’re actually getting?
If you buy a “hemp oil” salve with the hope it’s going to soothe
sore muscles, fingers crossed it contains CBD or the benefits probably won’t
meet your expectations. Find out how many milligrams of CBD or “hemp extract”
are in it before buying.
Full Spectrum Hemp Oil vs CBD Isolate
Hemp oil can be considered “full spectrum” or sometimes called
“broad spectrum” when it contains not only CBD, but also all the other plant
parts in hemp.
CBD isolate is what you get when all plant matter and “full
spectrum” characteristics are stripped away, leaving only CBD. CBD isolate
should not be considered hemp oil, though it may be derived from hemp because
it is only CBD and does not contain the other plant nutrients.
Make sure you do your research on the product to verify if it is
in fact CBD oil or hemp seed oil. If you’re looking for a CBD oil salve, it’s a good idea to ask the manufacturer for lab test results
to verify how much CBD is in it.
Hemp oil benefits
Hemp oil is considered a superfood thanks to its wide scope of
nutritional and health benefits. Keeping in our important theme of separating
the two types of hemp oil, let’s look at the benefits of each separately.
First up is hemp oil from the stalks of the plant, which
contains several uniquely powerful compounds.
This type of hemp oil offers the benefits of cannabinoids. A wide range of cannabinoids can be present in hemp oil, like
CBD, CBDa, CBC, CBG, CBN. By a long-shot, however, CBD is the most abundant of
the group. Cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system to support important functions in the brain, central and
peripheral nervous system. This system aims to keep us in homeostasis, so it
must have a tight hold on inflammation, anxiety, and stress.
Another benefit of hemp oil comes from the terpenes. While that may be an unfamiliar word, you’re most likely
already familiar with their benefits. Terpenes are found in all plants, they
are the reason for the benefits popularly associated with essential oils, like
peppermint oil (terpene = mentha piperita).
Not only do terpenes attribute to the plant’s aroma and flavor,
the therapeutic properties play a major role in the benefits of hemp oil. When
cannabinoids and terpenes are working together, they enhance the benefits in
what’s known as the entourage effect.
Bottom Line
Hemp oil is a natural product that offers a multitude of uses to
support health and wellness. This versatile oil can be used in cooking,
supplements, or skincare and provides a multitude of added nutrition. With so
many different options for use, hemp oil can easily become part of a
nutritional program that can help users improve and maintain their overall
health.
This
article originally appeared on MadeByHemp.com
