Why Hemp? Free Giveaway!

I know this is long but worth the read!

Hempmilk: a non-dairy beverage made from shelled hemp seeds. Similar to soy or dairy, hempmilk can be used as a milk substitute by the glass, on cereal, in baking or steamed into hot drinks like coffee or chai, or blended cool and frosty into iced drinks.

Right before I left for my marathon I was pleasantly surprised by a nice package from Living Harvest full of lot’s of Hemp goodies! Thanks Katie!
Hempmilk is marketed as an, “alternative to cow’s milk and soy milk, it contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives. An 8-ounce glass contains all 10 essential amino acids, 46 percent of the recommended daily amount of calcium, 4 grams of protein, folic acid, and vitamins A, B12, D, and E.”

I have noticed the Hemp trend going on in the health blog world and I was interested to find out more for myself. Living Harvest sent me a few different types of Hempmilk, chocolate, vanilla, and original along with some Hemp Protein packs and Hemp Nuts. I have tried all of them and so far so good.

I love the chocolate and vanilla Hempmilk, I put it in my cereal, and oatmeal. I also just drink the chocolate by it self and it is quite tasty. I like it because of its frothy texture and I love the creaminess of the vanilla in my oatmeal, it makes my oatmeal just right. I even tried the chocolate protein and hemp seeds in some cereal and it wasn’t too bad. Overall I am very impressed with the texture and flavors. If I had to sum up the review in one sentence, I would say it was my pleasure to try this delectable product!


The more important question is why Hemp Milk? As an athlete and a health nut I wanted to know how this was any different then soy milk and regular milk. So I did a little research.

I find out that “ten of the twenty amino acids the human body requires are considered essential, meaning the body does not make them. We need to get these Essential Amino Acids from food. Hemp Seeds contain all 10 Essential Amino Acids and high levels of branched-chain amino acids, important for the development of lean body mass, as well as muscular repair.” I am sure that is not news to a lot of you, but I am learning so it was news to me.

The key words here are LEAN BODY MASS and MUSCULAR REPAIR!
Those are very important to me. So ok, soy milk has these amino acids so why is hemp protein different? Here is a list of reasons I find out:

1. Hemp protein is highly digestible due to its protein structure and low levels of antinutrients (enzyme inhibitors).
2. Hemp Protein does not have phytates: Soy protein contains phytates which can interfere with the proper assimilation of essential minerals.
3. Hemp Seed allergies are fairly uncommon: Soy allergies are almost as common as cow’s milk. .
4. Hemp Protein is highly digestible, unlike soy protein that contains oligosaccharides which cause flatulence and stomach distress.

Some of the benefits of Hemp milk are: “It is high in protein and is a good source of balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid. It is the only product made from seeds that contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a controversial substance that may help fight cancer, treat problems with inflammation, and auto-immune diseases. It does not contain trypsin inhibitors (trypsin is an enzyme essential to nutrition) or phytic acid which is a strong chelator of important minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc and can therefore contribute to mineral deficiencies (although research shows that phytic acid may prevent colon cancer.)”

Ok so this is what I get from all of this, it’s easier on the tummy and not as many allergies. But what about RECOVERY is it better for me then Soy Milk? In my opinion it really depends on the person’s body. Some people don’t digest soy as easy as hemp or regular milk. They all have great amounts of nutrients and proteins that would help build lean muscle.

RECIPES FROM LIVING HARVEST

Living Harvest Hempuccinoâ„¢
ï‚· Pinch of cinnamon
ï‚· Pinch of clove
ï‚· Pinch of nutmeg
ï‚· 1-2 shots of espresso
ï‚· 6-10 oz Living Harvest Unsweetened Vanilla

Mix the ground spices together in a separate small container and reserve a little for garnish. Add the remaining ground spices to the bottom of the cup. Pull shots and pour over spices. Steam hemp beverage to 140 F and add to spices and shots. Top with the reserved spices. Enjoy.
Living Harvest’s Hemp Protein is the perfect high performance plant-based whole food. Our Hemp Protein is 100% certified organic, raw, cold processed, vegan , gluten-free and kosher. It contains all 10 Essential Amino Acids, a well-balanced ratio of Omega – 3 and Omega – 6 Essential Fatty Acids, and GLA. See Hemp 101 for a complete nutritional profile of hemp seeds.
Our Chocolate Chili Hemp Protein blend has a rich chocolate taste balanced with the right amount of heat from cinnamon and chilies. We use only real ingredients that are chosen for their great taste and natural nutritional benefits. A simple, perfect Foundation Foodâ„¢.
Now available in a 1 lb. (454g) canister as well as single serving packets for travel, work or play.

Corn Chowder (can’t wait to make this one!)
ï‚· 2 1/2 cups Living Harvest Hempmilk
ï‚· 5 ears of corn, shaved (or 5 cups corn kernels)
ï‚· 1 small avocado
ï‚· 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
ï‚· Sea salt to taste
ï‚· 2 Tbsp Living Harvest Organic Hemp Oil
ï‚· 3 Tbsp Living Harvest Organic Hemp Nuts, for garnish

Set aside 1 cup of corn kernels. Blend remaining corn, Hempmilk, avocado, garlic, and salt in a blender until smooth. Stir in the rest of the corn kernels. Transfer to a soup pot and gently warm. Remove from heat, stir in hemp oil, and sprinkle hemp nuts on top. Or, do not heat and serve chilled. Serves 6. Click here for more recipes

Here is an interesting and enlightening assortment of hemp facts:

1) Hemp is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC.

2) Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic. The federal government subsidized hemp during the Second World War and U.S. farmers grew about a million acres of hemp as part of that program.

3) Hemp seed is nutritious and contains more essential fatty acids than any other source, is second only to soybeans in complete protein (but is more digestible by humans), is high in B-vitamins, and is a good source of dietary fiber. Hemp seed is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a drug (learn more at TestPledge.com).

4) The bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibers, which are among the Earth’s longest natural soft fibers and are also rich in cellulose. The cellulose and hemi-cellulose in its inner woody core are called hurds. Hemp stalk is not psychoactive. Hemp fiber is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fiber. Read more

Why Living Harvest?

“ Living Harvestâ„¢ was the originator of the world’s first raw hemp protein in 2002. We understand how to make a raw hemp protein that keeps hemp seeds vital nutrients intact and bio-available. Our Hemp Protein is the highest quality available on the market. Our Hemp Protein is certified organic, cold-processed, vegan, kosher, and manufactured from hemp seeds grown in Canada. We also have 46-50% protein content per serving while other brands offer only 37% protein content. Our Hemp Protein is sweet and easy to consume in a variety of ways.”
I love the variety of milk and proteins out there, and with all this at our fingertips sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming! I know that this doesn’t answer all of your questions so pleas shout them out, and I will do the best I can!

THE GIVEAWAY!

Ok so here if you read this far then here is what you need to do for the free giveaway. Post a comment by Friday October 17th at midnight central time, about why you would like to try Hempmilk, and what type of milks you drink now? The winner will receive a nice package of goodies from Living Harvest!