The global market for industrial hemp accounted for $4.71 billion in 2019. By 2027, this market is expected to skyrocket to a staggering $41.78 billion.
But what exactly is hemp? More importantly, what are the health benefits of hemp? These are some of the issues we discuss in today’s post.
Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
What Is Hemp?
Hemp refers to a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species grown for the industrial applications of its derived products. This breed of Cannabis contains 0.3% or less THC content.
The use of hemp dates back over 10,000 years when the plant was spun into usable fiber. Before the legal legitimization of its definition in the Agricultural Act of 2018, the term ‘hemp’ was used to describe non-intoxicating Cannabis grown for the industrial use of its derived products.
Some other common names for hemp include:
- Narrow-leaf hemp
- Catchfly
- Indian-hemp
- Bitterroot
- Milkweed
- Wild cotton
By industrial application, the food sector leads the rest in terms of demand for hemp. Hemp is widely popular as a breakfast cereal because of its nutrient-rich profile. The product contains essential fatty acids that are essential for proper body performance.
What Are the Health Benefits of Hemp?
Different parts of the hemp plant are harvested for making different products that have huge benefits for your body. Hemp flower and hemp seeds, in particular, have multiple health benefits for people of all ages. Below, we discuss seven of them.
- Enhances Hormone Balance
There’s a full spectrum hemp oil benefits that includes enhancing your body’s hormonal balance. Hemp oil contains gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). This fatty acid is essential for the synthesis of prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are identical to hormones and contribute to numerous body functions. GLA supplements can significantly improve your hormone health and reduce some of the symptoms associated with PMS, including menstrual cramps. Hemp seed oil is also thought to reduce feelings of irritability, breast tenderness, swelling, and depression.
For women going through menopause, hemp oil can reduce symptoms such as hot flashes and irritability.
- Boosts Heart Health
Hemp oil contains omega-6 and omega-3 in the right ideal ratio, which is 3:1. This ratio is perfect for your heart’s health, as it is within the recommended ratio of 4:1 and below. The essential fatty acids found in hemp reduce your cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease.
Hemp seed oil is also rich in GLA and the enzyme lipase, which help in the removal of plaque buildup within your blood vessels and cell membranes. This non-invasive chelation treatment boosts your heart health and averts heart disease.
Hemp oil also contains the amino acid arginine, which aids in the production of nitric acid. Nitric acid relaxes and dilates your blood vessels, reducing blood pressure, and preventing heart disease.
GLA is also highly effective in reducing inflammation, averting potential heart illnesses caused by the condition.
- Aids in Weight Loss
One of the most popular hemp benefits is the product’s effectiveness in helping people reduce weight. The GLA in hemp seeds reduces sugar cravings and suppresses appetite. The result is that you take in fewer calories and lose weight over time.
GLA supplements also reduce weight gain. Research shows that formerly obese people who take GLA supplements gain back less weight compared to individuals who don’t.
- Alleviates Skin Conditions and Keeps Your Skin Moisturized
The hemp protein benefits for skin are many. These proteins are highly effective for providing relief for skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, minor abrasions, and itchy skin. The oil also strengthens your skin and boosts its ability to resist bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Hemp seed oil is also a good skin moisturizer that gets easily absorbed by your skin. But that’s not all; the oil acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss, keeping your skin looking supple all day. And since hemp seed oil is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, it’s the ideal skin food.
One of the hemp flower benefits is its ability to boost sebum production. Sebum, as you probably already know, is essential for youthful-looking skin.
- Beneficial to Your Digestive Health
Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 in hemp oil, can synthesize eicosanoids. These compounds regulate the secretion of digestive juices and other hormones that enhance your digestive health. In addition, these hormones have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation in your digestive tract and relieve such problems as bowel disorder.
Fatty acids in hemp also help promote beneficial microbes in your gut flora. The result is that your overall digestive health and overall immune system.
- Enhances Hair Growth
Another proven health benefit of essential fatty acids in hemp is their effectiveness in adding shine and moisture to your hair. These compounds also boost hair growth, strengthen brittle hair strands, and help your hair grow thicker.
There’s also evidence that applying hemp oil on the scalp can reduce scalp problems such as itchiness, dryness, dandruff, and possible psoriasis.
- Pain Relief
Hemp is also a proven form of natural pain relief when ingested or applied topically. The product has anti-inflammatory properties that are useful for infections, injuries, or autoimmune conditions that cause pain.
Rubbing hemp oil into your muscles or onto sore joints after a workout can also help relieve discomfort. For people who don’t like taking allopathic pain killers for chronic pain, hemp has also been shown to help.
Enjoy the Health Benefits of Hemp
With the use of hemp becoming increasingly popular in the United States, a lot of research into the plant still ongoing. The many health benefits of hemp are clear, though. It’s the reason many people have made hemp supplements part of their daily food intake.
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