Hemp for weight loss: how hemp protein supports the diet

The range of fasting cures is promising and extensive: Low Carb or eating like in the Stone Age, intermittent fasting, losing weight while sleeping, or a short and sharp "military diet"... there is no one-size-fits-all recipe because every person has an individual metabolism and must find the path that suits them in the diet landscape. What we all share is the experience that losing weight is usually not easy, and we often find ourselves stuck in the frustrating endless loop of "after the diet is before the diet." Fighting the kilos with hemp? Hemp is an "all-round plant" and has a lot to offer. It is no wonder that it also wants to support us in losing weight. A combination of hemp products with sufficient exercise and a balanced diet can demonstrably make the pounds drop. If we then sensibly incorporate hemp into a healthy meal plan, the chances are pleasantly good that we will also maintain our weight.

Why hemp products are so effective for weight loss

Small but full of power – as a nutritionally high-quality base, hemp seeds have served humans as a staple food for thousands of years. With 28-35 percent valuable fatty acids, 20-25 percent protein including all essential amino acids, a high fiber content, and many important minerals and vitamins, they can truly be impressive.

Healthy fatty acids from hemp oil for an active metabolism

Fat is a "red rag" for many, and we try to avoid it as much as possible. But it does not necessarily make you fat, as "ketogenic" diets show, where a lot of fat and few carbohydrates are eaten. But not all fatty foods are healthy. Industrially hardened fats, consisting of so-called trans fats, such as margarine, should be avoided. They seem to preferentially settle as belly fat, which is not only stubborn but also poses a high health risk. On the other hand, the polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are extremely healthy. Hemp seeds and the hemp seed oil derived from them contain plenty of these, and in an optimal composition – a crucial prerequisite for our body to work effectively. We also find oleic acid (omega-9) abundantly in hemp oil, which is also one of the few sources of the health-beneficial gamma-linolenic acid.

Hemp oil boosts our metabolism

The cell walls in our body consist, among other things, of fatty acids that we absorb through food. Omega-3 fatty acids keep them flexible so that, for example, glucose, vitamins, and important nutrients can be transported better and more efficiently into the cells, which is crucial for sustainable weight loss. If we eat too many saturated fatty acids, the cell membranes harden, and substances are less well absorbed into the cells. With "good" fat, our cells are thus more efficient, and it can also counteract inflammation in the body. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids contained in hemp seed oil also support the hormone balance, which among other things regulates our feeling of hunger.

Color and taste matter!

We should only use organic quality and cold-pressed hemp oil. It is greenish-yellow; warm-pressed oil, on the other hand, has a rather dark green color. And beware, an oil may still be labeled "cold-pressed" even if it was cooled only after the pressing process! The aroma of high-quality hemp oil can be described as fresh-nutty to herbal. If it tastes bitter, it was probably pressed too hot or is already rancid. With its low smoke point of about 165°C, hemp oil is not suitable for frying and deep-frying, as the fatty acids decompose at higher temperatures. On the other hand, it can be used without hesitation for steaming and poaching and is perfectly suited for marinades, sauces, dressings, or spreads.

Proteins from hemp seeds & hemp protein as natural appetite suppressants

Our feeling of satiety does not primarily depend on how calorie-rich our meals are. Much more important is what we eat. Proteins are much more effective satiators than fat and carbohydrates and are therefore very helpful when it comes to losing weight – a reason to include them more in our diet plan.
Hemp protein contains between 40 and 52 percent high-quality proteins and many fibers with a very low carbohydrate content. It covers the entire amino acid spectrum in an optimal ratio, is particularly well tolerated, and easily digestible. This means it is quickly broken down in the intact gastrointestinal tract, usually without causing bloating, and metabolized alkalinely. These are plenty of advantages when it comes to doing good for the body and better regulating weight. With high-quality protein, our organism can form many endogenous proteins. The more similar the proteins from food are to those of the body, the easier it can absorb and use them in the right place without producing excessive "waste." This waste arises when proteins, for example, are not correctly synthesized or are misfolded and thus function improperly. They must be disposed of, which can burden the kidneys and liver.

Edestin with arginine and methionine – a strong trio

Hemp protein is a unique source of edestin, a very well-tolerated storage protein that the body can utilize very well and quickly due to its similarity to the human globulin proteins in blood plasma. Edestin has a very high content of (L-)arginine and (L-)methionine.

L-Arginine gets us going

Hemp protein naturally contains about 6 g of arginine per 100 g, more than whey protein and all other plant protein sources. L-arginine is indispensable for essential bodily functions and forms the body's own messenger nitric oxide (NO) after reacting with oxygen. This causes the dilation of blood vessels and thus has a positive effect on blood pressure and the blood supply to organs. By stimulating the release of the growth hormone somatotropin from the pituitary gland, L-arginine positively influences our protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism as well as fat burning. When we consume more amino acids and the body can synthesize more proteins, this promotes, for example, our muscle growth with simultaneously delayed protein oxidation. L-arginine also increases blood glucose concentration and thus insulin secretion and acts as an insulin antagonist in the uptake of glucose into our body cells. Especially with increasing age, we must ensure sufficient L-arginine intake because our organism then loses the ability to obtain enough L-arginine from food. The body can produce it itself, but especially under physical and mental stress, this is usually not enough.

Methionine helps detoxify

This essential sulfur-containing amino acid is involved in a whole series of important metabolic processes. It plays a role in the formation of many protein-containing substances, is essential for the uptake of selenium and zinc, and thanks to its sulfur, it binds and eliminates toxic heavy metal compounds.
Hemp protein gets its greenish color from chlorophyll, which is found in the shells of hemp seeds. The green pigment of plants, with which they perform photosynthesis, is also called "green blood" because it is almost identical to our red blood pigment, hemoglobin. Chlorophyll is said, among other things, to improve oxygen enrichment in the blood and also to have a cleansing and detoxifying effect.

Controversial carbohydrates

Hemp protein contains hardly any carbohydrates with only 4 g of sugar per 100 g. However, they are quite important for weight regulation because they play a central role in muscle building. It depends on the type of carbohydrates and the question of whether our body "burns" them easily or unfortunately forms unwanted fat deposits. This probably depends on our individual thermogenesis, that is, the production of heat through the activity of our metabolism. If our thermogenesis is powerful, we can consider ourselves lucky because we simply burn a large part of our excess energy. If it is rather modest, we must keep an eye on carbohydrate consumption to avoid carrying stubborn body fat.

Fiber against cravings and for better digestion

Fiber mostly comes from our plant-based food. They are largely indigestible and indispensable for efficient digestion. We should always consume about 30 grams daily with plenty of fluids so they can swell. Unhulled hemp seeds provide us with a large amount of valuable fiber, with a content of 40 to 50 percent, and hemp protein with about 13 g per 100 g. Their soluble representatives form a kind of gel in water. This slows down the passage of food through the digestive tract and allows more nutrients to be absorbed in the small intestine. They also reduce glucose absorption, so blood sugar rises more slowly, and we are spared from craving attacks. Insoluble fibers like cellulose and lignin get our intestines moving by absorbing water. This increases the volume of its contents, which in turn activates bowel activity and gives us regular and relaxed bowel movements. Cellulose can also bind and excrete harmful toxins. In this way, our organism is detoxified and further relieved.

Vitamins & minerals: all-round supply during weight loss

Without an active and healthy metabolism, it is difficult to lose the annoying pounds. Therefore, our body should be optimally supplied with valuable vitamins, minerals, and other secondary plant compounds during a diet. We find this vital nutrient cocktail in concentrated form in hemp seeds. Minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium and B vitamins are essential for our metabolism. The immune system is supported by zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E, which also capture harmful free radicals.

Bitter substances from hemp: less craving for sweets

For our liver and pancreas, they are literally bitterly needed because, without bitter substances, they have a hard time keeping our digestion in shape. They can also support us as effective appetite suppressants in losing weight by causing a faster feeling of satiety and at the same time curbing our craving for sweets. In the past, they were a matter of course, naturally present in grains as well as in almost all vegetables and many fruits. Since they have been bred out of most foods, we eat well beyond hunger. No wonder, as our taste buds are no longer accustomed to bitter substances. We love sweets, salty, and the taste of the whole variety of preservatives, which can quite directly affect our weight. Therefore, it is good if we take bitter substances daily, preferably before meals, for example with radicchio, chicory, arugula, dandelion leaves, or also in the form of bitter elixirs.

With weight loss and sport to a healthy lifestyle

Within the framework of a "hemp diet," for example, one meal a day can be replaced by a hemp protein shake. The motto shake instead of meal saves calories, satisfies hunger, and at the same time supplies the body with important nutrients and fibers. When baking, the amount of wheat or spelt flour can be replaced by up to 30 percent with hemp protein ("hemp flour"). Fewer carbohydrates mean fewer calories, but more proteins and fibers make you feel full faster. In everything we do good for our body in the kitchen, exercise must not be missing! When we build muscle, it helps enormously with weight loss. When we sweat, our muscle cells burn more glucose, which they absorb from the blood, and when we are active, our body perceives important satiety signals more sensitively. It increases its metabolic activity, promotes circulation, and at the same time, we find more restful sleep. Hemp products can therefore help us in many ways to remain capable, balanced, and healthy in work, everyday life, and leisure. It is worth exploiting the full potential of this brilliant plant, and hopefully, it will also experience a widespread comeback as a "diet companion" and part of a balanced diet. Let's look forward to spring and warmer times "lightweight"!

Sources:
Zika, U.; Thurner, P.; Thurner, A.: The Hemp Diet; Kneipp-Verlag, 2019
Thurner, A.; Thurner, B.; Thurner, P.: Healing Hemp; Kneipp-Verlag, 2018

Image sources: (c) HANAFSAN