Losing Weight with Hemp – How Hemp Protein, Hemp Seeds & Hemp Oil Can Support You While Dieting

The range of fasting cures is promising and extensive: Low Carb or eating like in the Stone Age, intermittent fasting, losing weight in your sleep, or a short and snappy "military diet"... there is no one-size-fits-all recipe, as every person has their individual metabolism and must find the right path for themselves in the diet landscape. We all share the experience that losing weight is often not easy, and we often find ourselves 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's no wonder that it wants to support us in losing weight as well. A combination of hemp products with sufficient exercise and a balanced diet can demonstrably help shed pounds. If we then sensibly incorporate hemp into a healthy meal plan, the chances are quite good that we can maintain our weight.

Why hemp products are so effective for weight loss

Small but powerful – hemp seeds have served as a staple food for humans for millennia. 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 are truly impressive.

Healthy fatty acids from hemp oil for an active metabolism

Fat is a "red flag" for many, and we try to avoid it as much as possible. But it doesn't necessarily make you fat, as "ketogenic" diets show, where a lot of fat and very few carbohydrates are consumed. However, not all high-fat foods are healthy. Industrially hardened fats made from so-called trans fatty acids, such as margarine, should be avoided. They seem to preferentially accumulate as belly fat, which not only stubbornly persists but also poses a high health risk. In contrast, the polyunsaturated Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are extremely healthy. Hemp seeds and the hemp seed oil derived from them contain a lot of these, and in an optimal composition – a crucial requirement for our body to function effectively. We also find oleic acid (Omega-9) abundantly in hemp oil, which is 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 take in through food. Omega-3 fatty acids keep them supple, allowing them to transport glucose, vitamins, and important nutrients more effectively and efficiently into the cells, which is crucial for sustainable weight loss. If we consume 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 hormonal balance, which regulates our sense of hunger, among other things.

It's all about color and taste!

We should only use hemp oil in organic quality and cold-pressed. It is greenish-yellow; warm-pressed, on the other hand, has a darker green color. And beware, an oil can still be labeled as "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 break down at higher temperatures. However, it can be used without hesitation for steaming and poaching and is perfect for marinades, sauces, dressings, or spreads.

Proteins from hemp seeds & hemp protein as natural satiators

Our feeling of fullness does not primarily depend on how calorie-dense our meals are. Much more important is what we eat. Proteins are significantly more effective satiators than fats and carbohydrates, making them very helpful when it comes to losing weight – a reason to incorporate them more into our diet plan.
Hemp protein contains between 40 and 52 percent high-quality proteins and many fibers with a very low carbohydrate content. It encompasses the entire amino acid spectrum in an optimal ratio, is particularly well-tolerated, and easily digestible. This means it is quickly broken down in an intact gastrointestinal tract, usually without causing bloating, and is metabolized in a basic manner. These are many advantages when it comes to doing good for the body and better regulating weight. With high-quality protein, our organism can form many body proteins. The closer the proteins from food are to those of the body, the easier they can be absorbed and utilized correctly, without producing excessive "waste." Waste occurs when proteins are not synthesized correctly or are misfolded, leading to faulty functioning. They need to be disposed of, which can burden the kidneys and liver.

Edestin with Arginine and Methionine – a powerful 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 human globulin proteins in blood plasma. Edestin has a very high content of (L-)arginine and (L-)methionine.

L-Arginine gets us moving

Hemp protein contains about 6 g of arginine per 100 g, naturally more than whey protein and all other plant protein sources. L-arginine is essential for vital body functions and, after reacting with oxygen, forms the body's own messenger substance nitric oxide (NO). This causes the blood vessels to dilate, positively affecting blood pressure and the blood supply to the 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 our muscle growth while simultaneously delaying the oxidation of proteins. L-arginine also leads to increased glucose concentration in the blood and thus more insulin release and acts as an insulin antagonist in the uptake of glucose into our body cells. Especially as we age, we need to ensure an adequate intake of L-arginine, as our organism then loses the ability to obtain enough L-arginine from food. The body can produce it itself, but especially under physical and emotional stress, this is usually not sufficient.

Methionine aids detoxification

This essential sulfur-containing amino acid is involved in a whole range of important metabolic processes. It plays a role in the formation of many protein-containing substances, is essential for the absorption of selenium and zinc, and ensures, thanks to its sulfur, the binding and excretion of toxic heavy metal compounds.
Its greenish color comes from the chlorophyll found in the shells of hemp seeds. The green pigment of plants, with which they carry out photosynthesis, is also referred to as "green blood," as it is almost identical to our red blood pigment, hemoglobin. Chlorophyll is said to improve oxygen enrichment in the blood and also has a cleansing and detoxifying effect.

Controversial carbohydrates

Hemp protein contains only 4 g of sugar per 100 g, hardly any carbohydrates. However, they are quite important for weight regulation because they play a central role in muscle building. Here, the type of carbohydrates matters, as well as whether our body "burns" them easily or unfortunately forms unwanted fat deposits. This likely depends on our individual thermogenesis, which is the production of heat through metabolic activity. If our thermogenesis is strong, we can consider ourselves lucky because we simply burn a large part of our excess energy. If it is rather modest, we need to keep an eye on carbohydrate intake so that we do not carry them as stubborn body fat.

Fiber against cravings and for better digestion

Fiber mainly comes from our plant-based food. They are largely indigestible and essential for efficient digestion. We should consume around 30 grams daily with plenty of fluids so they can swell. Unhulled hemp seeds provide us with a fiber content of 40 to 50 percent, and hemp protein offers about 13 g per 100 g of valuable fibers. Their soluble types form a kind of gel in water. This slows down the passage of food through the digestive tract, allowing more nutrients to be absorbed in the small intestine. They also reduce glucose absorption, so blood sugar levels rise more slowly, and we are spared from hunger attacks. Insoluble fibers like cellulose and lignin stimulate our intestines by absorbing water. This increases the volume of its contents, which in turn activates intestinal activity and provides us with 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: Comprehensive supply for weight loss

Without an active and healthy metabolism, it will be difficult to lose those pesky pounds. Therefore, our body should be optimally supplied with valuable vitamins, minerals, and other secondary plant substances during a diet. In hemp seeds, we find this vital substance cocktail in concentrated form. Minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium and the B vitamins are essential for our metabolism. The immune system is reinforced 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, as without bitter substances, they struggle to keep our digestion in check. They can also support us in losing weight as effective appetite suppressants by providing a quicker feeling of fullness while simultaneously curbing our cravings for sweets. In the past, they were a given, naturally found in grains as well as in almost all vegetable and many fruit varieties. Since they have been bred out of most foods, we tend to eat far beyond our hunger. No wonder, as our taste buds are no longer accustomed to bitter substances. We love sweet, salty, and the taste of the entire variety of preservatives, which can directly reflect in our weight. Therefore, it's beneficial to consume bitter substances daily, preferably before meals, for example, with radicchio, chicory, arugula, dandelion leaves, or in the form of bitter elixirs.

A healthy lifestyle through weight loss and exercise

As part of a "hemp diet," one meal of the day can be replaced with a hemp protein shake. The motto Shake instead of meal saves calories, satisfies, and simultaneously provides 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, while more proteins and fibers lead to quicker satiety. In everything we do to benefit our body in the kitchen: movement should not be neglected! When we build muscle, it helps tremendously with weight loss. When we break a sweat, our muscle cells burn more glucose, which they take from the blood, and when we are active, our body perceives important satiety signals more sensitively. It increases its metabolic activity, promotes circulation, and we also find ourselves in a more restful sleep. Thus, hemp products can help us in various ways to remain efficient, balanced, and healthy in work, daily life, and leisure. It is worth tapping into the full potential of this brilliant plant, and we hope that it will also make a widespread comeback as a "diet companion" and part of a balanced diet. Let's look forward to a "lightweight" spring and warmer times!

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

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