Here at CBD School we’ve addressed plenty of cannabis topics like:
What is CBD?
Will CBD get me high?
Will CBD make me fail a drug test?
But the ever versatile cannabis plant isn’t all about cannabinoids. In fact, it holds nutritional value as well.
No, we’re not talking about pot brownies here.
Hemp can be a serious source of nutrients that many health food advocates and nutritionists swear by.
This difference, of course, poses a fundamental problem for would-be consumers.
People looking for CBD hemp oil might confuse it with hempseed oil, and buy the incorrect product as a result.
Naturally, we don’t want that to happen. So let’s take a look at what hempseed oil actually is and what it’s used for.
Note: we know people sometimes confuse hemp seeds with cannabis seeds (like Crop King Seeds). This article will help clarify the difference.
Hint: one is for growing marijuana and the other is a highly nutritional food product used to make hempseed oil!
What is Hemp Seed Oil?
Here’s the million dollar question.
You hear the words “hemp” and “oil,” so you therefore conclude that it’s a CBD-rich nutritional supplement.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Hemp seed oil isn’t a medicinal supplement, like its CBD counterpart – but it certainly is nutritious.
Simply put, this means that hemp seeds and its oil are actually a health food.
Fortunately, this means that people in countries where CBD oil is a controlled substance don’t have to worry about legal issues with hempseed oil. It’s a food, plain and simple.
Hempseed Oil vs. CBD Oil
We’ve already established that hempseed oil and CBD oil are two different things.
But let’s look at the specifics.
First and foremost, CBD hemp oil helps alleviate the symptoms of different illnesses.
People often use it to control pain, reduce anxiety and fight insomnia, for instance.
People who either smoke or ingest this oil get no nutritional value from it.
Hempseed oil, again, is strictly a health food.
While eating it certainly carries a lot of benefits, you’re not going to sleep better or get rid of a headache by eating oil derived from hemp seeds.
Do Hemp Seeds Have CBD?
So we know that hempseed oil doesn’t carry the same effects as CBD hemp oil, but does hempseed oil still contain CBD?
This is a question that the Hemp Industries Association has received from thousands of consumers.
Executive Director Eric Steenstra has had to state on multiple occasions that CBD extracts have a CBD concentration of “150,000 parts per million,”1
So the simple answer is “yes, hemp seed oil contains CBD.” But the amount is so negligible that it may as well be considered to not contain any at all.
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Does Hemp Seed Oil Make You High?
No. Hempseed oil, like CBD hemp oil, is made from industrial hemp, which has less than 0.3% of the psychoactive chemical, THC.
Neither CBD hemp oil or hempseed oil will get you high.
CBD hemp oil however may help you relax as it is used by many people to relieve pain, prevent anxiety, and combat depression.
Where Does Hemp Seed Oil Come From?
As the name implies, hempseed oil comes from the seeds of industrial hemp, which is a non-psychoactive member of cannabis sativa which is part of the cannabis plant genus.
Specifically, the hemp seeds are separated from the stalk and cleaned of any plant matter.
Next, the oil is extracted through a process called cold pressing.
Can You Eat Hemp Seeds?
Maybe oil isn’t your thing, but you still want to reap the benefits of hemp seeds.
Well, you’re in luck, because hemp seeds can be consumed raw. And they are tasty!
Hemp seeds are available in different solid forms.
You can eat whole hemp seeds, but this is only recommended for those looking to add a lot of fiber to their diet.
Perhaps the most common format is shelled hemp seeds (“hemp hearts”).
The shells are removed, making them smaller and, therefore, more versatile.
These can either be mixed into baked goods or sprinkled on foods, such as cereal or salad – to name a few.
Finally, there’s hemp protein. This is essentially a protein powder made from hemp.
You can buy it whole or in pre-made flavored products, just like soy or whey protein powder. –
Just add it to juice, smoothies or milkshakes and you’re good to go.
What are the Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds?
Hemp seeds and their oil are highly regarded for their nutritional value and health benefits.
In fact, a paper published in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry states that hemp seeds contain several different types of essential fatty acids, useful for maintaining heart health and fighting coronary disease.2
An article published in Medical News Today reveals that hemp seed oil does much more than keep our hearts in tip-top shape (thanks to their Omega-3 essential fatty acids).3
This food also contains substances called sterols and aliphatic alcohols.
Sterols are useful for keep cholesterol in check. Consequently, this helps reduce the risk of heart attack, if taken on a daily basis.
According to the article, aliphatic alcohols also help with cholesterol, while reducing “platelet aggregation” (a.k.a. blood clots).
One of these alcohols, called “phytol,” acts as an antioxidant and even prevents cancer.
Hempseed oil also contains an antioxidant called tocopherol, identified as being effective in preventing diseases like atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
Then of course we have vitamins, specifically vitamins A, C, E and Beta-carotene.
Factor in the oil’s rich mineral content of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and calcium, and you’ve basically got a nutritional juggernaut.
Is hemp seed oil good for your skin?
Hemp seed oil isn’t just good for your insides; it’s great for your skin too.
The oil can be ingested (1-2 tablespoons per day) as a way to help combat eczema and acne.
It’s also possible to use hemp seed oil topically.
In this respect, it’s useful as a moisturizer (similar to olive oil), maintaining the skin’s nutrients by increasing water resistance and providing cosmetic benefits, like anti-aging.
What is hemp milk?
Hemp milk, like hempseed oil, is derived from the same source – hemp seeds; however, it’s more comparable to products like soy milk or almond milk, according to Dr. Andrew Weil.4
Not only is this milk a delicious, nutty-tasting drink, but Dr. Weil reports having eaten ice cream made from hemp milk.
And, like the oil, it’s full of essential fatty acid, vitamins and minerals.
Summary
In this article, we covered the following:
- Hemp seed oil is a health food, derived from industrial hemp.
- CBD oil is different from hemp seed oil in the sense that it is used medicinally, and provides no nutritional value.
- Hempseed oil contains extremely small amounts of CBD and THC to the point where people who consume it won’t feel the effects of these cannabinoids.
- Hempseed oil will not get you high.
- Hempseed oil is extracted from industrial hemp seeds using a process known as cold pressing.
- Hempseeds can be consumed raw, mixed with food or as a protein powder.
- Hempseed oil contains a variety of beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that protect against degenerative diseases and improve heart health.
- Hempseed oil can be taken orally to help with eczema and acne, or used directly on the skin for cosmetic purposes.
- Hemp milk is made from the same source as hemp oil, but comes with a milky appearance and consistency. It can be drank or used as a dairy substitute in desserts, such as ice cream.
- Hempseed oil is sometimes used as a carrier oil by CBD manufacturers. This means the CBD manufacturer places the concentrated CBD extract into the hempseed oil for your consumption. Some of our favorite CBD brands like NuLeaf Naturals use hempseed oil as a carrier oil for their CBD tinctures.
references
1Jones, W. (2014, July 25). Hemp oil not a source of CBD which could be used in epilepsy treatments. WKMS. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.wkms.org/science/2014-07-25/hemp-oil-not-a-source-of-cbd-which-could-be-used-in-epilepsy-treatments
3McNamee, D. (2014, February 1). New health benefits associated with Hempseed Oil. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/272024
4Weil, A. (2009, November 9). High on Hemp Milk? DrWeil.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/nutrition/high-on-hemp-milk/
