Hemp Seeds in Australia
5th September 2017Hemp Seeds in Australia
There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about changes in legislation regarding the administering of medical marijuana and the legalising of hemp as a food in Australia. It is easy to see how these two separate issues might become confused, especially considering all the negative attention that marijuana has received over the years. They are, in fact two different things. Hemp has the health but not the therapeutic benefits of medicinal marijuana because it contains low levels of cannabidiol - the active component in cannabis extracts that is useful for medicinal purposes.
Do Hemp seeds contain THC?
Typically grown in the Northern Hemisphere, hemp and its recreational cousin are both derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant species. This raises a question for many people – Do hemp seeds contain THC?
Well the answer is yes, no and not very much. Although both marijuana and hemp seeds contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the relative levels in both strains are vastly different. The hemp that is used around the world for its seeds and industrial uses has little to no levels of THC. So, although you won’t experience any of the psychoactive properties of marijuana when you eat hemp seeds – what you will get is an awesome array of health benefits practically unmatched by any other seed or nut.
What are hemp seeds good for?
Well apart from providing 64% of your daily protein needs in a mere 100g serving – with this protein being comparable in amino acid profile to sources of protein like soy, meat, eggs and milk – and apart from them being an incredibly rich source of dietary minerals and B vitamins, they also provide 362% RDI of Manganese, 236% RDI of phosphorous, 197% RDI of magnesium. Then there’s the iron, zinc, fibre, the list continues.
Omegas – Omega 6, Omega 3 and a complimentary arsenal of antioxidants and fatty acids for good measure. It’s pretty simple – you won’t find a seed that packs so much punch anywhere else.
What are hemp seeds good for? A better question would be what aren’t they good for? And to think we have been missing out on all of this just because we were all too hung up on the unhealthy image of its cousin – It’s almost disgraceful.
Hemp Seeds in Australia
Now, hemp is grown in Australia under very strict licensing conditions (although Queensland has just passed legislation making it easier for farmers to grow low THC crops). By November 12th, 2017 it will become legal to sell and consume hemp as a food in Australia.
Quality Hemp Seeds in Australia
Naturally many people want to know the produce they are getting is Australian grown and chemical and pesticide free and hemp seeds are no exception. Luckily there are a few places in this beautiful country that grow high quality hemp under organic conditions – the farms in Tasmania are shining examples of sustainable and eco-friendly hemp farming in Australia.
Another thing to pay attention to is the presence of misleading products in the marketplace. That the package says Australian made is no guarantee that the seeds were, in fact, grown here in Australia. In fact, there is one big player in the Australian market that is using this very tactic – growing hemp in China and packaging it here to market as Australian. Buyer Beware.
So, hemp seeds are good for us, hemp seeds do not contain THC (or at least enough to warrant worrying about) and it is possible, even right now, to buy quality, 100% Australian grown and manufactured, chemical and pesticide free hemp seeds with all the goodness they contain. Look online or go down to your nearest organic health food shop and give them a go. Don’t be afraid to ask the friendly staff for recipes or even check back here next week when I share some of the mouth-watering deliciousness we’ve been cooking up using these versatile seeds.
Until next time
