We live in a society that is constantly reaching for the next level of peak health and appearance, using only naturally effective methods.
No pressure, right?
Despite this never-ending climb, one little plant is paving the way for people to reach their health and wellness goals: hemp. Hemp oil is a nutty and flavorful oil that is extracted from the stalks or seeds of the hemp plant. There are different uses for each type of hemp oil, each offering its own array of uses and unique wellness benefits.
Three powerful uses for hemp
Hemp oil’s benefits are so bountiful and unmistakable that scientists studied it in-depth even while it was banned in most of society, including the U.S. Thankfully, the 2018 Farm Bill completely cleared the air and legitimized hemp’s legality by separating it from its notorious cousin, marijuana. Both are from the cannabis family, but hemp doesn’t get you high.
There’s no doubt more benefits will be discovered, but for now, let’s jump into what hemp oil has already proven.
Hemp seed oil uses for cooking
Hemp seed oil offers a healthy alternative to vegetable oil, canola oil, or butter.
Its delicious nutty flavor makes it perfect for sautéed vegetables or meats, salad dressings, or dipping in bread. The main reason for swapping popular oils for hemp seed oil, is because of the wellness benefits it offers. It’s very high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), with a perfect 3:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6. As the name suggests, EFAs are essential for human health.
Another nutritious benefit of hemp seed oil is its content of insoluble fiber, protein, and array of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium. These nutritional benefits make hemp a great choice for anyone, including vegetarians and diabetics. Aside from being extreme healthy, hemp seed oil is a delicious and flavorful alternative to vegetable oil and butter.
There is one catch. Using hemp seed oil to cook has some limitations. Mainly, it can smoke at low temperatures, so it should not be used for frying or deep-frying.
The other thing to keep an eye out for with hemp seed oil, is if it is being sold as either hemp oil or CBD hemp oil. Hemp seed oil does not contain cannabidiol (CBD) like hemp oil does. Therefore, hemp seed oil is much less expensive than CBD hemp oil or commonly referred to as CBD oil.
CBD hemp oil uses for health
Hemp oil is a loose term often used to talk about oil from any part of the hemp plant. It’s vital to distinguish the different types, so this next one is typically called CBD hemp oil or more commonly, CBD oil.
Oil extracted from the mature stalks and flowers (NOT the seeds) of the hemp plant contain an incredible compound called cannabidiol, or CBD for short. CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System to support a healthy balance throughout the body. Studies have shown it has potential for concerns related to anxiety and inflammation, with virtually zero side effects.
The benefits of CBD hemp oil don’t stop there. It’s also packed full of important vitamins and minerals that are important for your daily regimen. Most CBD oil supplements also feature the therapeutic benefits of plant terpenes.
It’s worth noting the potential medical uses for CBD hemp oil that are being studied. CBD research topics include inflammation, anxiety, PTSD, sleep, and much more.
Popular types of CBD hemp oil products
CBD hemp oil can be added to your diet in many ways, such as edibles, pure extracts, and even flavored tinctures. Edibles are available as gummies, chocolates, and more. Pure extracts are straight CBD hemp oil with no added ingredients. Finally, tinctures are liquid extracts from the hemp plant and come in many flavors. These liquid drops are a great way to enhance your diet and supplement your nutrition.
If you are just starting out with CBD hemp oil, our CBD Oil Buyer’s Guide is a helpful place to figure out which product type to start with.
Hemp oil uses for skin
Believe it or not, the benefits and uses of hemp oil are not limited to food or supplements. Hemp oil is becoming increasingly popular in cosmetics including lotions, shampoos, sunscreens, lip balms, and other skin products.
Hemp oil is rich in vitamins A and E, which act as antioxidants that heal the skin. It also contains fatty acids that keep the skin hydrated, and calcium to keep it smooth. For these reasons, it’s becoming wildly popular for rashes and dry skin. We’re starting to see hemp seed oil added to products like moisturizers and lips balms as well.
However, it’s still fairly uncommon to find skin care products made with CBD hemp oil. The skincare benefits of CBD are nothing short of amazing, particularly for inflamed muscles and joints.
With so many amazing vitamins, minerals and compounds, CBD hemp oil is a natural defense against dry, aging or sore skin.
Where does hemp oil come from?
Hemp oil can come from the seeds, stalks, or flowers of the hemp plant. Depending on which part it’s extracted from, it creates different types of hemp oil.
Hemp oil that comes from the seeds is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and EFAs. It does not contain cannabinoids, like CBD.
When hemp oil comes from the stalks or flowers, it contains a blend of cannabinoids (CBD, CBDa, CBN, CBC, CBG), terpenes, and other phytonutrients.
Difference between hemp oil and CBD oil
Sometimes there’s a major difference between hemp oil and CBD oil, and other time they mean exactly the same thing. It’s all about the context.
Hemp oil can refer to the oil extracted from any part of the hemp plant, even though we know there’s a huge difference between them. Both are, technically, “hemp oil.” It makes sense to use this term in either situation, but then how do we know what we’re actually getting?
If you buy a “hemp oil” salve with the hope it’s going to soothe sore muscles, fingers crossed it contains CBD or the benefits probably won’t meet your expectations. Find out how many milligrams of CBD or “hemp extract” are in it before buying.
Full Spectrum Hemp Oil vs CBD Isolate
Hemp oil can be considered “full spectrum” or sometimes called “broad spectrum” when it contains not only CBD, but also all the other plant parts in hemp.
CBD isolate is what you get when all plant matter and “full spectrum” characteristics are stripped away, leaving only CBD. CBD isolate should not be considered hemp oil, though it may be derived from hemp because it is only CBD and does not contain the other plant nutrients.
Make sure you do your research on the product to verify if it is in fact CBD oil or hemp seed oil. If you’re looking for a CBD oil salve, it’s a good idea to ask the manufacturer for lab test results to verify how much CBD is in it.
Hemp oil benefits
Hemp oil is considered a superfood thanks to its wide scope of nutritional and health benefits. Keeping in our important theme of separating the two types of hemp oil, let’s look at the benefits of each separately.
First up is hemp oil from the stalks of the plant, which contains several uniquely powerful compounds.
This type of hemp oil offers the benefits of cannabinoids. A wide range of cannabinoids can be present in hemp oil, like CBD, CBDa, CBC, CBG, CBN. By a long-shot, however, CBD is the most abundant of the group. Cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system to support important functions in the brain, central and peripheral nervous system. This system aims to keep us in homeostasis, so it must have a tight hold on inflammation, anxiety, and stress.
Another benefit of hemp oil comes from the terpenes. While that may be an unfamiliar word, you’re most likely already familiar with their benefits. Terpenes are found in all plants, they are the reason for the benefits popularly associated with essential oils, like peppermint oil (terpene = mentha piperita).
Not only do terpenes attribute to the plant’s aroma and flavor, the therapeutic properties play a major role in the benefits of hemp oil. When cannabinoids and terpenes are working together, they enhance the benefits in what’s known as the entourage effect.
Bottom Line
Hemp oil is a natural product that offers a multitude of uses to support health and wellness. This versatile oil can be used in cooking, supplements, or skincare and provides a multitude of added nutrition. With so many different options for use, hemp oil can easily become part of a nutritional program that can help users improve and maintain their overall health.
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