What Does Hemp Do? 8 Benefits of Hemp in Your Daily Routine

By: Lauren Wilson | Apr 11, 2023

Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant, and its use dates back thousands of years. Today, it’s used in foods, paper, health products, clothing and even building materials.

Are you curious about the health benefits of hemp? Read on to understand the differences between hemp and CBD, along with the many health benefits of hemp, including what positive changes you can experience by using hemp-derived CBD products for your scalp, hair, lashes and brows.

Hemp, Marijuana, CBD and THC: What’s the Difference?

Is hemp the same as CBD? Is marijuana the same as hemp? These are common points of confusion since both hemp and marijuana plants belong to the same plant family: cannabis Sativa L. Even though hemp and marijuana are similar plants, they are distinctly different under U.S. law.

Industrial hemp is a plant that is federally legal and contains less than 0.3% (by dry weight) of a compound called tetrahydrocannabinol, aka THC. The marijuana plant is legal in 38 states for medical use and 21 states for adult use. Marijuana plants tend to be rich in THC, while hemp is rich in cannabidiol or CBD.

Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids, active compounds that are naturally produced by hemp and marijuana plants. These plants produce over 100 different cannabinoids, with THC and CBD as the most common and abundant.

Both THC and CBD are being investigated as natural remedies for a wide range of therapeutic and wellness applications, including the treatment of psychotic and anxiety disorders, which can impact brain health.

While CBD, hemp seeds and hemp seed oil all come from hemp plants, hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are not the same thing as CBD or CBD oil. CBD is extracted primarily from the flowers and leaves of hemp plants, whereas hemp seeds and hemp seed oil do not contain CBD.

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8 Wellness Benefits of Hemp

Whether from hemp seeds, hemp seed oil or CBD, the hemp plant offers plenty of ways to support a healthy diet and lifestyle. Here are eight ways hemp and plant foods might support your wellness as a nutritional resource.

Supports Heart Health

Hemp seeds are a great source of essential fatty acids, specifically, the omega-3 known as alpha-linolenic acid, which has been associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients. While more clinical trials are needed, it is believed that omega-3 does have cardioprotective effects. The alpha-linolenic acid in hemp seeds and oil may also help reduce blood pressure.

Hemp seeds are also a great source of arginine, an amino acid that produces nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide, in turn, might help lower high blood pressure and reduce the risks of heart disease.

Supports a Healthy Immune System

Research also suggests a connection between fatty acids and immune response and that the immune system may depend on a specific ratio between omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy functioning and reduced inflammation. Hemp seeds have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is believed to be within the optimal range.

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Provides Essential Nutrients and Minerals

Hemp seeds (also called hemp hearts) are technically considered a nut, but this general misconception does not impact how much they offer us nutritionally! First off, about 25% of the calories in hemp seeds come from a complete hemp protein source that contains all essential amino acids and is easily digested.

Hemp seeds are also rich in healthy fats and offer a perfect balance of healthy fatty acids. And by eating hemp seeds, you'll F provide a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc. Additionally, hemp seeds can help you fulfill your dietary fiber needs, as they are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Supports Skin Health

Hemp oil and CBD offer anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits that are being investigated for their ability to modulate the immune response associated with a variety of skin conditions, such as eczema. Additionally, both hemp seed extract and CBD are being investigated for their ability to help with acne. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found in hemp seeds and hemp oil may also play a role in treating other skin conditions and promoting overall skin health.

Provides Antioxidant Benefits

Both hemp seeds and CBD offer antioxidant benefits that can help support general health and well-being by protecting cells from free-radical damage. Hemp seeds offer up phenolic compounds and tocopherols, and CBD is an antioxidant agent that can help support your body’s ability to fight oxidative stress.

See: The Top Beauty and Health Benefits of Hemp Oil

Supports Women’s Health

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a monthly occurrence that many women have to deal with, and some research has connected PMS to a hormone called prolactin. The gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) found in hemp seeds may help reduce the impacts of prolactin on premenstrual women. In one study, women taking 210 mg of omega-6 daily had a significant reduction in symptoms.

Reduces Pain and Inflammation

Both CBD and hemp seeds offer health benefits that can help tame inflammation. The gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) found in hemp seeds offers anti-inflammatory benefits, as does the CBD you’ll find in hemp-derived extracts. CBD is also showing promise in treating certain types of pain.

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Relieves Stress and Anxiety

Among the top reasons folks report using CBD is to help relieve everyday stress and anxiety. CBD is being investigated for its potential to relieve anxiety, and while more clinical trials are needed, the initial research suggests that CBD could be a promising tool.

Adding Hemp to Your Wellness Routine

If you’re interested in adding hemp to your wellness routine, there are a number of simple ways to do it.

Use Hemp Seeds

If you're a fan of chia seeds, note that hemp seeds contain more fat and protein. You can add hemp seeds to salads, soups, smoothies and other meals, where you can harness their full nutritional benefits while enjoying their buttery texture and slightly nutty flavor. Be sure to look for hulled hemp seeds (also called hemp hearts) to keep things super simple.

Use Hempseed Oil

Hempseed oil, which is made from pressing hemp hearts, can also be added to your diet, where you might use it in place of other healthy oils without saturated fats, such as olive oil. Hempseed oil is high in polyunsaturated fats and can be used in salad dressings, added to smoothies or substituted for any other oil when cooking. You can even use for skin health, such as to moisturize and protect. However, do a test patch first if you tend to have sensitive skin.

Use Other Hemp Food Sources

Hemp milk and protein powder are two other plant-based foods that are widely available and can be easily added to your routine in smoothies, baked goods and other foods to boost their nutritional value.

Add Hemp-Based Products to Your Hair Care Routine

Adding CBD to your wellness routine has never been easier. VEGAMOUR's hemp-infused hair wellness products, also known as our GRO+ Advanced line, are formulated to support healthy hair from the inside out.

For example, healthy hair follicles need a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, which is why our GRO+ Advanced Gummies have been carefully formulated to contain beneficial vitamins and minerals, including biotin, folic acid and zinc, plus hemp-derived CBD to support optimal hair wellness. Grown on a woman-owned farm in Vermont, the organic hemp used in all of our GRO+ products is clean and consciously sourced.

Additionally, our GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum has been shown to increase the appearance of hair density by up to 52% while reducing the signs of shedding by 76%, with peak results after four months of daily use. Complement this with our all-natural, hemp-infused shampoo and conditioner optimize the synergy between our clinically proven blend of phyto-actives and American-grown organic hemp and build a complete hair care routine!

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The Takeaway

The hemp plant has been cultivated and used by humans for millennia, and today we continue to rely on the hemp plant for a variety of industrial and commercial uses such as clothing, paper, bioplastics, insulation and more.

As research continues to uncover the potential health benefits of CBD, an active compound found in hemp flowers and hemp leaves, we are learning even more about the potential benefits of hemp. In the meantime, consider using VEGAMOUR's CBD products to encourage healthy hair. Here's to your best hair days yet!