The healthiest food you never heard of

The hemp plant has an illustrious history -- for many thousands of years people spun sturdy textiles from its fiber while also valuing its seeds and oil for food. The puritans brought hemp to this country, making it an important crop in the New World. Today, children and adults alike enjoy using hemp twine to make casual beaded necklaces and bracelets. It has unsavory aspects too, thanks to the fact that it is the same species as the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa). While it is illegal to grow hemp in this country, food made from hemp, grown in Canada and other countries, remains perfectly legal and is actually very, very good for you.

In fact, hemp is a nutritional gold mine containing antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, protein and other nutrients. Specifically, hemp boasts omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of 3:1, which is generally considered the optimal ratio. Additionally, hemp contains significant amounts of what Gero Leson, D.Env., an environmental scientist and scientific advisor to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, refers to as "super" polyunsaturated fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). Hemp also provides a balanced and very digestible protein, along with significant concentrations of both tocopherol and tocotrienol vitamin E, magnesium, manganese and other minerals and vitamins.

HOW TO EAT HEMP

Since hemp is not typically available at your local grocery or served in restaurants, it's valid to wonder, how do you eat it? Edible hemp is available as oil, nuts, seeds and seed cake (the protein and fiber-rich flour that remains after the pressing for oil) and as an ingredient in such foods as salad dressing, nutrition bars, breads, cookies, granola, nut butter, pasta, frozen desserts and more. Dr. Leson says the oil is delicious in salad dressing or used to lightly sauté meats or vegetables. It should not be used for frying, since high temperatures damage the highly unsaturated fatty acids and produces unhealthy by-products. The hemp nuts are richly nutritious -- Dr. Leson toasts them lightly to add to yogurt, cereals, sauces and sprinkled over meats. He says that hemp protein powder, used in shakes, is a great source of fiber, too.

Dr. Leson told me that some liken the taste of hemp to sunflower oil, but he disagrees. He says it is better described as having a rich, nutty taste. Dr. Leson recommends looking for top-quality brands such as Nutiva, Manitoba Harvest and Living Harvest. You can find hemp foods at Whole Foods Market and other natural food stores throughout the US, as well as on the Internet.