No, this is not a joke. Hemp is making inroads everywhere, in many different forms. One of the latest appearances is at the pizzeria in the form of hemp pizza.
Papa Johns has officially added hemp seeds to their menu in both Russia and the United Kingdom. They are available as Hemp Sticks, which combine Papa Johns handmade pizza dough with a sauce and a sprinkle of shelled hemp seeds.
In the UK, the sticks get coated in a garlic butter sauce and mozzarella. Also, in Russia, it’s sauce only, a special garlic one.
The choice to introduce Hemp Sticks aligns with demand, as food purveyors are seeing more requests for better-for-you foods. Papa Johns’ inclusion of hemp sticks is also one of many healthier menu options meant to provide options for those on a plant-based diet.
Why hemp seeds?
So why hemp pizza? Hemp seeds are considered, by many, to be a superfood thanks to their strong nutritional profile and potential to provide certain health benefits. Although they’re the seed of the cannabis plant, which makes THC among other popular cannabinoids, the seeds have minimal amounts of the compounds typically extracted from the flower of the plant.
What’s left is a seed rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fatty acids.
Complete source of protein
When we say hemp seeds are a good source of protein, it’s not an understatement. These seeds contain all nine essential amino acids, the building blocks for all proteins. None of these are naturally produced in the body, so you must get them through your diet.
High in healthy fats
Unsaturated fats, the good kind, are also found in high quantities in hemp seeds. This includes omega-3 and omega-6. Both are essential for long-term health and must get absorbed through food.
On the flip side, hemp seeds are low in saturated fats, the bad fats, and contain no trans fat, which is found in many processed foods.
Rich in minerals and vitamins
What helps classify hemp seeds as a superfood are all the wonderful vitamins and minerals within them. At just the tip of the list, you’ll find hemp seeds rich in:
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Niacin
- Vitamin B-6
- Folate
- Iron
- Zinc
This is by no means the full list of vitamins and minerals within hemp seeds, but it’s not easy to find foods whose short list is this long.
How can hemp seeds improve my health?
While research is ongoing as to the potential health benefits of hemp seeds, some scientists are sharing studies that claim the seeds may have anti-inflammatory effects and even help regulate the immune system.
This could help with issues from arthritis to acne, and even assist sufferers in managing other chronic inflammatory diseases.
The amount of CBD found in hemp seeds may also help with certain neurological conditions.
The presence of those fatty acids in hemp seeds may contribute to heart health as well. Eating foods rich in omega-3 and omega 6 may reduce the risk of heart disease and arrhythmia.
The nutritional value of hemp
The United States Department of Agriculture says a serving of hemp seeds, which is three tablespoons, only contains
- 116 calories
- 2.6g carbohydrates
- 1.2g fiber
- 9.48g protein
- 21mg calcium
It’s an easy and healthy food item to add into your diet, in moderation.
Finding high quality hemp
Food-grade hemp seeds are not totally the same as the hemp seeds a farmer grows in the ground. While for both, you must do research and figure out exactly what genetics you want in your seeds, the end result you’re looking for is different. For help finding hemp seeds that you’re able to add to food, contact Arbor Vita8. Our expert team knows hemp and have a variety of partners producing high-quality hemp you can use in your own products. Contact us today for more information.
