- Hemp oil
Hemp oil can be extracted from the seed of the
hemp plant, which contains between 30-35% oil by weight, which is high inessential fatty acid s. The plant can also be pressed for oil. Cold pressed, unrefined hemp oil is light green, with a nutty, grassy flavour.Refined hemp oil is clear with little flavour. It is widely used in body care products,
lubricant s,paint s and industrial uses.Antimicrobial properties make it a useful ingredient forsoap s,shampoo s anddetergent s. The oil is of high nutritional value because its 3:1 ratio ofomega-6 toomega-3 essential fatty acid s matches the balance required by the human body. [cite web
url=http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/hemp/hempoil.htm
title=Hemp Oil
publisher=InnVista
date=November2005
accessdate=2006-11-18] It has also received attention in recent years as a possible source ofbiodiesel . [cite web
url=http://www.hempworld.com/Hemp-CyberFarm_com/htms/hemp-products/bio-diesel/bio-diesel.html
title=Hemp Oil Fuels & How to Make Them
author=Agua Das
publisher=HempFarm.com
date=November 16 1997
accessdate=2006-11-18] There are a number of organisations that promote the production and use of hemp oil. [cite web
url=http://www.hempworld.com/pstindex0.htm
title=Hemp Farm
accessdate=2006-11-18]Hemp oil is deliberately manufactured to contain no significant amounts of THC and therefore is not psychoactive.
Nutrition
30–35% of the weight of hempseed is oil containing 80%
essential fatty acid s (EFAs),linoleic acid (LA, 50-70%),alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 15–25%) andgamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 1–6%). [http://raskin8500-226.rutgers.edu/~alexanderpoulev/HempOil.pdf] [ [http://mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/HEMP/IHA/iha03101.html Hemp seed oil: A source of valuable essential fatty acids ] ] The proportions of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid in hempseed oil meet human requirements for EFAs. Unfortunately the unsaturated fat makes the oil rancid quickly, unless it is stored in dark coloured bottles or mixed with chemicalpreservatives . This makes hemp oil difficult to transport or store. This severely limits hemp oil's potential on the food market, although some marketing potential exists as a nutritional supplement. [http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ages001E/ages001Eh.pdf] Cooking of any oil reduces its nutritional value, and may convert beneficial fatty acids to less benign substances.References
ee also
*
Cannabis flower essential oil
*Hash oil
*Vegetable oil
*Cannabis (drug)
* "Hemp Horizons" by John Roulac, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 1997
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.