Organic Hemp Protein Powder

It seems like the folks over at Manitoba Harvest have just released two new hemp protein powder flavors: vanilla and dark chocolate. They are also sweetened with a more eco-friendly sweetener: organic palm sugar.

The hemp seeds used to make this protein powder are also organic. So now you can get all 10 essentially amino acids, 2 essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and -6), and a bunch of other nutrients in one tasty protein powder and still be kind to the environment.  The press release explains all the health and environmental benefits in more depth:

Winnipeg, Manitoba (May 5, 2010) – [...] Hemp protein powder holds many advantages over other protein powder options, and now Manitoba Harvest™ Hemp Foods & Oils has launched two new ‘superfood’ protein powders that are convenient, delicious and easy to digest.

The new Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Organic Hemp Protein Powders from Manitoba Harvest (www.manitobaharvest.com) are cold-processed raw whole food powders that feature the many benefits of organic palm sugar. The fine consistency of the powder is optimal for blending into smoothies, drinks and other recipes. To most consumers the taste is most important, so the addition of the palm sugar’s delicious caramel and butterscotch flavor notes is very satisfying.

Coconut palm sugar is a ‘new’ sweetener that is quickly gaining popularity because of its low glycemic index, high nutrition content and eco-friendly attributes compared to other sweeteners. A low glycemic index is known to help with weight management and may improve glucose and lipid levels for people managing diabetes. Organic palm sugar is high in potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, and is also a good source vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.

Palm sugar is a sustainable crop that is sourced from small family farms and the processing income stays in the local community. Coconut palms produce an average of 50-75% more sugar per acre than cane sugar and uses 1/5 less agricultural inputs to achieve that production. Coconut trees are known to be ecologically beneficial crops that grow in and support diverse ecosystems, restore damaged soils and require little water.

Manitoba Harvest Organic Dark Chocolate Hemp Protein Powder and Organic Vanilla Hemp Protein Powder provide a boost of Protein, Omega 3 & 6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and fiber to smoothies and other beverages [...]

Retailing for only $21.99, these hemp protein powders are a much healthier alternative to whey or soy powders. In addition to containing all of the 10 essential amino acids, hemp protein is also incredibly easier to digest than other proteins, and offers a slew of other key nutritional benefits that other protein powders lack.

For starters, hemp protein powder contains 66% of “edestin” proteins — which are used by the body in hormones, hemoglobin, enzyme and antibody production.  Hemp’s edestin structure is also the highest in the plant kingdom.

Furthermore, hemp also features an abundance of other key nutrients, such as  soluble fiber, chlorophyll, vitamins, omega-3 and -6 Essential Fatty Acids and GLA and SDA Super Fatty Acids. With so many health benefits and such a competitive price-point, then, Manitoba Harvest‘s Organic Dark Chocolate and Organic Vanilla Hemp Protein powders might just be worth a try.

There is more to the benefits of hemp seeds than just your health. They are also great for those who have trouble digesting soy. As the VegEater points out:

For the soy-sensitive vegan (it aggravates my eczema), Hemp is the holy grail. I don’t know what I would do without it. Drink yucky rice-milk? — bleh! Hempmilk is nutty and creamy and goes great in coffee and smoothies, and even bakes well. Hemp protein powder also works great in my morning smoothie, to give me an extra boost of 13g of protein per serving, and 8 g of fiber, as well as omega-3′s to boot! Hemp oil makes great salad dressing, and hemp seeds make great topping. And it has all 10 necessary amino acids, a complete protein!

As great of a foodstuff as soy is, it has it’s drawbacks. For instance, the manner in which it is farmed often leaves it full of synthetic hormones that can seriously disrupt your endocrine system over time. Hemp, on the other hand, rarely requires pesticides or fertilizers, leaving you with a much safer way to enhance your health. And as WH Foods points out, the nutritional content of hemp seeds abounds:

Hemp seeds and hemp oil are found in an increasing variety of food products and have also been fairly well studied in terms of their nutritional content. Seeds from this group of plants- like most plant seeds-are a good source of essential fatty acids. Linoleic acid, the omega-6 essential fatty acid, accounts for about two-thirds of the essential fatty acids found in hemp seeds. The other third comes from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the omega-3 fatty acid that forms the starting point for production of all other omega-3s in the body. There are also amino acids found in the protein portion of hemp seeds that can make important contributions to daily protein requirements.

In fact, the health benefits of hemp seeds are so substantial that you can even apply it topically. Hemp seed personal care products are available to help you improve the look of both your skin and your hair. It really is a shame that hemp foodstuffs aren’t more widely available on the market, and more affordable where they are.

Hemp seeds offer a number of health benefits, and healthy people often make for better looking people. It’s no surprise, then, that hemp seeds are also used in skin lotions. As the Lotion Source Blog recently explained, the hemp seed’s unique balance of essential fatty acids makes it an excellent thing to use both within and without your body:

Hemp is quite simply, nature’s beauty secret – and the secret is in the seed. Hemp seed oil and extract offer many benefits useful in personal care products. The reason hemp is so effective is largely because of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) it contains. More than 75% of the EFAs in hemp seed oil are poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), known for their excellent emollient and lubricating properties.

Hemp seed oil contains what is considered to be an ideal ratio of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids- 3:1, perfectly matching the needs of the human body. In addition to the EFAs hemp seed provides, it is also one of The Earth’s richest sources of amino acids. Along with the EFAs, these two components are responsible for keratin formation, the primary protein that gives your hair structural integrity.

Although the main purpose of the blog post seems to be to direct you to the Lotion Source hemp product page, it’s not exactly a puff piece of ad copy. After the above two paragraphs, the article goes on for about another 10 paragraphs on the health benefits of hemp seeds (and how they relate to personal beauty, of course), an then even provides an overview of the how hemp has been used throughout history. Of many of the historical facts it provides, here’s one that even I haven’t heard before:

In 1563 A.D., as part of the economic and military buildup of the time (80 years war), Queen Elizabeth I orders all land owners with 60 acres or more to grow Cannibus or face a £5 fine.

Overall, it’s nice to see a reseller of vanity products taking the time educate their potential customers on the benefits of their products’ ingredients beyond how those ingredients enhance the product that they’re selling. Granted, it obviously fits into Lotion Source’s marketing strategy to educate the consumer and elicit their trust, but it is nonetheless an effort that helps spread awareness about the versatility of this plant. The more that that happens, the more of a market demand is stimulated for hemp products, the more capital investment that hemp production attracts, the sooner the world can start reaping the benefits of replacing many products with much more eco-friendly hemp options.