Hemp Unhulled: Exposing the Superfood

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“Hemp can heal us, clothe us, shelter us, fuel us, and feed us,” says Melissa Gibson, founder of Woodstock’s Hemp & Humanity, a hemp and wellness boutique offering a curated selection of New York-made, women-owned hemp products, including cannabinoids, foods, accessories, and home goods. For Gibson, hemp isn’t just a plant—it’s a powerful tool that restored her health and changed her life.

Healing Through Hemp

Gibson’s health journey began with a series of autoimmune conditions that left her struggling to maintain her active lifestyle. As a snowboarding champion, she was accustomed to pushing her body to its limits, but Lyme disease, Celiac, and later, Graves’ disease took their toll. These conditions brought a host of challenging symptoms, including joint pain, digestive problems, muscle loss, and brain fog. “At age 49, despite my commitment to healthy living, I was a veritable potpourri of autoimmune diseases,” Gibson says.

Desperate for relief, Gibson began exploring natural alternatives to manage her health. During this search, she discovered hemp and was struck by its potential. After incorporating it into her daily routine for a year, she received encouraging news from her endocrinologist: her Graves’ disease was showing signs of remission. Feeling better than she had in years, Gibson became motivated to share her experience and help others discover the benefits of hemp.

“Just when I was on the verge of throwing in the thyroid towel, I was introduced to a hero that would impact every aspect of my life,” Gibson says. “It came in the form of a green, leafy, often misunderstood botanical that provides a wealth of properties to improve health and wellness. That hero is hemp.”

Hemp’s Growing Presence in Kitchens

While hemp’s medicinal and cannabinoid benefits often dominate the conversation, the plant is increasingly recognized for its nutritional value. In kitchens across the country, hemp is emerging as a versatile ingredient, finding its way into everything from creamy hemp milk poured into morning coffee to rich hemp oil drizzled over fresh salads. Historically, hemp faced restrictions due to its association with marijuana, despite it being a different variety of the same plant species. However, with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp cultivation under strict regulation by the USDA, its use in food products has surged. Now, industrial hemp—containing less than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis—is claimed to be one of the most nutritionally complete food sources, high in omega fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

“The cannabinoids are found in the flowering part of the female plant,” explains Gibson, whose business will soon transition into the town’s first adult-use dispensary, HERbal Woodstock, in partnership with Honey’s Cannabis. “The seeds are in male plants and contain vital nutrients for consumption,” which can be consumed directly as hemp seeds or shelled “hemp hearts,” or used to make a variety of products, including hemp flour, protein powder, non-dairy milk and butter alternatives, and cold-pressed seed oil.

Hemp in the Everyday

Hemp is a versatile and easy addition to any diet. Hemp oil’s mild, nutty flavor makes it perfect for drizzling over vegetables or incorporating into dressings, while hemp seeds—whole or shelled into hearts—add a protein boost to oatmeal, yogurt, or salads. Hemp milk, which can be found in most health food stores or made at home by blending and straining soaked seeds, offers a creamy, high-protein, plant-based alternative to dairy in coffee or over cereal, and hemp protein powder blends seamlessly into smoothies or baked goods.

Gibson suggests starting with simple swaps: “Try half almond and half hemp milk in your smoothie, substitute a portion of the oats in your overnight oats recipe with hemp hearts, or add hemp seeds on top of your avocado toast instead of sunflower seeds,” she says. “When we look at it this way, using hemp becomes intuitive.” With small changes like these, hemp can easily become a staple in everyday meals.

The Nutritional Power of Hemp

Hemp’s rich content of healthy fats, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals makes it a valuable addition to daily routines. Vicki Koenig, a certified dietitian in New Paltz, highlights that hempseed oil is over 90 percent unsaturated, providing a cardioprotective effect. The seeds are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vital for brain function, skin vitality, mental health, and reducing inflammation. What makes hemp stand out is its near-perfect three-to-one ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, considered optimal for overall health. “The takeaway?” Gibson says. “Fat is good. Eat hemp.”

Hemp is also an excellent source of plant-based protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. The fine, earthy powder is comparable to the protein content of beef or lamb by weight, supporting tissue repair and cell maintenance. Keonig adds that hemp protein is especially gentle on the stomach compared to other plant proteins like soy or pea, and it’s free of common allergens.

But hemp’s benefits don’t stop there. The seeds are also high in fiber, which Gibson describes as “the broom that sweeps your digestive track clean.” The fiber helps regulate blood sugar, stabilize cholesterol, and improve bowel movement regularity, potentially preventing conditions like type 2 diabetes. Hemp is also packed with vitamins and minerals, providing up to 100 percent of the daily recommended intake of copper, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, D, and E per 50 milligram serving. These nutrients support everything from bone strength to immune function, muscle function, and metabolism. Additionally, hemp may reduce the risk of heart disease. Its combination of antioxidants, fiber, and omega fats works to lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and improve circulation.

A Sustainable, Plant-Based Future

While hemp’s nutritional profile is impressive on its own, it’s also deeply aligned with broader trends toward plant-based, sustainable eating. As more people embrace plant-based diets, hemp stands out as a versatile and nutritious alternative to many common food ingredients. “It’s about nourishing your body with something that’s not just good for you but also good for the planet,” Gibson says, highlighting the environmental benefits of hemp farming, which requires fewer resources than many traditional crops.

Gibson’s journey is one example of how hemp can support health and well-being. As her business continues to expand, her mission remains clear: hemp is a path to a healthier, more sustainable future. “Humans were meant to live symbiotically and synergistically with hemp,” Gibson says. Whether for its nutritional value, medicinal properties, or environmental benefits, hemp holds the potential to improve lives.

“}]] Packed with protein, omega fatty acids, and essential vitamins, hemp is a nutrient-dense superfood reshaping plant-based eating  Read More  

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