Wellness Encyclopedia: Why We Love Hemp Oil + 1-Ingredient Beauty Tricks
Why is hemp oil so good for you? We’ve got the answers + 5 ways to use it!
Oils have come a long way in the past 10-15 years. If you asked me in college what my favorite oil to cook with was, I would have surely replied with “canola” or “vegetable”… maaaaybe “olive” (but to my younger self, olive oil was mainly reserved for salads). Those were the oils I knew, the ones recommended to me by my favorite vegan and vegetarian cookbooks, the oils I trusted. Had you asked me which oil I put on my face? Well, I would have looked at you like you had three heads. Who puts oil on their face?! Luckily, all these years later, my tune has changed thanks to new research and developments in health and nutrition and new oils gaining wider acceptance and availability (can you imagine a world without coconut oil?). Now, I’ve traded in my canola and vegetable oils for coconut, avocado, and pumpkin seed oils, and I’m never going back. I love scouring the market shelves for new and exciting oils to try in my cooking and in my beauty routine. My most recent discovery? Hemp seed oil.
A gorgeously green oil that can be used in cooking and topically as a moisturizer, this grassy-flavored oil is a powerhouse of deep nutrition, offering up Omega 3’s and 6’s, vitamins, and minerals. Ready to learn what hemp oil has to offer? Read on to get the scoop and to learn how to use it in your everyday routine!
What is it? Hemp oil is the oil pressed from the seeds — and sometimes the entire plant — of the hemp plant. Typically extracted from industrial hemp plants, which contain none of the psychoactive properties of non-industrial hemp, unrefined hemp oil has a nutty, slightly grassy flavor and is both edible and can be used topically as-is or mixed into beauty treatments. Rich in essential fatty acids, omega 3’s and 6’s, vitamins and minerals, hemp oil is highly nutritious and incredibly moisturizing.
What are the benefits? Believed to be the most unsaturated plant-derived oil, boasting 75-80% polyunsaturated fats (the “good” fats) and 9-11% saturated fats (I won’t call them “bad” but they’re the fats you might want to limit). Hemp oil contains the perfect ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, determined to be the ideal ratio for healthy human nutrition (one tablespoon taken daily contains the perfect amount of EFA’s for healthy brain function). Similar in composition to the lipid layer of our skin, these Omega 3’s and 6’s also help skin regenerate, making hemp oil ideal as a moisturizer for hair and skin. Hemp is also the only edible seed that contains gamma-linolenic acid, which is converted by the body into prostaglandin PGE1, which regulates hormonal function.
How do I use it? Due to it’s low smoke point, hemp oil should never be heated beyond 121*F, making it rather useless for cooking with heat. However! Hemp oil can be added to anything below that temperature. Use it as a dressing for salads or mixed into smoothies, yogurt, or cereals. Or use it topically as a facial moisturizer. Check out a few of our favorite ways to use hemp oil below!
10 Easy Ways to Use Hemp Oil
- Take hemp oil daily in place of a flax or fish oil to reap the benefits of Omega 3’s and 6’s, improve digestion, and boost metabolism.
- Use hemp oil as a deep conditioner for hair. After shampooing and conditioning as normal, apply a small amount of hemp oil to ends and comb through. Allow to air dry and style as normal.
- Use hemp oil in place of your nightly moisturizer for face or body.
- Apply to dry face to gently remove makeup at the end of the day.
- Make a simple face mask by mixing 1 tsp hemp oil with 1/2 cup plain yogurt, apply to clean, dry face, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
- Apply a thin layer of hemp oil to skin affected by psoriasis, eczema, or other conditions to promote healing.
- Use in place of olive oil in recipes, or mix into cold recipes to boost nutrition and add flavor.
- Coat nails and cuticles in hemp oil and wrap in cotton gloves, wear overnight for an overnight moisturizing treatment.
- Blend 1 tbsp hemp oil with 8 oz. coffee and 1 tsp coconut sugar for a new take on your morning cup of coffee.
- Mix 1/2 cup hemp oil with 1/2 cup sugar to create an exfoliating, moisturizing scrub. Apply to skin in circular motions, rinse with warm water and pat dry.
+ How do you use hemp oil?
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