HEMP, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars that are cultivated specifically for industrial or medicinal use. It can be used to manufacture a wide range of products, and is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. Hemp can be refined into paper, ropes, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food and animal feed.
These seeds have many environmental and economic benefits due to their potential for industrial use. Whole hemp seeds can be further processed to remove the outer layer and extract oil from the seed or grind it into flour or protein powder. Unpeeled hemp seeds are equally nutritious and their consumption increases the total percentage of proteins, the level of essential fatty acids (EFA) and also reduces the percentage of carbohydrates. Eating raw hemp seeds without the shell can help lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol, while raising good cholesterol.
By not removing the peel, it keeps its nutritional properties intact. With a crunchy flavor, it is natural for traces of whole hemp seeds to remain between the teeth. Because these seeds are not shelled, the grains cannot trap moisture and are therefore more stable in air than unshelled seeds. Although both chemotype I cannabis and hemp (types II, III, IV, V) are Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they represent different groups of cultivars, usually with unique phytochemical compositions and uses.
Hemp from a variety of cereals is predominantly used in the food and nutrition industry due to its high content of proteins, fiber and fatty acids. Variety of hemp fiber is characterized by its long fibers and biomass; it can grow between 8 and 18 feet tall. CBD-rich hemp variety is very bushy and reaches heights of 6 to 12 feet.