They’re an excellent source of protein.Hemp seeds are one of the few plant sources of all nine essential amino acids your body needs to build and repair muscle. That’s a boon for those on a vegetarian diet because most non-animal sources of protein are incomplete. It’s packed with good-for-you fats.Hemp is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help prevent heart attacks and reduce inflammation (but, unlike heart-healthy seafood, hemp is mercury free). It has a lot of other hard-to-get nutrients.I’m talking healthy doses of fiber, B vitamins, iron, and vitamin E. Most natural food stores sell whole, shelled hemp seeds in canisters and resealable packages; sprinkle them on cereal and salad or mix them into bread dough and muffin batter. (Unlike flaxseed, they require no grinding to release their nutritional benefits.) You might also try hemp oil to add a mild, nutty taste to vinaigrettes. But the easiest way to sample the hemp diet craze is to buy versions of foods you already eat that have hemp as an ingredient–such as cereals, baked goods, and granola bars. That’s what I did. Seduced by the promise of good health and good food, a team of tasters joined me for a sampling of some new-to-market hemp foods. Though some were best left at the food co-op (pea soup-colored hemp butter, anyone?), the four listed here turned out to be easy, tasty ways to boost your heart health at breakfast and beyond. MORE: 5 Recipes You Can’t Live Without
A Winning Breakfast
Made with organic whole grains and both flax and hemp seeds, LifeStream Hemp Plus Waffles taste like an indulgence. Each one packs triple the fiber of regular toaster waffles. ($3.39 for an 11-ounce box; naturespath.com) 2 waffles:210 cal, 6 g pro, 28 g carb, 9g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 5 g fiber, 400 mg sodium
A Healthier Granola
Most hemp cereals we tried tasted as good as regular varieties, but with less sugar and better-for-you fats. Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola, made with rolled oats and hemp and flax seeds, has half the calories of regular granola. ($3.99 for an 11.5-ounce box; naturespath.com) 1/2 cup:140 cal, 3 g pro, 20 g carb, 5 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 3 g fiber, 25 mg sodium
Smarter Snack
In general, hemp snack bars have far less sugar and sodium than traditional diet options. I loved the coconut, mango, and pineapple AlpSnack–and so did many of the tasters ($33 for a box of 12; drbronner.com). Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola Bars were a kid fave. ($3.99 for a box of 5; naturespath.com) 1 AlpSnack:210 cal, 5 g pro, 24 g carb, 12 g fat, 4 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 3 g fiber, 70 mg sodium
Nature’s Best Milk
With naturally occurring omega-3s and fiber that you won’t find in rice, soy, or cow’s milk, the nutty hemp foods variety is a great alternative to pour over cereal. We liked Living Harvest Hempmilk ($4.59 for 32 ounces; livingharvest.com) 1 cup:130 cal, 4 g pro, 20 g carb, 3 g fat, .5 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 1 g fiber, 120 mg sodium (Posted April 2007)
