Here’s a random “fun fact” about me — whenever I come down with a cold (especially if it involves a wicked sore throat), I feel an intense need to bake.  Who knows why?  A desire to return to simpler times?  A little dose of self-love?  Or, maybe, it’s because if I ever get mopey about the fireball of glass shards in my throat, I can counter-balance that with “but I’ve got some killer baked goods on hand!”.

Yesterday, the baking compulsion specifically involved banana bread.  Not just any banana bread.  Oh no. I wanted to make a delectable vegan, 100% whole wheat, hemp and chia seed banana bread.  Yes, even when sick, I like a challenge.

As you can tell by this photograph (snapped minutes after the muffins were done), the challenge was met successfully.  Here’s the recipe!

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10 Comments chia seeds, hemp seeds, recipes, whole wheat pastry flour

I’ve seen you use hemp protein and other hemp products in many recipes you publish.  Can consumption of hemp trigger a positive drug test?

From what I’ve read, it’s on the product’s maker to ensure THC levels remain below a certain level to not trigger a positive. But, does it also depend on amount, frequency, and accumulation?

I’ve long been tempted to include hemp products in my diet because of their positive attributes, but we test for substances very often in the military and I’m not looking to risk it. Thanks.

– Fernando Garcia
(Location Unknown)

Good news — you can eat hemp with peace of mind. Many companies that sell hemp are aware of this concern and have come up with solutions that allow consumers to eat the nutritious seed without fear of failing drug tests.

One practice: pre-wash and/or shell hemp seeds, which drastically lowers their THC content.  Don’t worry — shelled hemp seeds are still a nutritional powerhouse; they offer high amounts of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Multiple studies have revealed that it takes roughly a half pound of shelled hempseeds or six tablespoons of hemp oil — consumed daily — to trigger a “false positive” result.

By the way — The Test Pledge is a good resource to check before you head buy any hemp product.  All the listed companies “commit themselves to keeping THC levels in hemp nut and oil below levels at which failing a workplace drug test is extremely unlikely, even when eating high amounts of these products on a daily basis.”

For what it’s worth, too, most false positive cases were the result of ingesting untreated, deshelled hemp seeds (and byproducts) from China. When purchasing food-grade hemp, make sure it’s sourced from Canada.

PS: Claiming immunity from a positive drug test result with an “must be the hemp seeds I ate the other day” excuse will fall on deaf ears, as ruled by 2003′s Gary B. Dejong vs. Dept. of Justice.

1 Comment hemp seeds, You Ask/I Answer

Are the omega 3 oils in flax, hemp, and chia seeds destroyed when cooking?

If so, at what temperatures can the omega 3 withstand?

If we eat chips and crackers with these seeds are we not gaining the value of the omega 3?

– Julie Stone
(Location Unknown)

Great question!  I have seen so much misinformation on this topic that I am chomping at the bit to set it all straight.

As far as flaxseeds go, feel free to use either whole or ground flaxseeds (AKA flax meal) any which way you want.

Multiple studies — in reputable publications like the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the British Journal of Nutrition, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition — have concluded that the Omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed are resistant to oxidation even when cooked for sixty minutes at 660 degrees Fahrenheit!

In fact, the consensus is that there is no difference in Omega-3 fatty acid content between raw and cooked flaxseeds or flax meal.

The most likely explanation is that the lignans (a particular variety of plant compounds) in flaxseed have a protective effect on the oil.

Keep in mind, this does NOT apply to flax seed oil, which does not contain lignans, and is therefore is extremely susceptible to oxidation (even at temperatures of 150 degrees Fahrenheit).  Flaxseed oil is best suited to salad dressings or raw dips.

Hemp and chia seeds are slightly more delicate than flaxseeds.  It is recommended they be exposed to temperatures no higher than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

FYI — don’t be scared to use hemp or chia seeds in muffin recipes.

Although heating instructions may specify the oven temperature to be set at 350 or 400 degree Fahrenheit, the internal temperature of a muffin right out of the oven is usually no higher than 250 ot 275 degrees Fahrenheit.

No Comments chia seeds, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, hemp seeds, lignans, omega-3 fatty acids, You Ask/I Answer

In a case of culinary irony, more people are familiar with the idea of wearing or smoking hemp than they are with adding it to salads, soups, and yogurt for a low-calorie, high protein, healthy-fat punch.

So, while Woody Harrelson lights up his eleventh “hemp ciggie” of the day, let’s talk about the seed’s nutritional profile.

Two tablespoons of shelled (AKA free of their outer shell) hemp seeds add up to 160 calories and:

• 2 grams Omega-3 ALA fatty acids (almost as much as one ounce of walnuts)
• 11 grams protein (like soy, hemp is a complete protein, since it contains all the essential amino acids)
• 20% of the Daily Value of iron
• 52% of the Daily Value of folic acid (as much as one cup of spinach)
• 15% of the Daily Value of potassium (as much as a small banana)
• 60% of the Daily Value of manganese

Shelled hemp seeds have a distinct, yet subtle, nutty flavor that goes perfectly with soups, yogurt, and stir fries.  Look for them at Whole Foods or your local health food store. 

NOTE: If adding shelled hemp seeds to cooked food, sprinkle them on after you have plated your meal, so as to not damage the Omega-3 fatty acids’ composition.

1 Comment calories, folic acid, hemp seeds, iron, manganese, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, protein