Hemp Milk – A Nutritious Hemp Beverage

On top of all of the innovative products derived from the hemp plant, hemp milk is widely celebrated for its nutritional benefits. 

In the world of cannabis, wellness is an important virtue we all believe in. Both mental and physical health are significant constituents of personal wellbeing, as both are needed to perform at your highest ability. 

That said, diet plays a large role in how we feel and how our bodies and minds perform, with a new tier of superfoods providing health-conscious individuals an easy way to get a large dose of vitamins, micronutrients, and minerals.

Lucky for those who enjoy cannabis, the plant itself is not merely limited to its psychoactive effects. 

The cannabis plant has been used for generations as a stable supply of food, with its seeds providing an impressive roster of vitamins, proteins, and valuable minerals. 

Recent studies have unveiled dairy milk’s link to acne and other inflammatory-related issues thanks to advancements in nutritional research. This data has paved the way for innovators to create many plant-based non-dairy milk alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk, and, of course, hemp milk.

So, how does hemp milk compare to dairy milk and its other alternatives? Are there any benefits? Is it psychoactive like an edible? Keep on reading to find out.

What is Hemp Milk?

Hemp milk is popular lactose, soy, and gluten-free alternative to dairy milk made by blending water and hemp seeds, rich in high-quality proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, and various other minerals. 

While it is commonly known that the cannabis plant is known to be psychoactive causing people to get high, the actual seeds are non-psychoactive. That said, the hemp seeds themselves do contain cannabinoids such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), although only in trace amounts and can be consumed safely without the risk of experiencing any mind-altering effects.

In terms of flavour and consistency, it is known to have a pleasant nutty flavor that is also earthy. Its consistency is thick like most types of pasteurized whole fat milks, achieving a silky smooth yet creamy texture. 

Thanks to its thickness, hemp milk is a great alternative to dairy milk for a variety of different foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and oatmeal.

Does Hemp Milk Get You High?

As we’ve previously mentioned, hemp milk only contains THC in trace amounts, preventing it from producing any psychoactive effects. 

So no, it will not get you high if you consume it. However, the option to infuse hemp milk with active THC remains open. 

In fact, you may be able to decarboxylate cannabis or a cannabis concentrate and combine it with hemp milk to produce a psychoactive variant that will get you high.

What are the Benefits of Hemp Milk?

May Promote Skin Health

Consuming hemp milk may help to promote skin health. 

Hemp seeds, which hemp milk is derived from contains an ideal ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids. Consuming these essential fatty acids help in fighting against inflammation and ageing, encouraging the immune response and maintenance of healthy skin.

Hemp is also found to help with maintaining healthy moisture in the skin. One study found that consuming 30ml of hemp oil helped to mitigate itchiness and greatly improve skin moisture. 

That said, drinking hemp milk daily and consuming a consistent supply of omega 6 and omega 3s may lead to skin benefits. 

May Offer Protection Against Heart Disease

What makes the hemp seed special is its richness of high-quality protein. 

Most notably, arginine, an amino acid that is a key ingredient in regulating the body’s blood vessels’ health and blood pressure. The body utilizes arginine to create Nitric Oxide, one of the principal oxides of nitrogen that helps in relaxing the blood vessels.

Regular arginine consumption is also attributed to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, based on a study published in 2005. 

That said, due to hemp seeds and hemp milk containing a rich amount of high-quality protein such as arginine, users may be able to reduce their risk of cardiovascular-related diseases by consuming it.

Nutritional Value Of Hemp Milk

Because hemp seeds are loaded with a large supply of healthy fats and proteins, hemp milk also retains these characteristics, supplying rich nutrition as opposed to empty calories. 

Compared to many other plant-based alternatives, hemp milk also contains a greater nutritional value of proteins and healthy fats.

Per 250ml of product, the nutritional value is approximately as follows (percentage values are based off of a 2000 calorie diet):

• Calories: 110
• Carbohydrates: 7 grams
• Protein: 5 grams
• Fat: 7 grams
• Calcium: 2%
• Iron: 20%
• Sodium: 95mg
• Potassium: 250mg

Nutritional Value Of Pasteurized Homogenized Milk

For reference, here is the approximate nutritional value of 250ml of homogenized milk (percentage values are based on a 2000 calorie diet):

• Calories: 142
• Carbohydrates: 11 grams
• Protein: 7 grams
• Fat: 9 grams
• Calcium: 15%
• Iron: 0%
• Sodium: 0mg
• Potassium: 0mg

How to Make Hemp Milk

Fortunately, for the vast majority of consumers, learning how to make hemp milk at home is easy and straightforward to do, requiring only a little bit of effort. 

Creating homemade hemp milk is an excellent way to control the ingredients that go into the product, ensuring that there are no extra unknown additives or chemicals. By the same token, making homemade hemp milk also allows for personalized customization. 

Add cocoa powder to create chocolate hemp milk, cinnamon for some spice, or any other flavour additives to give your homemade infusion an extra dimension.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of hemp seeds (hulled hemp seeds or shelled)
• 3 cups of water (adjust depending on your desired consistency)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Flavour additives like cocoa powder or cinnamon (optional)
• A strainer (cheesecloth or coffee filter)
• A large container (used to store the product)

Recipe Instructions

1. In a high-powered blender, add all of the hemp seeds and water, 1 tbsp of maple syrup and/or honey, half a tsp of vanilla extract and blend together. To ensure the ingredients are well blended and completely combined, keep the blender running for at least 1 minute or until smooth.
2. Sample the mixture to ensure that it is made to your liking. For additional flavour, add some extra maple syrup, a pinch of salt, cocoa powder, or other flavour additives. Adjust until you are satisfied with the flavour.
3. To further refine the texture of the hemp milk, you will need to strain the blended mixture into a large container using some cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
4. Store your homemade hemp milk in the refrigerator and enjoy!

Store-bought hemp milk may have additional vitamins and minerals due to producers selectively adding them in to enhance nutritional profiles. Feel free to infuse your own variants to our recipe to fortify it to your liking.

Hemp Milk – Delicious & Nutritious 

Whether consuming store-bought or homemade hemp milk, this product is fantastic gluten, soy, and dairy-free cow’s milk alternative. 

It contains a rich assortment of healthy fats acids including omega 6 and omega 3 as well as various other valuable nutrients, including high-quality proteins and minerals. 

Hemp milk may be able to help users control inflammatory skin conditions and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. 

It is also incredibly easy to make at home and entirely versatile and customizable to suit any particular flavour profile, sweet tooth or occasion. 

All in all, hemp milk is one of many great milk alternatives, providing a rich nutritious supplement to a well balanced diet. 

Enjoy!