Are you looking for a good plant-based protein powder that’s both high in protein, and delivers maximum nutritional benefits? 

Look no further than hemp protein.

Hemp protein has become quite popular these days and is sourced simply by grinding or pressing hemp seeds into a powder.

Besides its nutty taste and high protein content, hemp is packed full of nutritional value, including high fibre, good mineral composition and an amazing essential fatty acid profile.

Let’s discuss some of these benefits in greater detail.

Hemp Protein has a Comprehensive Amino Acid Profile

You may be wondering, what does a comprehensive amino acid profile mean?

Well, not only does hemp contain a relatively high amount of amino acids, but it delivers all nine essential amino acids we must obtain from food for our body to function optimally.

This basically means that it resembles a profile that’s closer to meat than other plant-protein sources (although pea protein does also come pretty close).

That being said, the exact amino acid ratio of hemp is a little unclear in the literature, and in fact, sits a little lower in total protein content (Gorissen et al., 2018) than other sources.

It doesn’t stop there though, because the low protein content found in hemp is made up for its relatively high level of protein digestibility.

Hemp protein is approximately 98% digestible, which is thought to be due to the presence of edestin and albumin proteins that assist in the breakdown of food (House et al., 2010).

Pea protein also shares a similar amino acid and protein digestibility profile, which also makes it another good plant-based protein source.

This is also why Designer Physique does a 100% natural, pure vegan-friendly plant protein blend that consists of both hemp and pea protein. 

Incredibly Rich in Minerals

Another added perk of consuming hemp protein is its fairly diverse mineral composition value.

Some mineral found highest in hemp include phosphorus (1160mg/100g), potassium (859mg/100g), Magnesium (483mg/100g), iron (14mg/100g) and zinc (7mg/100g).

Of course, this mineral profile can vary based on growing conditions and the composition of the soil (Farinon et al., 2020), so it’s always best to ensure you’re buying hemp protein that uses quality hemp seeds.

This is why Designer Physique uses only the best 100% Organic Hemp seed protein powder sourced from Canadian grown hemp seeds. 

Canada has relatively dry weather and well-drained, loamy soils packed full of organic matter, which is a big reason why Canadians are one of the largest producers of high-quality hemp (Government of Alberta, 2020).

Hemp is a Rich Source of Essential Fatty Acids

One biggest benefit of hemp protein powder that’s not really found in any other plant protein source is its high omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acid content.

Our body lacks the enzymes to produce these fatty acids (which is why they’re essential), and we need them in the correct ratios for important bodily functions. Processes such as blood clotting, healthy immune response or nervous system function.

Hemp protein provides an approximate 3:1 balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which studies suggest is around the ideal ratio we should be getting from our diet (Simopoulos, 2002).

In a nutshell, when we don’t consume enough omega fatty acids in the correct ratio, we may experience fatigue, slower recovery, poor glucose tolerance and even an increased risk of infection.

If our ratio remains out of balance for long periods, we may increase our risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or inflammatory joint pain (DiNicolantonio & O’Keefe, 2018).

High in Insoluble and Soluble Fibre

One thing you’ll find in hemp protein powder is its high insoluble and soluble fibre content.

Fibre is essential in maintaining the health of our gut microbiome; helps regulate blood sugar and sugar cravings, and may even be protective to our gastrointestinal tract (Barber et al., 2020). 

Most plant-based protein powders that you find on the market, such as pea or sprouted brown rice protein powder are often low in fibre content.

Designer Physique’s Organic Hemp protein contains a whopping 5.4g per serve, which is approximately 25% of our fibre intake.

If you’re looking for something that’s even higher, Designer Physique do a pure 100% Raw Carob Protein Powder, which delivers a total of 7.8g per serve!

You can learn more about carob protein here.

The Takeaway

Hemp provides a high, comprehensive source of digestible protein that’s packed with an ideal ratio of amino acids that our body needs to perform.

On top of this, it’s high in fibre, rich in minerals and provides the correct balance of essential fatty acids that can reduce our risk of chronic disease.

To maximise the benefits of hemp, it’s always best to select a good quality hemp protein powder, such as Designer Physique’s 100% Organic Hemp Protein.

Our hemp protein is all naturally produced from 100% ground up premium hemp seeds. It’s vegan-friendly, easily digestible and is the perfect substitute for whey-based protein.

If you have any stories on your use of hemp protein, why not leave us a comment below!

References

• Barber, T. M., Kabisch, S., Pfeiffer, A. F., & Weickert, M. O. (2020). The health benefits of dietary fibre. Nutrients, 12(10), 3209. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12103209 
• DiNicolantonio, J. J., & O’Keefe, J. H. (2018). Importance of maintaining a low omega–6/omega–3 ratio for reducing inflammation. Open Heart, 5(2), e000946. https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2018-000946 
• Farinon, B., Molinari, R., Costantini, L., & Merendino, N. (2020). The seed of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Nutritional quality and potential functionality for human health and nutrition. Nutrients, 12(7), 1935. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12071935
• Gorissen, S. H., Crombag, J. J., Senden, J. M., Waterval, W. A., Bierau, J., Verdijk, L. B., & Van Loon, L. J. (2018). Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids, 50(12), 1685-1695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-018-2640-5
• Government of Alberta. (2020, June). Growing Hemp in Alberta. Open Government Program | Alberta.ca. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/growing-hemp-in-Alberta
• House, J. D., Neufeld, J., & Leson, G. (2010). Evaluating the quality of protein from hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) products through the use of the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score method. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(22), 11801-11807. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf102636b
• Simopoulos, A. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 56(8), 365-379. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0753-3322(02)00253-6