Hemp seed oil is a versatile and nutritious oil but how do we use it?
It’s all very well being told “get this, it’s healthy for you” but if you then don’t know what to do with it, it can end up sitting in your cupboard for months. And, it will eventually get pushed to the back along with all the other jars and bottles of sauces, spices, stocks and condiments we bought on impulse at the supermarket or health food store.
Let’s try and give you incentive to keep your bottle of Hemp Seed Oil within easy reach. The biggest incentive to use Hemp Seed Oil should be the high health benefits of taking a tablespoon a day. The Omega-3s you get from Hemp Seed Oil are one of the highest available – much higher than the oft-touted healthy Olive Oil.
But what can you do with it?
Can you cook with it? What does it taste like? Is it yuck on salads like other cooking oils?
Hemp seed oil is one of the most versatile oils you’ll have in your cupboard because its stable enough to cook with at low temperatures and delicious enough to have over salad. You definitely wouldn’t like to try that with vegetable oils.
Any which way you use hemp seed oil, whether drizzled over salads or warm dishes, cooking at low temperatures, or applying directly to your skin for moisturising, you can be sure you’re getting all the health benefits of hemp seed oil. This plant-sourced oil is full of vital Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that our body needs to keep in optimal health. And the good thing with hemp seed oil is that there’s no awful aftertaste or belly repeats that often come with fish oils.
review by brenda F.
“I have been taking hemp seed oil for a number of years on my breakfast. It is smooth and I quite like the taste. It has made my skin smooth and I think that it moisturises everything from the inside. Will continue to have hemp seed oil.”
Here are some of the more common ways to use hemp seed oil – and it’s not all food-related!
cooking & baking
Hemp seed oil has a mild, nutty flavour and can be used as a substitute for other cooking oils in low-temperature recipes. Because hemp seed oil has a low smoke point it means that, at high temperatures, it can become bitter and lose its nutritional value, so we want to avoid that. Instead, use hemp seed oil in low temperature cooking such as braising meats, soups and stews, risottos or slow-cooked veges.
salad dressings
Hemp seed oil makes an excellent base for salad dressings. Combine it with vinegar or citrus juice, herbs, and seasonings to create a delicious and nutritious dressing or use as a finishing oil for dishes. Because of hemp seed oil its flavour hemp seed oil is also delicious just tossed in your salad on its own without the need for an actual dressing.
smoothies
Add a tablespoon of hemp seed oil to your morning smoothie for an extra boost of omega-3 fatty acids and a creamy texture. Try this one with apple, banana and oats – such a yummy and nutritious way to start your day. Added bonus is that this one will keep you full until lunchtime!
drizzling
Drizzle hemp seed oil over cooked vegetables, pasta, or grains just before serving to enhance their flavor and nutritional content. The warming of the oil when drizzled over warm dishes enhances the flavour giving a mild nutty taste but the heat doesn’t destroy the healthy omega benefits so you’re actually adding in further nutrients without much effort at all!
dips & sauces
Incorporate hemp seed oil into homemade dips and sauces, such as hummus or pesto, for added richness and nutritional benefits. This is so easy to do. Hummus with hemp seed oil enhances the flavour with a nutty taste that, together with the garlic, really sits well on the palate. Switch out the olive oil in a balsamic and oil dip with hemp seed oil and you’ll find that a traditional oil and bread dip can taste even better!
skin & hair care
Hemp seed oil is also used in natural skincare and haircare products. Well-known for its moisturizing properties, you can use hemp seed oil to help soothe irritated skin and reduce dryness and inflammation. Apply hemp seed oil directly to your skin or hair. It is also an excellent carrier oil for adding essential oils to your bath.
massage oil
Due to its moisturizing properties, hemp seed oil can be used as a massage oil, providing a smooth glide and skin-nourishing effects. Just drop about a teaspoonful into the palms of your hands and rub your hands together to warm it up which helps it to go further as you massage along the back or limbs – in fact massage hemp seed oil anywhere that could use a bit of moisturisation or TLC.
body butter
Did you know, hemp seed oil makes the best body butter?! Just mix with shea and coconut butter (and any essential oil scent you like) and you’re well on the way to nourished, glowing skin. Try making it – you’ll find the combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids of hemp seed oil optimally support and nourish the skin reducing inflammatory skin conditions. Hemp oil body butter is also great for promoting stronger skin with greater resistance to bacterial, fungal and viral infections and preventing the growth of yeast through its antimicrobial properties.
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