Hemp Seed
The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source
In The World
by Lynn Osburn
Seeds of the plant cannabis sativa, hemp seed, contain all the essential amino
acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy human life. No
other single plant source has the essential amino acids in such an easily digestible
form, nor has the essential fatty acids in as perfect a ratio to meet human
nutritional needs. The importance of hemp seed nutrients to human health cannot
be fully appreciated without some understanding of bio-chemistry in life. Unfortunately,
any attempt to understand the flow of life leads into the realm of the most
troublesome of the three infinities -- the infinitely complex. Some deep thinkers
believe life is a paradox not to be understood but experienced to the fullest.
However, the Sages have said, "Know thyself." At any rate it is paradoxic
to attempt simplifying the infinite complexity of flowing life. Yet, it is far
better for the health and development of any thinking and feeling, uniquely
individual human being, to pursue knowledge than to lounge in ignorance.
One out of two Americans win die from the effects of cardiovascular disease
(CVD). One out of four Americans will die from cancer. Researchers believe cancers
erupt when immune system response is weakened. Pioneers in the fields of biochemistry
and human nutrition now believe CVD and most cancers are really diseases of
fatty degeneration caused by the continued over-consumption of saturated fats
and refined vegetable oils that turn essential fatty acids into carcinogenic
killers. And if this is not scary enough, more Americans are succumbing to immune
deficiency diseases than ever before. Sadly it is ignorance of human nutritional
needs that will cause this overwhelming majority of Americans to die slowly
from these afflictions -- the greatest killers in affluent nations.
Hemp Seed Proteins And The Building Blocks Of Life And Immunity
There are eight amino acids the human body cannot make and two more
the body cannot make in sufficient quantity, so they are essential to
life. A diet without any one of them will eventually cause disease and
death. These essential amino acids, along with eleven others the body
can make from them, are chained together in accordance to genetic guidelines,
via RNA formats from DNA blueprints, into structural proteins that give
body to life, and into enzymes (globular proteins) that carry out the
mechanics of living. Nearly three quarters of body solids are proteins.
The body is literally constructed and maintained by an infinitely complex
system that simply builds proteins from amino acid sub units. Every
amino acid consists of an amine and a carboxyl bound to the same carbon
atom. All but the smallest amino acid have one, more or less complex,
carbon containing side chain connected to the carbon atom shared by
the amine and carboxyl groups. The amine group, ND, is slightly basic;
the carboxyl group, COOH, is a mild acid. The amine group of one amino
acid unites with the carboxyl group of another forming a peptide link.
Proteins are made of amino acid peptide chains in specific sequences.
The number of possible amino acid peptide combinations is infinite.
Peptide chains can bend, twist and unite with other peptide chains by forming
weak hydrogen bonds between nitrogen and oxygen atoms along the chain. Amino
acids can also form bonds through side chain linkages. All three types of amino
acid bonding methods contribute to the infinite possibility of protein shapes
and reactivity potentials. Though each species builds proteins unique to itself,
life can tailor new ones if challenged by the pressures of existence. Hemp is
not unique in having all the essential amino acids in its embryonic seed. Flax
seeds also contain all the essential amino acids as do many other seeds in the
plant kingdom. What is unique about hemp seed protein is that 65% of it is globulin
Edestin. That is the highest in the plant kingdom.
Globulins are one of seven classes of simple proteins. Simple proteins are
constructed from amino acids and contain no non-protein substances. Globulins
are in seeds and animal blood. Edestin are found in seeds; serum globulin is
in blood. Edestin are plant globulins. And globulins along with albumins are
classified as globular proteins. All enzymes, antibodies, many hormones, hemoglobin
and fibrogin (the body converts fibrogin into non-soluble, fibrin, a blood clotting
agent) are globular proteins. They carry out the main work of living. Albumin,
globulin and fibrogin are the three major types of plasma proteins. Plasma is
the fluid portion of blood that supplies nutrients to tissues. And the three
protein types: serum albumin, serum globulin and fibrogin, compose about 80%
of plasma solids. These plasma proteins serve as a reservoir of rapidly available
amino acids should any body tissues be in need.
Plant seeds contain albumin and globulin but no fibrogin. Albumin is the nutritive
material that fills the space in the seed between the embryo and the seed coat.
The embryo needs albumin to fuel its initial growth until photosynthesis begins.
Globulin Edestin within the embryo guarantee this new life has the enzymes necessary
for metabolic activity. Globulin is the third most abundant protein in the human
body. Globulins perform many enzymatic (causing reactions to take place) functions
within the plasma itself. More importantly, they are responsible for both the
natural and acquired immunity a person has against invading organisms. The body
uses globulin proteins to make antibodies which attack infecting agents (antigens)
that invade the body. Globulins like gamma globulin are absolutely essential
to maintain a healthy immune system. They neutralize alien microorganisms and
toxins.
Globulins are divided into three classes: alpha, beta and gamma globulins.
Alpha and beta globulins operate as transport vehicles by combining with other
substances and carry protein from one part of the body to another. They haul
the materials needed to build new and replace worn or damaged bodily structures.
Gamma globulins are divided into five classes of antibodies called immunoglobulin.
All are formed to combat specific cell invading antigens. They comprise the
body's first line of defense against disease and infection. Immunoglobulin are
produced by B lymphocyte (white blood cells) plasma cell clones located in lymph
system nodes. Infecting antigens normally must pass through the lymph system
before entering the blood stream.
Regarding human protein requirement: "Qualitively, it is considered desirable
to secure amino acids similar to those of human tissues, both as to kinds and
relative quantities of the various kinds." [Textbook of Anatomy and Physiology,
Kimber, Gray, Stackpole, 1943] During digestion proteins in food are broken
down into amino acids. The amino acids are then taken into the body and reassembled
into human proteins according to need and the availability of the amino acids
necessary to make specific proteins.
The body needs the necessary kinds of amino acids in sufficient quantity in
order to make proteins such as the globulins. Proper quantities of the right
kinds may not be available to the body much of the time. So even though the
body has enough essential amino acids available to prevent deficiency diseases,
it may not have enough to build quantities of immunoglobulin necessary for the
immune system to repel infection. The best way to insure the body has enough
amino acid material to make the globulins is to eat foods high in globulin proteins.
Since hemp seed protein is 65% globulin Edestin, and also includes quantities
of albumin, its protein is readily available in a form quite similar to that
found in blood plasma. Eating hemp seeds gives the body all the essential amino
acids required to maintain health, and provides the necessary kinds and amounts
of amino acids the body needs to make human serum albumin and serum globulins
like the immune enhancing gamma globulins. Eating hemp seeds could aid, if not
heal, people suffering from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported
by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought
on by tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body
to waste away. [Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study, 1955]
Antibodies
Antibodies are globulin proteins programmed to destroy antigens (any
substance eliciting a response from lymphocytes: bacteria, viruses,
toxins, living and dead tissue, internal debris, etc.). Circulating
in blood plasma like mines floating in a harbor antibodies await contact
with the enemy, then initiate a cascade of corrosive enzymes that bore
holes in the antigen surface causing it to break apart. Antibodies are
custom designed to neutralize or disintegrate one specific type of antigen.
White blood cells called B cell lymphocytes seek out and lock-on to
antigenic proteins or sugars on the invader's surface. The B cell then
uses that lock and key pattern to make antibodies tailored to that antigen
only. It also will make clones of itself called plasma cells. Most of
the clones begin producing antibodies for that antigen. Others become
memory cells which may spend years wandering through the blood stream
looking for that specific antigen. If the body is exposed to it again
the memory cells lock-on to one and begin producing plasma cell clones
and a flood of antibodies that wipe out the invader. One lymphocyte
can divide into hundreds of plasma cells in a few days. A mature plasma
cell can make about 2000 antibodies every second for the few days it
lives. This is how the body acquires immunity.
The body's ability to resist and recover from illness depends upon how rapidly
it can produce massive amounts of antibodies to fend off the initial attack.
If the globulin protein starting material is in short supply the army of antibodies
may be too small to prevent the symptoms of sickness from setting in.
Hemp seed is the premier plant-seed provider of globulin starting material
-- the highest in the plant kingdom. Eating hemp seeds will insure the immune
system has the reservoir of immunoglobulin resources needed to make disease
destroying antibodies.
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