5 Ways Hemp Can Take Care of Our World
Written by VY Ambassador, Sarah Schwefel
Sarah Schwefel is certified in endocannabinoid medicine from the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine
Hemp is one of the world’s oldest and most versatile crops. Dating back over 10,000 years, hemp has been an integral resource in many cultures. In fact, even the Declaration of Independence was signed on hemp paper. Hemp provides a way to live in harmony with the environment and ecosystems that support it, helping us and the planet in many ways.
Hemp can be used to make thousands of resources including clothes, paper, plastics, and diapers. It is estimated there are over 25,000 products that can be made from hemp in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Did you know until 1883, 75%-90% of all paper in the world was made with hemp fiber? Making paper from trees is less sustainable than hemp in many ways. When using trees to make paper only 30% of the tree is cellulose to make paper, while the other 70% is not. Processing paper from hemp will help to slow deforestation, requires less water and resources, as well as fewer toxic chemicals than wood and is also biodegradable, helping to reduce waste globally.
With gas prices rising rapidly, hemp fuel may be a great solution. Yes, you read that right, fuel. Hemp can produce methanol. Currently sourced from corn, hemp methanol can grow faster and produce more fuel in comparison. Corn yields an average of 1,550 liters of methanol per acre, while hemp can yield up to 10,000 liters. Hemp fuel is also biodegradable, burns without creating sulfur dioxide, and in turn does not damage the environment as current options do today. I know what your thinking, why are we not using this? There are companies and researchers promoting hemp fuel more and more, though legislation is still not budging. In 2001 a Canadian duo, Grayson Sigler and Kellie Ogilvie, created the hemp car. The car exclusively runs on hemp fuel. The car was driven from Ontario to Washington DC without problems, and great news, the gas was estimated to cost one dollar for consumers. Activist are continuing to fight to have more take notice of this resource hemp can give us.
Hemp can heal the planet in many ways, and one is by simply planting it. The plant has the powerful ability to absorb carbon and nitrogen out of the air and then naturally regenerating it, putting the nutrients into the soil. Hemp also removes contaminants from the Earth. When grown in toxic soil, the hemp pulls the contaminants into the leaves, but not the buds that hold the cannabinoids of the plant. In 1999 cannabis phytoremediation, a process where cannabis and hemp plants are used to remove contaminants from the soil, was used around the Chernobyl site in Ukraine to remove contaminants from the soil surrounding. In addition, as a cover crop hemp allows farmers to use fewer synthetic herbicides by naturally shading out weeds.
Not only can hemp benefit the planet, but also all who live on it. Hemp creates many cannabinoids, including CBD, CBN, and CBG. All animals can benefit from these cannabinoids through thier interaction with our endocannabinoid system, that helps regulate various processes in our bodies including pain, memory, immunity, and stress. Endocannabinoid receptors are all over the body absorbing cannabinoids and bringing the amazing benefits they hold. Cannabinoids have a wide range of benefits including skin support, reduction of pain and inflammation, mood and memory support, gastrointestinal benefits, and so much more. Everyone, even our fur babies can leverage the power of hemp for themselves.
Hemp can also feed our bodies and bring us nourishment through hemp seeds. Considered a superfood by many, they have a rich nutrient profile with a wide range of benefits. Hemp seeds can be used to make a variety of foods including milk, flour, protein powders, oil, and cheese substitutes. The seeds of the plant are rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fatty acids including omega 3s and omega 6s. Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein with all 9 amino acids, and the component of both omegas helps to regulate blood pressure and inflammatory responses. If that’s not enough, hemp seeds are filled with vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, iron, and Zinc. They are delicious, versatile, and provides our bodies with so many things we need to thrive.
The hemp plant brings us a large variety of uses to help leave the planet cleaner and greener and help our bodies thrive with the power of nature. Hemp has so much to offer the world, in fact there are thousands of uses for the plant, and with new applications and technologies we can use hemp in ways above and beyond what our ancestors knew was possible.
*Vital You makes no medical claims.
The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional before using any product.