Hemp is clearly divided into uses depending on the type and area of use. First of all, there's marijuana, which we often think of as "cannabis." Marijuana contains high amounts of a substance called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which causes hallucinations in humans.
Hemp, on the other hand, has a very low THC content. It's called "industrial hemp," and it's the protagonist of the recent "legalization of hemp." However, THC is also found in hemp, albeit in very small amounts. It is mainly distributed in the flowers, leaves, and shells of hemp seeds. Therefore, in Korea, only the stems and shells of hemp are allowed to be used as food ingredients.
In addition, according to the legal standards announced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2015, the THC content of hemp seed oil is currently 10 mg/kg or less, or 0.001% or less, and products that do not meet this standard cannot be sold. In 2016, hemp seeds that have been peeled off were designated as "safe food." Therefore, if it is a legally manufactured hemp seed oil product, you can consume it with confidence without worrying about harmful ingredients.
On the other hand, hemp seeds, or hemp seeds themselves, are very rich in various nutrients. It contains various unsaturated fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid, especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are distributed in a ratio of about 1:3, which is known as the golden ratio. Not only that, but it also contains protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, and the American media Time magazine has introduced hemp seeds as one of the "world's top six super grains."
2. Hemp seed oil, which consists of the same ingredients as medical hemp?
Hemp doesn't just contain hallucinogenic THC. It contains about 60 types of cannabinoids, including CBD (cannabidiol) and CBN (cannabinol). Double CBD is one of the active ingredients in hemp that exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity by acting on nervous system receptors.
CBD has been approved by the U.S. FDA as a treatment to stop convulsions and seizures in patients with severe epilepsy (Epidiolex®), and it has been used in Korea through the Center for Orphan and Essential Medicines on a limited basis, but it has been covered by health insurance since 2021. In short, medical cannabis and hemp-based medicines are currently available in Korea.
Taking advantage of this, there are companies that advertise hemp seed oil as if it contains CBD. Under current law, the permissible CBD content of foods using hemp seeds is 20 mg/kg or less, or 0.002% or less. Like THC, hemp seed oil on the market contains very little CBD.
Therefore, hemp seed oil products that are advertised as high in CBD are patently false, and while hemp seed oil is rich in nutrients, care must be taken not to mistake it for having pharmacological effects to treat diseases.
3. Is hemp seed oil a triglyceride and cholesterol-improving functional food?
With the recent launch of various hemp seed oil products, many consumers are mistaking hemp seed oil for health functional foods, especially triglyceride and cholesterol-improving functional foods.
Hemp seed oil products are not dietary supplements. It is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of hulled hemp and is classified as 'other vegetable oils'. However, as I mentioned earlier, it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, and as a result, there are many reviews that say that it has helped with blood circulation health, anti-inflammatory, skin care, and diet.
To sum up, while it is true that hemp seed oil is rich in various nutrients, it should not be mistaken for having other functions, and it is recommended that you choose according to your needs.
4. To check the quality of hemp seed oil, do you need to check the pedigree of the seed?
There are hundreds of detailed 'pedigrees' of hemp seeds around the world, and it is almost impossible for the average consumer to determine the pedigree of hemp seeds and select hemp seed oil based on this.
However, the process of verifying the quality of seeds is essential in the food industry, which is why there are institutions and organizations such as AOSCA and CSGA that want to establish and manage standards for this on behalf of individual consumers. Based on the certification of these organizations, the raw materials are also sourced from reliable seeds, processed and provided to consumers.
To be more specific, AOSCA is a seed certification body that provides internationally recognized seed certification, such as seed purity, and CSGA is a Canadian seed growers association that monitors and tracks seeds and gives them official labeling. In general, hemp seeds are considered superior if they meet these certifications.
It can also be helpful to make sure that the FDA has achieved Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) certification, which is a certification that is awarded by FDA experts to evaluate the safety of a substance and "when it is generally considered safe."
To sum up, it is reasonable to check whether the seeds used in hemp seed oil products have been certified by reputable institutions and organizations, and it is difficult to find any particular benefit in determining the detailed pedigree of the seeds.
5. Does hemp seed oil have a risk of rancidity?
Ranche refers to the deterioration of food such as fats and fats by the interaction of air, light, heat, bacteria, and enzymes. As rancidity progresses, viscosity increases, taste, odor, and color deteriorate, nutrients are destroyed, and harmful substances are produced. By the way, such rancidity is more likely to occur in oils with a high degree of unsaturation. Hemp seed oil, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, should also be well managed at risk of rancidity.
For this purpose, the cold pressing method, which is pressed and extracted at a low temperature of about 40°C, is widely used. It is extracted at a relatively low temperature to minimize nutrient destruction and rancidity, while not using chemical solvents, so there is less worry about residual solvents. Afterwards, at the import clearance stage, the acid value of the raw material (the mg of potassium hydroxide needed to neutralize the fatty acids in 1 g of oil sample) is measured to control the rancidity of the hemp seed oil raw material.
In addition, in order to minimize the risk of rancidity that may occur during the storage process after purchase, a rancidity-resistant capsule mechanism and packaging method are also used.
Therefore, there is a risk of rancidity due to the nature of raw materials such as oils and fats containing unsaturated fatty acids, but there is no need to worry about the risk of rancidity if the product uses legally imported raw materials.
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