Hemp Seeds Raw ?

[EZ rider]

I remember hearing somewhere that Hemp seeds wouldn't sprout. Has anyone else heard this ? Has anyone sprouted Hemp seeds ?

[FloridaPatty]

They are fixed somehow so as not to sprout. They are still raw.

[EZ rider]

I wonder how they "fix" the seeds so that they won't sprout but are still raw ? Do they use a chemical "fix" ? or maybe a heat "fix" ? or maybe they just use a definition of raw "fix" similar to the pasturized almonds ?

[TaupeRawMan]

My understanding is that hemp seeds will only sprout if in the shell and they can't be sold in the shell. I think of them as raw.

[Debbietook]

Although I'm in UK, I've read in a couple of places that hemp seeds entering the USA are heat-sterilised.

[TaupeRawMan]

I just had hemp seeds for the first time tonight. I have read in many places that you don't need to soak them. However, since you are supposed to soak hulled sesame seeds and hulled sunflower seeds, why not hulled hemp seeds?

[Andre]

If they won't sprout they're dead.

[coco]

when hemp seeds are sold shelled, they can't sprout because they aren't whole. you don't have to soak them because the outside (enzyme inhibitors, tannins etc.) has been removed and soaking won't activate the seed increasing nutritional quantity because the seeds aren't whole.
whole hemp seeds that are sold in the shell have been treated with steam or irradiated, they are dead. you can test this by trying to sprout them. (i can sometimes get sproutable ones here in canada but they aren't very tasty so why bother? plus the shells are really tough and unpleasant to chew.)

[kiwi]

Mmmmmmmm Hemp seed!!!!! Love it in smoothies.

[sport]

I have sprouted hemp seeds and even planted them. They grow to a couple of inches only and then they die on me.

[RawHeaven]

I read in one of Gabriel Cousens books that all hemps seeds in the US are irradiated. I don't know if this is true or not, but I'm looking for a source that's completely raw and not treated. I generally just purchase the Nutiva brand in my food co-op when I feel like having a hempmilk shake or something. I figure I'm doing okay 98% of the time with my diet choices, so I don't worry about it too much. Anyway, even if you find raw ones they may be treated so be careful. It has to do with the ridiculous laws - they don't want you to grow the plant. :)

[rawstrength]

I have sprouted hemp seeds and even planted them. They grow to a couple of inches only and then they die on me.

You're lucky that you live in Ireland, and not in the USA where it is illegal to grow hemp.

[TaupeRawMan]

I read in one of Gabriel Cousens books that all hemps seeds in the US are irradiated. I don't know if this is true or not, but I'm looking for a source that's completely raw and not treated. I generally just purchase the Nutiva brand in my food co-op when I feel like having a hempmilk shake or something. I figure I'm doing okay 98% of the time with my diet choices, so I don't worry about it too much. Anyway, even if you find raw ones they may be treated so be careful. It has to do with the ridiculous laws - they don't want you to grow the plant. :)

I spoke to Nutiva about this a while back. Theirs are not irradiated.

Does anyone feel not-so-good after eating hemp seeds? It is two days later and I am still digesting them....

[rawstrength]

I spoke to Nutiva about this a while back. Theirs are not irradiated.

Does anyone feel not-so-good after eating hemp seeds? It is two days later and I am still digesting them....

Hemp seeds are very high in protein, so they could potentially be hard to digest if you didn't soak them first. Even with soaking, they might still be tough to digest for some folks.
Personally, I thrive on high protein foods like spirulina and hemp seeds, but you really need a strong digestive system for them.

[TaupeRawMan]

Hemp seeds are very high in protein, so they could potentially be hard to digest if you didn't soak them first. Even with soaking, they might still be tough to digest for some folks.
Personally, I thrive on high protein foods like spirulina and hemp seeds, but you really need a strong digestive system for them.

Hi RawStrength -

I am confused...most people say that hemps don't need to be soaked. Is that wrong? I have no problem with other nuts and seeds....just this time...

[rawstrength]

Hi RawStrength -

I am confused...most people say that hemps don't need to be soaked. Is that wrong? I have no problem with other nuts and seeds....just this time...

I think hemp seeds should be soaked.
Seeds need to be soaked when they are high in protein. Protein = enzymes AND enzyme inhibitors. Soaking releases the enzyme inhibitors into the soak water.
I know hemp seeds should be soaked just from common sense and personal experience, and it says they should be soaked in David Wolfe's Eating for Beauty. So, I'm pretty sure they should be soaked.

[RawHeaven]

I spoke to Nutiva about this a while back. Theirs are not irradiated.

Does anyone feel not-so-good after eating hemp seeds? It is two days later and I am still digesting them....

Oh good! Thank you for confirming Nutiva's are not irradiated.

I usually make hempseed milk and have not had problems digesting them this way. It could be that maybe your body just doesn't like them? I find the same thing happens to me with cashews. I don't eat them much anymore because they seem to sit in my gut even when I soak them.

[RawHeaven]

I think hemp seeds should be soaked.
Seeds need to be soaked when they are high in protein. Protein = enzymes AND enzyme inhibitors. Soaking releases the enzyme inhibitors into the soak water.
I know hemp seeds should be soaked just from common sense and personal experience, and it says they should be soaked in David Wolfe's Eating for Beauty. So, I'm pretty sure they should be soaked.

Really? I don't soak mine, but I'll try it next time to see if there's a difference. Thanks for the information.

[coco]

I think hemp seeds should be soaked.
Seeds need to be soaked when they are high in protein. Protein = enzymes AND enzyme inhibitors. Soaking releases the enzyme inhibitors into the soak water.
I know hemp seeds should be soaked just from common sense and personal experience, and it says they should be soaked in David Wolfe's Eating for Beauty. So, I'm pretty sure they should be soaked.


sorry, david is a charlatan at best. i mean, "eating for beauty"? what a cash grab.
the enzyme inhibitors on nuts and seeds are totally digestable according to the latest research. can't link you to it, it was on another raw site posted by one of the sciencey types who always knows what she's talking about.
hemp seeds without shells don't have enzyme inhibitors anyhow, those are on the shell.

the reason for soaking nuts and seeds is to increase the nutritional quality by activating the seed which becomes ready to support new life. that can't happen with a shelled hemp seed so there is no need to soak unless it is to soften it which also helps with digestion. but hemp seeds aren't hard like almonds so i don't think that's neccessary anyhow

[kbfwa]

Since growing/sprouting hemp (not even the same plant that generates THC) is illegal in the U.S., hemp seeds available there are sterilized.

Many, if not all, hemp protein and milk brands claim their products are enzyme active.

[stiggs]

I just bought 2x 3kg bags of organically grown, whole hemp seeds. Does anyone know whether these have been heat treated before being shipped (to the UK company I purchased them off). I hope not 6kg of hemp seeds is ALOT of seeds ha. Thanks.
Here is the packet (http://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/images/D/organic%20hemp%20seed%203%201000.jpg)

[hempseedsaustralia]

Hemp seeds do not need to be soaked because they are not a hard. However if you soak them for a short time you still activate enzymes which will help with digestion. Even though hemp seed for food is illegal in Australia my husband has had a licence to do trials and we sprouted some seeds in a jar spouter. They were great. A bit like sunflower sprouts. It is supposed to be the best and most nutritious way to get hemp food. At the moment we are trying to get the legislation changed to allow hemp food in Australia.