Where to Buy Hemp Seeds in Cardiff

Hemp seeds — or hemp hearts, as the hulled version is commonly sold — are one of the most nutritionally complete foods available. They are not a supplement or a trend. They are a whole food that happens to have an unusually good nutritional profile, and they are easy to eat every day without thinking about it.

Complete protein from a plant

Most plant proteins are incomplete, meaning they are missing one or more of the nine essential amino acids your body cannot produce on its own. Hemp seeds are an exception. They contain all nine in useful amounts, making them one of the few plant foods that qualify as a complete protein source alongside quinoa and soy.

Three tablespoons of hemp hearts provides around 10 grams of protein. For vegans and vegetarians building protein intake across the day, hemp seeds are a straightforward addition that requires no cooking and works with almost anything.

The omega balance

Hemp seeds contain both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a ratio of roughly 1:3 — close to what researchers consider optimal for human health. Most Western diets are heavily skewed towards omega-6, often at ratios of 15:1 or higher, which is associated with chronic inflammation. Hemp seeds will not fix a poor diet on their own, but their naturally balanced ratio makes them a better choice than most seed oils and processed fats.

They also contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a particular type of omega-6 with anti-inflammatory properties. GLA is rare in common foods — borage oil and evening primrose oil are the other well-known sources — and is one of the things that sets hemp seeds apart from other protein-rich seeds.

Minerals

Hemp seeds are a meaningful source of magnesium, zinc, iron, and phosphorus. Magnesium in particular is widely under-consumed; a three-tablespoon serving of hemp hearts provides around 50% of the recommended daily intake. For anyone eating a plant-based diet and keeping an eye on mineral intake, hemp seeds earn their place.

Hulled versus whole

Whole hemp seeds have an outer shell that is edible but tough and slightly fibrous. Hemp hearts are the same seeds with the shell removed — softer, milder in flavour, and easier to digest. Hemp hearts are what most people mean when they refer to hemp seeds in a food context, and what you will find in most health food shops.

Hemp protein powder is made from the pressed seed after the oil has been extracted. It is a concentrated protein source but loses some of the fat content and with it some of the omega and GLA benefits of the whole seed. The whole hemp heart is the more complete food.

How to use them

Hemp hearts need no preparation. The simplest approach is to add a tablespoon or two to whatever you are already eating: porridge, yogurt, salads, soups, smoothies. They have a mild, slightly nutty flavour that does not overpower other ingredients.

They can also be used in baking, pressed into energy balls, or blended into homemade dressings. Unlike flaxseeds, they do not need to be ground to be digestible — the nutrition is fully accessible from the whole hulled seed.

What we stock

We stock hemp hearts at all three Beanfreaks stores in Cardiff. Come in and ask if you are not sure which product is right for you.

• Roath: 95 Albany Road, CF24 3LP
• Canton: 124 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9DX
• Royal Arcade: 8 Royal Arcade, Morgan Quarter, CF10 1AE

Get in touch to check stock at your nearest store.