Hemp Nutrition

Hemp is the base to Little Man's diet.  The nutrition in it was questioned from the beginning but I had researched it and found that it had even better qualities than fortified rice milk (which we already knew he couldn't have anyway).  No soy milk either.  And oat milk wasn't worth the risk, neither was goats milk, at the time.   Hemp it was!  I shared our excitement, and his love for it here: Hemp milk. 

I began making a formula out of it this time last year, we had some bumps in the road, such as:  we couldn't mix it with Neocate and find a threshold- we would need to move away from any and all traces of corn for true healing.   We tried tapioca starch for added carbohydrate calories, and failed- miserably.   This fail had FPIES symptoms but likely was also related to his dissacharide deficiency.  That brought us to arrowroot starch, safflower oil added to the hemp milk -- which we saw great improvements on.  But a blood draw revealed that it wasn't helping his pre-albumin levels (protein stores) improve (past the losses we saw with Neocate, likely from malabsorption due to inflammation brought on by the corn).   We found Hemp protein powder, and began to add it in in August of last year and his protein stores improved nicely.   Hemp provides a great nutritional profile for protein, nutrients and calories.   It is a good source of iron, but a plant source- which is not as readily absorbed by the body as a meat source.  With anemia in our cycle again (still), I have been looking again for more information on hemp nutrition; although I am not finding specific information to the bio-availability of iron, I am reminded of how nutritious, and functional, hemp is.   

Taken from a company that markets Hemp, Nutiva:
"The hemp seed is the richest known source of polyunsaturated fats, containing a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 linolenic Acid and Omega-3 linolenic acid. In fact, the hemp seed balance of Omega 3 to 6 fats is the perfect proportions for human dietary needs, making hemp an ideal addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle.


The Omega fats, or “essential” fats in hemp seeds are crucial to human health and they are called essential because they can only be obtained through our diet. Without essential fats, the body is at an increased risk of developing deficiencies that can cause slow wound healing, hair loss, skin conditions, and a greater risk of infection from the common cold and flu. Imbalance of Omega fatty acids, including too many Omega-6′s, common in trans fats containing foods like fast food, animal products and processed junk food can lead to diseases including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, arthritis and diabetes.

The hemp seed is one of the best sources of nutritious plant protein. Hemp is also loaded with all 20 amino acids (including the 9 essential). Plant protein, such as hemp, is vital for vegans and vegetarians, and is also preferred by many world class athletes for its dense nutrition. The protein found in hemp hearts is very digestible, with no known allergies, which makes it an excellent choice for sensitive diets.

Hemp also contains phytonutrients, which may boost immunity, purify the skin, and strengthen connective tissue. Hemp seeds may help with the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce inflammation, increase healing time, improve circulation, and boost overall immune function and performance"

And, the Nutrition facts label of the hemp protein powder Little Man consumes.

What a superfood!