Hemp FAQ, hemp and health (press release)

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What are the benefits of eating hemp products?

Hemp is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Hemp seed and the inside of the seed, known as the hemp nut, are rich in high quality protein and essential fatty acids (EFAs).

EFAs ensure healthy and fluid cell membranes. A fluid cell membrane is critical for the effective exchange of nutrients, oxygen and waste products. EFAs can help lower the risk for heart disease, boost the immune system and protect against arrhythmias. Since the body does not produce its own EFAs, it is vital to add them to your diet. The typical North American diet has an overabundance of omega-6, but lacks omega-3.

Ruth's Certified Organic Hemp Oil, which comes from pressing the hemp seed, contains a 2:1 ratio of omega-6:3, i.e., less omega-6, more omega-3 It also contains GLA (Gamma-linolenic acid). In fact, hemp oil is the only food oil that contains omega-6, omega-3 and GLA.

Hemp seeds are an excellent source of protein. They have almost as much protein as whole soybeans. That means more than virtually any other protein source, including fish, beef, eggs, chicken ortofu. Although hemp doesn't have quite as much protein as whole soy, the percentage of essential amino acids is higher in hemp than soy. Also, hemp is not genetically modified, unlike most soy.

Do you use certified organic hemp?

Yes. The hemp in most of our products is certified organic. We would love it if our whole line was certified organic, but our main goal is to introduce hemp food into peoples' diets at reasonable prices. When that can be done with certified organic ingredients, we will certainly do so.

Are Ruth's Hemp Foods GMO free?

We strongly believe in GMO-free foods and we do not use ingredients from genetically modified crops in any of our foods. Our hemp comes from family farms on the Canadian prairie. We take pride in knowing everything about our hemp, from the fields to the processing facility.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

What is hemp?

The Latin name for the hemp plant is cannabis sativa. People around the world have used its fibers and seeds for thousands of years, as it is very easily grown, and has many benefits.

There are approximately 500 different varieties of cannabis sativa, and they can generally be divided into three categories: useful for fiber, useful for oil and/or food, and useful for medicine and/or recreation.

Are hemp products legal in the United States?

Yes. In 2001, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a nationwide ban on hemp foods and oils, but in February 2004, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco allowed sales to resume and ruled the ban illegal. In September 2004, the DEA announced that it would not appeal.

What's the difference between hemp and marijuana?

Many people confuse hemp with marijuana, but hemp is not psychoactive. Hemp and Marijuana are parts of the same botanical family: cannabis. Chihuahuas and Great Danes are both dogs, but you can't mistake one for the other, and no matter what you feed a Chihuahua, it will never turn into a Great Dane. The psychoactive element of marijuana, THC, exists in hemp, but in amounts so small they are insignificant.

Can you get high from eating hemp products?

Not a chance. In compliance with government regulation, our hemp seed, oil, hemp nut and hempmeal are tested before being added to our products. We are required to have less than 10 ppm THC in our hemp products, but in fact, no THC at all can be detected in them.

Can I eat Ruth's Hemp Foods and still pass a urine drug test?

Yes. Canada has the strictest THC regulations in the world. Ruth's Hemp Foods is a signatory to TestPledge, a voluntary industry organization that sets maximum levels of THC that the hemp can contain so as to never trigger a positive urine test. Read more about TestPledge at www.testpledge.org.

Isn't all hemp basically organic, as it is not grown with pesticides and herbicides?

No. Whereas in Canada all hemp is grown without pesticides and herbicides (by law), hemp has a heavy requirement for nitrogen. If it is not certified organic, it will be grown with chemical fertilizers to supply that. If you want to ensure that your hemp contains no chemicals, make sure it's certified organic.

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