How to Use Hemp Seeds in Smoothies

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Hemp seeds are an incredibly versatile and nutritious ingredient that can easily be added to smoothies to increase their nutritional value. These small, nutty-tasting seeds are packed with protein, healthy fats, minerals, and other essential nutrients that can help support overall health and wellness. In this blog post, we will provide information on how to use hemp seeds in smoothies, including tips for incorporating them into your smoothie routine, sample recipes, and the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds.

strawberry beet hemp smoothies in glasses with ingredients surrounding

Best Ways to Use Hemp Seeds in Smoothies

How to Prepare and Store Hemp Seeds

To ensure the nutritional value and freshness of hemp seeds, you should purchase high-quality, organic seeds free from pesticides and contaminants. It is also a good idea to rinse them and toast them in a dry skillet over low heat to enhance their flavor, but that is not something I often take the time to do. If desired, you can grind the hemp seeds in a coffee grinder or food processor before use, but they are soft enough that a regular blender can usually handle them with no problem.

For optimal storage, store your hemp seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry place like a pantry or refrigerator. They can be kept for up to six months in the pantry and up to a year in the refrigerator. Keep them away from direct light as this can cause the oils in the seeds to become rancid. By following these tips, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful, and nutritious hemp seeds when making smoothies or other recipes.

How to Use Hemp Seeds in Smoothies

To make a smoothie with hemp seeds, simply add them to a blender with the other ingredients in your recipe. Hemp seeds can be used either whole or ground for smoothies and are a great way to boost the nutritional value of any smoothie recipe. They can be blended with fruits, vegetables, and other superfoods for extra health benefits. Additionally, hemp seeds can be combined with other types of seeds and nuts to make an even more nutritious smoothie.

When adding hemp seeds to your smoothies, start by adding a tablespoon of hemp seeds (or two) at a time so that you can gradually adjust the flavor profile. It’s also a good idea to mix the hemp seeds in with other ingredients like yogurt or banana before blending so that they don’t get stuck in your blender blades. If desired, you can also toast your hemp seeds first as this enhances the nutty flavor.

Personally I just throw in a couple of tablespoons of hemp seeds into my blender on top of my other ingredients.  This has always blended really well for me and I never have any problems with seeds getting stuck to the blades.

I also like to add some to the top of my smoothies as you see in these pictures because I like the texture.

chocolate hemp smoothies in glasses with ingredients behind
Find this recipe below!

Hemp Seed Smoothie Recipes

Some sample recipes to get started with include:

Blueberry Hemp Power Smoothie: Blend together frozen blueberries, almond milk, yogurt or coconut cream yogurt, maple syrup or honey for sweetening (if desired), 2 tablespoons of raw shelled hemp seeds (or more if desired), and ice (optional).

Green Hemp Smoothie: Blend together 1 cup of kale (stems removed), 1/2 ripe avocado (pitted and peeled), 1/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 2 tablespoons raw shelled hemp seeds (or more if desired), 1 banana (chopped into chunks) and filtered water until fully blended.

Avocado Cacao Hemp Smoothie: Blend together 1/2 ripe avocado (pitted and peeled), 2 tablespoons raw shelled hemp seeds, 1 tablespoon cacao powder, 1 teaspoon maca powder, 1 banana (chopped into chunks), 1 cup almond milk and ice (optional).


hemp seeds spilled on wooden table with a wooden teaspoon

Nutritional Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Including hemp seeds and hemp hearts in your smoothie routine provides many nutritional benefits due to its high content of proteins and essential amino acids, healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, minerals such as iron and magnesium which help regulate bodily processes such as hormone production and sleep cycles.

Additionally eating hemp seeds can improve gut health due to its prebiotic fiber content which helps feed beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome leading to better digestion and immunity. With all these benefits combined it is no wonder why more people are turning to daily supplements containing hemp seed oil as part of their diet plan!

Read more about the health benefits of hemp seeds here


Smoothie Ingredients that Go Great with Hemp Seeds

Here is a list of smoothie ingredients that work well with hemp seeds:

  1. Fruits: Berries, bananas, mango, pineapple, peaches, and apples are all great options for adding natural sweetness to your smoothie.  You can use frozen fruits or fresh fruits for your smoothies.  I really love frozen bananas in mine for an extra creamy texture.
  2. Vegetables: Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens can provide a boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Green smoothies are our favorites!  We also enjoy adding frozen cauliflower to smoothies as it hides well and helps to thicken a smoothie.
  3. Protein sources: Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or silken tofu can add protein and creaminess to your smoothie.  You can also add protein powder (plant-based protein powder, collagen or whey protein powder) or nut butter.
  4. Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds are all great options for adding healthy fats and additional protein to your smoothie.
  5. Superfoods: Maca powder, acai, cacao powder, and matcha powder are all superfoods that can provide additional health benefits and unique flavors to your smoothie.
  6. Liquid: Dairy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water, water or Juice can be used as a liquid base to blend the smoothie
  7. Sweeteners: You can use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup or stevia if you want to add some sweetness to your smoothie
  8. Spices: You can add some flavor and health benefits by adding spices like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger or vanilla.

By experimenting with different ingredients, you can create a wide variety of delicious and nutritious hemp seed smoothies that suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.


Common Questions about How to Use Hemp Seeds in Smoothies

Are hemp seeds good for smoothies?

Yes, hemp seeds are an excellent choice for adding flavor and nutrition to smoothies. They are packed with protein and essential fatty acids, which help keep you feeling full longer. Hemp seeds are also high in fiber and rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and vitamin E. They blend easily into smoothie recipes and their nutty flavor adds a delicious hint of sweetness and texture to your smoothie.

Can I put hemp seeds in a blender?

You can definitely put hemp seeds in a blender.  It’s fine to add them to the rest of your smoothie ingredients, or you can grind them first, but since they are so soft it’s often not necessary to grind them.  They make a wonderful addition to smoothies.

Where can you buy hemp products like seeds, milk or protein powder?

Luckily they are easy to find online and in health food stores, and even in some forms at your local grocery store or Walmart.  We find the seeds at Walmart to be the cheapest and they work well.  You can find hemp milk in your local grocery store and hemp protein powder online.

Are there any negative side effects to hemp seeds?

If you are worried about testing positive on a drug test after consuming hemp seeds, there’s no need to worry.  Hemp hearts come from a plant that is similar to, but not the same as, marijuana. The hemp plant contains 0.3% THC – significantly lower than marijuana which can contain up to 30%. Jolene Formene, staff attorney for the Drug Policy Alliance points out that consuming hemp seeds will not make you high; minimal amounts of THC may be found when consuming them and studies have determined that it would be difficult to detect such low levels in federal drug tests.

Final Thoughts on How to Use Hemp Seeds in Smoothies

If you’re looking for a great source of plant-based protein, seriously consider adding hemp hearts or hulled hemp seeds to your next smoothie.  They are a great source of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and are great for digestive health.  I love knowing I’m getting extra protein in my smoothies from hemp.

Hemp seeds make great toppings for smoothie bowls, where the whole seeds give a wonderful crunchy texture.  They also help give a creamy texture to smoothies when they are blended in.  Hemp milk, hemp protein powder and hemp oil are also great ways to use hemp in your smoothies.

Happy Blending!
Amanda

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