Hemp seeds are the edible part of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L). They are a tiny, round seed, similar in size to a sesame seed. They have a light, pleasant flavor and taste similar to toasted pine nuts. Hemp seeds can be pressed for oil, milled into a protein powder, roasted or shelled and made into Hempmilk. Hemp seeds have been cultivated as a food for centuries in China, and many countries in Europe and Africa. All the hemp grown for Living Harvest products come from Canada.

Learn about hemp farming in Canada at: HempTrade.ca

Learn about the status of hemp farming in the United States at: VoteHemp.com

No, hemp contains virtually no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the psycho-active component found in marijuana. Drug varieties of Cannabis sativa produce 5% to 20% THC. Hemp foods contain 0.00% THC. They are legal and safe to consume. You will not flunk a drug test eating hemp foods. Learn more at: TestPledge.com

The major components of fat are long-chain molecules know as fatty acids. The two fatty acids that the body does not make are called Omega-3 Linolenic Acid and Omega-6 Linoleic Acid. We need to get these "good fats" from food, which is why they are termed Essential.

Hemp oil contains essential fatty acids which are vital for normal growth and development, in particular skin and heart health. Due to the popular misconception that fat is "bad" for the body, many people have adopted a low or no fat diet. Coupled with the widespread consumption of processed and genetically modified foods, many people are showing signs of EFA deficiency. Leading researchers are finding a significant link between diseases affecting the nervous system and EFA deficiency. Supplementation of EFA's is becoming an integral part of complementary medical protocols.

Nutrition research has indicated that people should look to balance the amount of omegas and lower the ratio in their diet. Hemp seeds provide a naturally occurring balance of 1:3 Omega-3 to Omega-6. The American diet is viewed by many professionals as having too much Omega-6 and not enough omega-3. A typical American diet tends to contain 11 to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids. A lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is more desirable for reducing the risk of many of the chronic diseases of high prevalence in Western societies.

Unlike soy, rice, almond or dairy, the Omega-3 and Omega-6's in our Hempmilk contain naturally occurring "Super Omega" stearidonic acid (SDA) and gamma linolenic acid (GLA). SDA and GLA are higher metabolites of Omega-3 and 6 respectfully which are more bio-active than the precursor ALA. SDA is a fatty acid that has a "potency" of about 5X greater than ALA. Likewise, GLA is more readily absorbed by the body and helps to improve skin conditions. Not all people convert omega fatty acids optimally due to factors such as age, genetics, diet and lifestyle. Because of factors like these, the body's enzymatic conversion efficiency for some may be as low as 20% which can reduce the effectiveness of essential fatty acids. SDA and GLA are not found in flaxseed, sunflower seed, soybean, pumpkin, canola, corn, almond, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Other sources of SDA are marine oils and other sources of GLA can be found in borage and primrose oils.

Hemp seeds contain 33% pure digestible protein, providing readily available amino acids for building and repairing tissue. Hemp seed protein is comprised of 65% high-quality edestin protein, the most potent protein of any plant source, and 35% albumin protein. The globulin edestin in hemp seed closely resembles the globulin in blood plasma and is compatible with the human digestive system. It is vital to the maintenance of a healthy immune system and it is also used to manufacture antibodies. Albumin is a protein manufactured by the liver and it makes up a large portion of blood plasma protein. Albumin is essential for regulating body fluid in body tissues.

Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins. Dietary protein is needed in order to supply amino acids for our body's growth and maintenance. Ten of the twenty amino acids the human body requires are considered essential, meaning the body does not make them. We need to get these Essential amino acids from food. Hemp seeds contain all 10 essential amino acids and high levels of branched-chain amino acids, important for the development of lean body mass, as well as muscular repair. Hemp seeds have significant levels of arginine, histidine, methionine and cysteine, all of which are needed for enzyme production. Arginine and histidine are also necessary for children's growth.

All the Omega-3 & 6 essential fatty acids found in our products are naturally occurring in hemp. Living Harvest Tempt Hempmilk does not contain fish or algal oils (unlike other milk alternatives), nor do any of Living Harvest's other products. Due to our new recipe and processing techniques, you will now receive 56% of your daily value of Omega-3 essential fatty acids in a serving of Living Harvest Tempt Hempmilk. Additionally, you'll also enjoy our Hempmilk's light, nutty taste, a natural benefit of hemp seeds.

Like other milk alternatives on the market, Living Harvest Tempt Hempmilk needs to be shaken vigorously upon opening, in order to ensure the protein, good fats and other nutrients like calcium are well-blended. If our Hempmilk is not shaken, you may find some separation with the product. Calcium, in unshaken Hempmilk, may also result in white deposits, or clumping. If the nutrients have separated out from the liquid, or if calcium deposits are seen, this does not mean the product is bad, it only means you need to shake the product further. It will quickly go back into solution and have no affect on taste, flavor or the safety of the product.

We have seen some separation and calcium deposits in our July Unsweetened Original and Unsweetened Vanilla flavors. For best results, we recommend you first open the Hempmilk lid, pull back the silver tab, then re-close the lid and turn the product upside and shake vigorously. Opening the tab before shaking permits the air in the package to be released, allowing the calcium and other nutrients to mix into solution, resulting in a creamy white, milky appearance. If you still have questions about the quality or taste of our Hempmilk, please email us with your Hempmilk package in hand or the lot# and date code of the product so we can help you further.

Carrageenan is a natural polysaccharide (carbohydrate) and is extracted from a wide variety of red seaweeds belonging to the class of Rhodophyceae. It is a common food additive that is accepted and used worldwide and found in most milk alternatives. It is considered safe as a food ingredient by regulatory and health officials. Living Harvest only uses food grade, extracted carrageenan as a natural thickener, to prevent separation of liquids and improve performance for a smooth mouth feel. The carrageenan we use in our hempmilk beverages is extracted using a multi-step process to avoid any degradation. After careful washing, the seaweed is dissolved in warm alkaline water and filtered.

Low grade carrageenan (typically called poligeenan) however, is used strictly for industrial non-food uses and is not an acceptable food additive. Studies have shown that poligeenan can be linked to health disorders. At one time poligeenan was referred to as carrageenan and therefore the resulting confusion between carrageenan and poligeenan arose.

Though the US Adopted Names Council determined that "poligeenan" was a more accurate and descriptive name for this non-food additive, the early reference to it as carrageenan continues to cause confusion. Poligeenan did demonstrate unfavorable health effects in studies however food-grade carrageenan has no known toxicity and is considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the US Food & Drug Administration.

Our customers health is important to us. We will only use natural and safe ingredients in all our products.

Looking for more information?

Below is a list of some of the publications and websites that indicated the food grade carrageenan is safe for you and your families.

• The safety of food-grade carrageenan was substantiated at a joint meeting of the FAO/WHO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in June 2001. The JECFA determined that carrageenan could safely be used in the diet and recommended the most favorable Acceptable Daily Intake level a food additive could receive. The JECFA review was based on extensive safety studies of food-grade carrageenan, including evaluation of such matters as degradation and carcinogenicity. (Allowable Daily Intake - "Not specified"; Twenty Eighth and Fifty Seventh meetings of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1984 & 2001).
• A review paper by Samuel Cohen, M.D., PhD and Dr. Nobuyuki Ito, adopted by the JEFCA in their deliberations, evaluated and rebutted the evidence of claims of carcinogenity. The paper states, "In long term bioassays, carrageenan has not been found to be carcinogenic, and there is no credible evidence supporting a carcinogenic effect or a tumor-promoting effect." Drs. Cohen and Ito are well-known and respected cancer researchers. (Cohen, S.M., Ito, N., 2002 "A critical review of the toxicological effects of carrageenan and processed eucheuma seaweed on the gastrointestinal tract." Crit. Rev. Toxico. 32, 413-444.)
• IPCS International Programme on Chemical Safety, World Health Organization, WHO Food Additives Series: 42
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v042je08.htm

• http://seaweed.ucg.ie/descriptions?Chocri.html
• Marinalg International, a world association representing the producers of hydrocolloids extracted from seaweeds
http://www.marinalg.org/papers/papers_inf.htm and http://www.marinalg.org/products/carra_inf.htm

• Professor Ronald Walker, witness statement and rebuttal of Dr. Erik Millstone, page 7, Carrageenan.
http://www.mcspotlight.org/people/witnesses/nutrition/walker.html

Yes, Tempt Hempmilk can be used as a substitute for dairy or soymilk in baking or cooking. Our hemp milk has a light yet creamy taste that works well in both sweet and savory dishes from puddings to soups. It even makes a delicious milkshake with our new Tempt frozen dessert line. Use 1 part Hempmilk to 1 part dairy or soymilk. Click here for recipe ideas.

We do not recommend freezing Living Harvest Tempt for storage. Frozen-then-thawed Tempt is inferior in texture, though freezing does not affect the safety or nutritional value of the product.

Yes, Living Harvest's Hempmilk cartons are recyclable. Currently, recycling programs in 26 states - more than 60 million US residents - accept cartons in their curbside collection. Tetra Pak, the company that manufacturers the cartons, together with other members of the Carton Council, is working with Waste Management on a project to expand carton recycling in the US. Waste Management has recently made the commitment to accept cartons at all of its recycling processing facilities across the country. To learn more about carton recycling, go to: www.recyclecartons.com

Yes, Hemp oil is a low to medium heat oil ideal for short term cooking and baking up to 330 F. However, because it is unrefined and high in unsaturated fats, it is not recommended for high temperature frying, sautéing or coating baking pans. Hemp oil has a similar smoke point as coconut and unrefined olive and sesame oils.

Hemp oil can be used straight out of the bottle, like you would use olive oil. Or try these recipe suggestions:

• Drizzle on grilled fish or veggies
• Use as a dipping oil for breads
• Blend with your morning smoothie for an added nutritional boost
• Make a Mediterranean platter of hummus, feta, grape leaves and pita
• Drizzle on fresh corn on the cob or a baked potato
• Use in sauces and salad dressings

It is safe to store Living Harvest hemp oil un-refrigerated because we nitrogen flush our hemp oil and package it in a dark bottle to help preserve the omegas naturally occurring in the product. Additionally, hemp oil naturally contains 2% DV of vitamin E which acts as a natural preservative. Living Harvest hemp oil should be stored in the refrigerator once opened, and until then kept in a cool place.

Hemp protein is highly digestible due to its protein structure and low levels of enzyme inhibitors. Unlike soy protein powders, hemp protein does not contain:

• Phytates which can interfere with the proper assimilation of essential minerals
• Oligosaccharide which can cause flatulence and stomach distress
• Phyto-estrogens which can cause hormonal imbalances in the body
• Common allergens like those found in dairy, soy and tree-nuts