Benefits of hemp
Hemp: the nutritional and environmental missing link
Hemp provides everything required by humanity for sustainable survival, from the emulsifier needed for a delicious egg free mayonnaise, to building materials for the kitchen itself, with plenty else in between.
Dr. Udo Erasmus, a PhD nutritionist from Canada states in his books, "Fats and Oils: The Complete Guide to Fats and Oils in Health and Nutrition" and "Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill" that hemp seed contains "nature's most perfectly balanced oil"; which is to say, the balance of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) s - specifically Omega 3, 6 and 9 in hempseed are in perfect proportion for human dietary requirements and these oils are complemented by an easily digestible and complete protein. EFAs are essential because without them our bodies cannot make proteins, the basic building blocks of all human cells. Because our bodies cannot make EFAs these essential fats must come from our food.
Hemp seed is the best source of EFAs on planet Earth because it contains the EFAs and protein we need to survive and be healthy: and because the hemp plant beneficial to our environment; it enhances biodiversity, producing a broad range of industrial goods including textiles, building materials, fuel and biodegradable plastics to name a few.
Surprisingly it is the remarkable value of hemp rather than its narcotic producing cousin that causes hemp to remain one of the most controlled plants on Earth.
Growing hemp has the potential to replace the polluting and environmentally damaging cotton and timber industries. In addition hemp can be used to produce clean liquid fuels such as ethanol from its high-yielding cellulose stalks. Times are-a-changing; the pollution of the earth and all the associated problems this is causing are gradually moving industrial hemp towards the centre of agriculture and associated industries. Individuals, governments and industry are waking up to the potential of this remarkable plant – and about time.
"The laws must be changed, so that growing hemp is as administratively easy as growing tomatoes in a back garden."
Peter Lang
Jan, 2006
Through Steve Danks, it has been my good fortune to have met some comitted and dedicated people, all on a hemp quest, all sharing the same intention - to bring hemp into the public consciousness and diet. We are also of one mind that the most effective method to demonstrate the full potential of hemp is to plant the seeds necessary to harvest enough material to establish a farm centre, using social and environmental best practice, with a kitchen at its heart from which a diverse range of delicious recipes from can be prepared from the seed, demonstrating the versatility of this remarkable plant.
The Vision
Through this website we can convey the benefit and joy of using hemp in the kitchen to as many people as possible, using The Shaman's Kitchen as a vehicle to lobby our government and associated organisation, to encourage full recognition of the potential of hemp and to direct resources into making sure England is again at the forefront of an international hemp industry to benefit generations to come.