The Many Environmental and Health Benefits of Hemp
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http://www.naturalnews.com/z023839.html
Type of Content: Article (NaturalNews) It seems as though hemp is not only an answer to our global health problems, both for people who don't have enough to eat and for people in the western world who are malnourished from eating the wrong foods, but also an answer to our environmental crisis. The healing properties of hemp Hemp seeds are perhaps the purest, most nutritionally dense food on our planet. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, and are also the only edible seeds with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is an essential fatty acid. In fact, its essential fatty acid ratio is absolutely perfect for our bodies. Some of the benefits of regularly including this potent and delicious super food in your diet are: * Heart Health and Lowered Blood Pressure - High blood pressure is a sign that the heart is being overworked from having to constantly force blood through sluggish blood vessels. Clinical studies indicate that hemp products reduce inflammation and improve circulation, which means that the blood can flow and take the pressure off the heart. * Better Digestion – The fiber and fats work wonders for our bowels. * Losing Weight Naturally - Hemp will fill you up so you don't feel hungry and crave foods that put on the pounds. Getting enough essential fats and other nutrients that are provided by hemp is one of the best ways to stay slim and healthy. * More Energy - In our world we need all we can get! * Healthy Cholesterol Levels - The natural fats and nutrients in hemp help us to maintain balanced cholesterol levels. * Harmonious Blood Sugars levels - One of the most important ways to defy age and prevent disease is to maintain even blood sugar. Hemp has a Wide Range of Environmentally Friendly Uses Hemp offers a way to live in harmony with the environment and ecosystems we depend on. Hemp has the potential to replace all major non-renewable raw materials. Hemp fibre is stronger and more versatile than any other plant derived fibre, including cotton and wood. Hemp could also potentially replace petroleum products including plastics. Deforestation is occurring at around 3% per year, and hemp is a far superior resource since it can be grown to maturity in 100 days. Hemp paper is far stronger and durable than paper made from trees. Hemp is used in the world's major currency banknotes because it is so strong and water resistant. It is also a sustainable replacement for concrete. Hemp can grow anywhere and doesn't require pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. Evidence suggests that it can lift heavy metals from polluted soil. It also adds nutrients to soil by tapping into sub-soil nutrients other plants cannot access. Hemp biomass fuel produces no sulphur and can be effectively used as a relatively clean power source due to its 95% fuel to feed ratio. At the end of the day, we need to recognise that protecting our environment and our health go hand in hand. About the author
Created 21 weeks 14 hours ago
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In most parts of the world, even where hemp is legal, it is not commonly used to produce biofuels. This is mainly because of its acres:fuel production ratios being lower than other crops that are just as easy to grow. Brazil, for instance, is the world's largest user of biopetrol (ethanol) and most of theirs is produced using sugar cane, which has a higher fuel production yield per acre. The U.S. imported over 200 million gallons of this fuel from Brazil in 2007.
Research shows that yield per acre (for fuels) puts hemp at around the same level as soy, perhaps slightly lower, while cane comes in higher (about 7,500 liters per hectare, versus 5,000 for soy/hemp). Hemp has the advantage of being more versatile, as the leftover biomass can be used in more ways, but cane is used as livestock feed and returned to the soil as fertilizer, which all biomass products can do. So the question comes down to usage per acre and what we'd prefer to get. In my opinion, right now the fuel produced per acre is much more important than the "other stuff" we can get out of it too. Replacement of petroleum is our goal.
Most EBR (Energy Balance Ratio) studies show both cane and hemp to be comparable at about an 8-10x return. Corn, on all scales of EBR and YPA is abysmal and is only used as a biofuel here for political reasons.
Finally, biodiesel is another consideration for all plants and hemp definitely beats cane for that use (high sugar means high octane, good for gas, bad for diesel), though others like palm and rapeseed beat out hemp hands down for YPA.
All of these numbers are readily available online from reliable sources, most of mine come from the DOE and university studies.
In the end, though, ethanol and biodiesel are merely a stop-gap, and probably not a very good one at that. Real change in energy use needs to come about.
The little-discussed problems with replacing petroleum oil are what 80% of it is used for: plastics, lubricants, road surfaces, etc., etc. None of these bio-alternatives address that question at all.
--Aaron
The Militant Libertarian
http://www.MilitantLibertarian.org
"The little-discussed problems with replacing petroleum oil are what 80% of it is used for: plastics, lubricants, road surfaces, etc., etc. None of these bio-alternatives address that question at all."
I would beg to differ with this observation. I will not list all the alternative uses of hemp fibers and stalks, oils, seeds, etc... as it would lead to a list many many pages long. Hemp can be used to make a concrete substitute (road surface), hemp can be processed into a hard plastic - hard enough to make car panels and what not - - and hemp oils and balms can lubricate just about anything. Etc..etc..etc...
The ONLY thing keeping all the uses of hemp back is its status as an illegal substance. I believe quite firmly that if let alone - - the market would find better ways to cultivate hemp, process hemp, etc... and there is most definitely a "green market" for all the various products, clothes, papers and foods hemp can (and will someday) provide.
In addition, unlike many other crops, hemp produces its own insecticides and pesticides and needs no outside fertilizing. Plus it can grow to full height/maturity in like 100 days or so. Peculiarly, even without fertilizing, it causes very little soil damage.
And perhaps even best of all - it grows in almost every climate wherein humans would see fit to plant. I guess my point is - - why dont we wait to contrast and compare the benefits of hemp vs other natural substances when hemp is playing on an even playing field. People cannot even properly study hemp without jumping through a million gov.t hurdles. Then we shall see which plant is best for each particular need.
Use whats best and smoke all the rest :)
Word to the esquire :)
"A Government that is big enough to supply you with everything you need, is big enough to take everything you have." – Thomas Jefferson
But, of course. Hemp.
Thanks for the article. Awesome!
Check this out to see the many other uses of hemp: http://www.breakthematrix.com/node/8313
-Miss Green
"Fear not the path of truth for the lack of people walking on it."