Hemp and its Industrial Uses
The plant Cannabis Sativa is also known as hemp. While
there are other plants called hemp, cannabis hemp
is most useful. Essentially hemp has been used since
pre-history for a plethora of purposes.
Hemp is Protein Rich
Hemp is a very nutritious source of protein and essential
fatty oils. Many societies have grown hemp for its
seed; most of them eat it in much the same way as
oatmeal. Hemp seeds do not contain any marijuana,
although hemp plant leaves do have psychoactive side
effects.
Hemp Seed Uses
Hemp seeds were once called edestine and was used
by doctors as a model for vegetable protein. Hemp
seeds are prescribed to many patients that trouble
processing food.
Hemp seeds are the only ones that provide the
human body with essential fatty acids with almost
no saturated fats. Vegans and vegetarians can survive
on a handful hemp seeds a day; they would have the
correct levels of protein and oils.
Effects of Hemp Crops on Soil
Hemp crops are good to a lot easier on soil then most
crops. Hemp places deep roots, requires little pesticide,
grows well everywhere and its leaves that fall provide
the soil with minerals and nitrogen. Hemp can grow
in the same soil for over 20 years without an obvious
mineral content depletion.
Two parts of the Hemp Plant
The hemp plant is made up of the bast and the hurd.
The bast of the hemp plant can be made into virtually
any cloth. It's a fact that the first pair of Levi's
blue jeans were made of hemp. Hemp is the most useful
natural fiber in the world.
Hemp as a Fuel Source?
It is possible for the hurd of the hemp plant to be
distilled into charcoal, methanol, methane or gasoline.
Fuels such as these are known as biomass fuels.
Hemp Factoid
The state of Kentucky was the once the center of relatively
large hemp industry. In 1937 a prohibitive tax was
placed on hemp, which made the hemp business nearly
impossible.
Further research is underway to explore the benefits
of hemp, a misunderstood plant.
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