Don't Love Dairy? Sick of Soy? Try Hemp Milk!

by WiredBerries Editors — October 31, 2007

This tasty new alternative "milk" has only began to be sold this year. It's made from the "nuts" or seeds of the industrial hemp plant, which is illegal for U.S. farmers to grow.

But now a growing number of makers of hemp milk are using seeds from Canada, where hemp grows legally, to make the nutritional new drink. There's no THC in the healthful beverage, but the nutritional breakdown for one cup (8 ounces) can make you feel as if you're hallucinating: 46 percent of your daily calcium and 43 percent of your phosphorus? Uh huh. It's also got all 10 essential amino acids, which occur naturally in the seeds, along with other vitamins and minerals. Proponents point out that it is also a wonderfully balanced source of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and is high in quality protein.

But what is doesn't offer is an allergic reaction. For those who can't consume dairy, tree nuts or soy, hemp milk is a great alternative. The manufacturers says that unlike soy protein, hemp protein doesn't contain high levels of enzyme inhibitors, philters ("which can interfere with the proper assimilation of essential minerals") or oligosaccharides ("which cause flatulence and stomach distress"). Plus, it tastes good. You can eat it with cereal, in smoothies or plain. It even comes in chocolate flavor!