Hemp oil

Flex, Oct, 2003 by Brian Rowley

Q: My trainer suggested I take hemp oil because it's an essential fatty acid supplement. Is it as good as fish or flaxseed oil?

A: In many ways, yes. Hemp oil is a great source of essential fatty acids, which are vital to your physique. Although not as rich in omega-3 fatty acids as flaxseed oil, hemp oil has fewer weak estrogens than flaxseed oil (even weak estrogens may encourage fluid retention and possibly fat storage if you take very high amounts for too long). In addition, hemp oil has more gamma-linolenic acid than flaxseed oil, as well as an ideal balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. It does come from you-know-what, but hemp oil sold as a supplement won't make you high or trigger a positive dope test because manufacturers remove the THC (the primary intoxicant compound in marijuana).

One reason to take omega-3s is that you're probably not getting enough of them, especially in relation to other types of fat. Besides giving your body essential fatty acids, hemp oil and other omega-3 sources may help you maintain the drive you need to keep training hard. Low-fat diets can send your psychological energy into a tailspin when you need your resolve most; omega-3 fatty acids reverse this effect, restoring confidence and stabilizing mood.

One drawback of hemp oil is that it lacks eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 found in fish oil that helps preserve muscle mass. Still, we can't rule out an anticatabolic effect for hemp oil, as the body can convert a fraction of its other omega-3 fatty acids into EPA. Furthermore, the omega-3 fatty acids in hemp oil boost the liver's production of fat-burning enzymes.

Store hemp oil in a cool dark place, and don't use it for cooking. To make sure it's fresh, refrigerate the oil and finish it within six months. We recommend five grams or one teaspoon of hemp oil per day as a supplement, unless you're already taking fish oil. The cost is competitive with other oils at about a dollar an ounce.