Beyond CBD: The Complete Nutrition of the Hemp Plant

For the past decade, hemp's reputation has been defined by three letters: CBD.

Cannabidiol captured the wellness world's imagination. It became synonymous with hemp itself. Walk into any health store, scroll any wellness blog, and the message is consistent: hemp equals CBD.

But this narrow focus has obscured something important. The hemp plant is far more than a delivery system for one compound. It's a nutritional powerhouse that humans have cultivated for thousands of years—long before anyone knew what a cannabinoid was.

Let's look at what we've been missing.

A Brief History of Hemp as Food and Medicine

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is one of humanity's oldest cultivated plants. Archaeological evidence suggests human use dating back 10,000 years or more.

Traditional uses included:

• Seeds as food: Eaten whole, pressed for oil, ground into flour
• Fibre for textiles: Rope, cloth, paper
• Whole-plant preparations: Traditional remedies across cultures

Notice what's absent from this history: concentrated cannabinoid extracts. Traditional hemp use was whole-plant, focused on nutrition and utility rather than isolated compounds.

The CBD industry represents a departure from this tradition—extracting and concentrating one family of compounds while discarding (or ignoring) the rest.

What's Actually in the Hemp Plant

Let's inventory the full nutritional profile:

Essential Fatty Acids

Hemp seed oil contains approximately 75-80% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including:

Fatty Acid	Percentage	Type	Function
Linoleic acid (LA)	50-60%	Omega-6	Cell membrane structure, skin health
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)	15-20%	Omega-3	Anti-inflammatory precursor
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)	3-4%	Omega-6 (unique)	Anti-inflammatory prostaglandins
Oleic acid	10-15%	Omega-9	Cardiovascular support, stability

The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of approximately 3:1 is considered optimal for human health—closer to our ancestral dietary patterns than the 15:1 or 20:1 ratios common in modern Western diets.

Vitamin E

Hemp seed oil is exceptionally rich in vitamin E (tocopherols), providing 100-150mg per 100g. This potent antioxidant:

• Protects cells from oxidative damage
• Supports immune function
• Promotes skin health
• Preserves the oil's stability naturally

Terpenes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds responsible for the scent of plants. Hemp contains over 100 different terpenes, including:

• Beta-caryophyllene: Anti-inflammatory, may interact with endocannabinoid receptors
• Myrcene: Relaxing, may support muscle comfort
• Limonene: Uplifting, antioxidant properties
• Pinene: Alertness, respiratory support
• Linalool: Calming, stress-reducing

These compounds aren't just for aroma. Research increasingly shows terpenes have direct physiological effects.

Phytosterols

Hemp contains plant sterols that structurally resemble cholesterol but have distinct health effects:

• Support healthy cholesterol levels
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• May support immune function

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in plants, chlorophyll has been studied for:

• Antioxidant effects
• Support for natural detoxification
• Anti-inflammatory properties

Other Compounds

Additional beneficial substances include:

• Carotenes: Vitamin A precursors, antioxidants
• Phospholipids: Cell membrane components
• Minerals: Including magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus

The Synergy Principle

Here's what the CBD industry often misses: these compounds don't work in isolation.

In nature, they exist together—in ratios and combinations shaped by millennia of plant evolution. When you isolate CBD and discard everything else, you're working against this natural synergy.

The concept of the "entourage effect" is usually discussed for cannabinoids. But it applies equally to the non-cannabinoid compounds:

• Vitamin E protects fatty acids from oxidation
• Terpenes may enhance fatty acid absorption
• Phytosterols complement fatty acid effects on inflammation
• The complete matrix works as an integrated system

Whole-plant preparations preserve this synergy. Isolated compounds abandon it.

Why Modern Hemp Breeding Changed the Plant

Contemporary hemp cultivation has focused almost exclusively on maximising CBD content. Through selective breeding, CBD levels have been pushed from 1-2% (historical baseline) to 15-20% or higher.

This breeding has trade-offs:

• Cannabinoid production may come at the expense of other compounds
• Genetic diversity has narrowed
• The nutritional profile has shifted

Ancient and heritage hemp varieties—the ones humans cultivated for millennia—have different profiles. Lower in cannabinoids, but potentially richer in the traditional nutritional compounds.

For those seeking hemp's nutritional benefits rather than concentrated cannabinoids, these heritage varieties may be more appropriate.

What This Means Practically

If your goal is supporting overall wellness through plant nutrition, consider what you're actually after:

If you want concentrated CBD:
Modern high-CBD extracts deliver that. But understand you're getting an isolated compound, not traditional hemp nutrition.

If you want hemp's nutritional benefits:
Look for products emphasising the complete fatty acid profile, GLA content, vitamin E, and other non-cannabinoid compounds. Heritage varieties may offer advantages.

If you want both:
Understand these may be separate products. A nutritionally complete hemp oil and a CBD extract serve different purposes.

Questions to Ask

When evaluating hemp products:

1. Is this focused on CBD or complete nutrition? Different products, different purposes.
2. What's the fatty acid profile? Look for omega ratios around 3:1.
3. Is GLA mentioned? The presence of gamma-linolenic acid indicates nutritional richness.
4. What variety of hemp is used? Modern high-CBD cultivars vs. heritage/ancient varieties.
5. Are other compounds preserved? Vitamin E, terpenes, phytosterols—or stripped away?

Reclaiming Hemp's Full Potential

The CBD moment has been valuable. It's reintroduced hemp to mainstream consciousness after decades of stigma.

But it's time to look beyond three letters.

Hemp is a remarkably nutritious plant that humans have relied upon for thousands of years. Its benefits extend far beyond any single compound. By rediscovering the complete nutritional profile—the fatty acids, the antioxidants, the terpenes, the synergy of the whole—we can reclaim what our ancestors knew.

The hemp plant is more than CBD. It always has been.

Experience the complete nutrition of heritage hemp. Discover Magic Oil or Learn the Science

Frequently Asked Questions

What nutrients are in hemp besides CBD?

Hemp contains omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids in a 3:1 optimal ratio, plus GLA, vitamin E, terpenes, phytosterols, chlorophyll, and minerals.

Is hemp seed oil the same as CBD oil?

No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from seeds and contains fatty acids and nutrients but no significant cannabinoids. CBD oil is extracted from flowers and contains concentrated cannabidiol.

What is GLA and why is it important?

GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is a unique omega-6 fatty acid that produces anti-inflammatory compounds, unlike other omega-6s which can promote inflammation.

References

1. Callaway, J.C. (2004). Hempseed as a nutritional resource: An overview. Euphytica, 140(1), 65-72.
2. Leonard, W., et al. (2020). Hempseed in food industry: Nutritional value, health benefits, and industrial applications. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 19(1), 282-308.
3. Vonapartis, E., et al. (2015). Seed composition of ten industrial hemp cultivars approved for production in Canada. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 39, 8-12.
4. Simopoulos, A.P. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 56(8), 365-379.
5. Russo, E.B. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), 1344-1364.
6. Deferne, J.L., & Pate, D.W. (1996). Hemp seed oil: A source of valuable essential fatty acids. Journal of the International Hemp Association, 3(1), 4-7.
7. Kapoor, R., & Huang, Y.S. (2006). Gamma linolenic acid: an antiinflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 7(6), 531-534.