There’s a big difference between marijuana and hemp—though they’re both green and come from the same species of cannabis plant, the former contains high levels of the psychoactive substance, THC. Hemp contains little to no THC, and as such, has no recreational value. Hemp protein powder is made by separating and grinding the tiny seeds of the hemp plant. These nutty-tasting seeds are rich in oil, enzymes and protein, making them suitable for vegetarians, vegans or individuals who can’t tolerate dairy products.
If you’ve been wondering if hemp protein is good for muscle building then you’ll be pleased to know that it sure is! Hemp protein powders contain a complete amino acid profile which contains all essential muscle building amino acids, including BCAAs (branched chain amino acids), which increase the rate of muscle protein synthesis and help prevent catabolism (the loss of muscle tissue).
When compared to whey protein, often considered the gold standard of protein supplements, hemp’s amino acid profile does fall a bit short on tryptophan, leucine and lysine. However, this plant based protein source has a ton of other benefits, such as containing high levels of delta-tocopherol, a powerful antioxidant. Hemp powder may be more suited for a bulking phase because it contains considerably more calories, fats and carbohydrates compared to whey isolate powder. All in all hemp powder is most often organic, easy on the stomach and high in oil and proteins. So if you are trying bulk up, hemp protein is ideal, but if you are shredding down whey protein may be the better option.
