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Best Hemp Oil

Updated April 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Nutiva Organic Hemp Seed Oil
Nutiva
Organic Hemp Seed Oil
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This top-of-the-line hemp oil sets the standard for others, from its USDA organic certification to its avoidance of GMOs in its formulation.

Pros

Vegan, raw, and cold-pressed. Delivers omega 3-6-9 in formulation, and comes in a large, affordable 24-oz. bottle. Most notice lower levels of pain with use.

Cons

Some dislike the taste of the oil, while others can have allergic reactions, sore throats, and stomach aches.

Best Bang for the Buck
Just Hemp Foods All Natural Hemp Seed Oil
Just Hemp Foods
All Natural Hemp Seed Oil
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Best Value
Bottom Line

The best option if you are looking for a good deal on hemp oil that's versatile and natural.

Pros

Offers affordable quality, as this hemp oil is cold-pressed, cold-filtered, and natural. Packed with omega 3 and 6. Great for numerous uses, from relief of a variety of health symptoms to cooking applications.

Cons

Flavor is somewhat bitter and leaves a slight aftertaste.

Deva Vegan Hemp Oil Capsules
Deva
Vegan Hemp Oil Capsules
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Capsule Form
Bottom Line

Hemp oil in capsule form makes it easier to ingest, and added omega 3-6-9 provides nutritional aid.

Pros

Completely vegan, does not contain carrageenan. Ninety-capsule bottle will last for 45 days at 2 capsules per day. Formulation digests well and does not appear to cause stomach problems.

Cons

Sometimes the number of capsules varies — not the 90 advertised on the label.

Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil
Manitoba Harvest
Organic Hemp Seed Oil
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Best Flavor
Bottom Line

Nice flavor, quality ingredients, and omega fatty acids earn this organic hemp oil a spot on our list of favorites.

Pros

Cold-pressed from quality organic hemp seeds. Great for dietary purposes thanks to the mild flavor and rich consistency. Contains omega 3 and 6. Practical to use for other purposes such as on the skin and hair.

Cons

Some bottles had a close expiration date when they arrived.

Life-Flo Pure Hemp Seed Oil
Life-Flo
Pure Hemp Seed Oil
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Versatile Use
Bottom Line

A cold-pressed and organic oil that is a great addition to your hair and skincare routine.

Pros

Comes in a 16 fluid-ounce bottle. Oil is non-greasy. Suitable for use on dry skin, or as a base for massage oil. Can be added to hair products for increased shine and manageability. Has a nutty smell, and is marked as food grade.

Cons

Several reviewers mentioned that the smell was unpleasant.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
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We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best hemp oil

If you follow health trends, you are undoubtedly aware of the benefits of a plant-heavy diet and the many perks of using plant oils in place of animal-based fats like butter and lard. Perhaps you make an effort to use heart-healthy olive oil instead of butter when frying, or maybe you’ve jumped on the coconut oil bandwagon.

There’s another plant oil you may or may not be aware of – one with a long list of health benefits for your body, both inside and out. That oil is hemp, and it’s a great addition to your pantry, your medicine chest, and your beauty regimen.

If you’re new to hemp oil, you might have questions regarding its benefits, its uses, the best way to store it, and even its legality and relationship to marijuana.

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The best hemp oil is organic, cold-pressed, and unrefined. You’ll find hemp oil sold in small bottles with droppers, larger bottles for pouring, and even in capsules. An unopened bottle of hemp oil will stay fresh for up to a year if kept in the freezer.

What’s so great about hemp oil?

Pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant, hemp oil – you’ll also find it called hemp seed oil – is a superfood when it comes to nutritional breakdown. The small seeds and their oil are loaded with all 10 essential amino acids along with vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and microelements chromium, thorium, and strontium.

But where hemp seed oil really shines is in its fatty acid content. Essential fatty acids – you’ve probably heard of omega-6 and omega-3 – are crucial for the proper function of many body systems, including the heart, brain, skin, eyes, and kidneys. Too little consumption of essential fatty acids is linked to numerous health woes, including the following.

  • Depression

  • Dry skin and eyes

  • Heart disease and increased risk of stroke

  • Atherosclerosis

  • Cancer

  • Reduced growth in children

  • Suppressed immune function

Your body is able to use the food you eat to synthesize most of the essential fats it needs for healthy functioning, but cannot produce omega-3 and omega-6 on its own. Luckily, there are quite a few plant sources of these two essential fats, including seeds, nuts, grains, and leafy greens.

The majority of people take in too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3, leading to omega-3 deficiency. While the recommended ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the diet is from 1:1 to 4:1, it’s not uncommon for Americans to consume a ratio of 10:1 to 25:1. Hemp oil has a ratio of 3:1, making it an ideal food source for these two fatty acids. By contrast, olive oil has a 10:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3.

Is hemp oil the same as marijuana or CBD?

Many people are under the misconception that hemp oil is similar to marijuana. In fact, although hemp oil comes from the same plant species as marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) oil, they are not the same thing, and hemp oil will not get you “high” or cause any of the other euphoric effects of marijuana.

Hemp oil, CBD, and marijuana all come from the cannabis plant. There are two species of cannabis commonly cultivated for use by humans: Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. Both of these species have many different strains.

Cannabis strains grown for use as marijuana – both sativa and indica strains are popular -- have high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This plant compound is what gives marijuana its euphoric high. Depending on the strain, marijuana can contain anywhere from 10% THC to 25% or more. Typically, marijuana users smoke or ingest the flowers or buds of the plant.

CBD oil is extracted from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of Cannabis sativa, but the strains grown for CBD production are normally low in THC and high in CBD. CBD does not have psychoactive effects like THC. Rather, it is prized for medical uses such as pain relief, reduction of epileptic seizures, and help with anxiety and depression.

Hemp oil is also extracted from various strains of Cannabis sativa, but unlike CBD, hemp oil is pressed from the plant’s seeds, not the greenery. Cannabis strains used for hemp oil production are very low in THC – for legal sale, hemp oil must contain less than 0.3% THC – and also very low in CBD. This means that although hemp oil is related to marijuana and CBD, it has none of the euphoric or medical qualities.

Unlike marijuana and CBD, hemp seed oil is legal in all 50 states.

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Did you know?
Hemp oil is very nutritious. It does not have the same medical qualities as CBD oil, nor does it have the euphoric qualities of marijuana.
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What are the beauty benefits of hemp oil?

Hemp seed oil, whether used on its own or blended with other skin- and beauty-enhancers, does terrific things for your complexion and hair.

  • As a moisturizer, hemp oil gives your skin a healthy, youthful glow. It helps “plump” fine lines and wrinkles and reduces roughness, flakiness, and dullness.

  • If you like oil-cleansing, hemp seed oil is an excellent choice of oil for this purpose. It breaks up oil, clears out the pores, and removes pollutants and grime from your skin. Just massage a teaspoon of hemp oil over your complexion, let it sit for a few seconds, and then rinse.

  • Hemp seed oil is non-comedogenic, and it helps to heal acne blemishes while relieving the dryness that overuse of acne medication often leaves behind.

  • The fatty acids found in hemp oil soothe many skin irritations and rashes, including dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema.

  • Hemp oil is a great moisturizer for your hair and scalp. Add it to your conditioner, or rub it into your hair and scalp as a moisturizer and shine-enhancingtreatment. Leave it on for half an hour, then rinse.

What are the health benefits of hemp oil?

Along with the many health benefits of its essential fatty acids and other nutrients, hemp oil is said to do the following for health.

  • Maintain the female hormone balance

  • Lower cholesterol

  • Moderate blood sugar levels

  • Support immunity

  • Reduce the risk of varicose veins

  • Lower the risk of blood clots
     

Note: If you take blood thinners, get your doctor’s okay before consuming hemp oil.

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Did you know?
Hemp oil isn’t just great for you; it’s also beneficial for your dog. Add a quarter-teaspoon to his daily meal to help improve his coat and joint health and reduce anxiety.
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How do you cook with hemp oil?

Unlike many other oils, hemp oil has a low smoke point, which means it will smoke or burn with anything beyond minimal heat.

Because of that, hemp oil is not suitable for frying, sautéing, or other cooking techniques that require medium to high heat over a direct flame.

Instead, you can use hemp oil to add flavor to salad dressings, mix it into dips and sauces, drizzle it over rice and other grain dishes, or even blend a teaspoonful into a smoothie.

"If you don’t like the earthy taste of hemp oil, you can still reap its benefits by taking it in capsule form."
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How much does hemp oil cost?

You don’t have to break your budget to purchase hemp oil.

You’ll find eight-ounce bottles of organic, pure, cold-pressed hemp oil for $6 to $10; double that for a 16-ounce bottle.

Hemp oil capsules might be as little as $10 per bottle for a low concentration of oil or as much as $40 for a higher dosage.

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For health benefits, you’ll need to consume one to two tablespoons of hemp oil each day. You can simply take the oil directly, or you can add it to other foods. One tablespoon of hemp oil has around 120 calories.

FAQ

Q. What does hemp oil taste like?
A.
Ranging from light to dark green in color, hemp oil has a nutty, somewhat grassy taste. Many people describe the taste as “earthy.” If you want to use the oil in the kitchen, it works well in salad dressings or bread dips. It’s not a flavor that works well with delicate tastes or sweet foods, however.

Q. Will consuming hemp oil cause me to fail a drug test?
A.
Drug tests normally check for high levels of THC in the blood. As hemp oil has an almost nonexistent level of THC, it should not affect the results of a drug test.

Q. Where should I store my hemp oil?
A.
Hemp oil is very susceptible to oxidation, meaning it will quickly turn rancid if not stored properly. If you want your hemp oil to stay fresh, keep it stored in the freezer until you open the bottle. Once opened, it should stay good for up to six months if kept in the refrigerator.

Q. I see both refined and unrefined hemp oil for sale. Which is better?
A.
Refined hemp oil has been heavily processed, including heating, bleaching, and deodorizing. This destroys most of the oil’s nutritional value. Refined oil is generally used in commercial skincare products and for various industrial purposes.

To gain the oil’s nutritional benefits, you want unrefined hemp oil. It’s sometimes labeled as virgin, raw, or pure. The best hemp oil is cold-pressed, meaning it was not exposed to heat during the extraction process. And it’s best of all if the oil is also organic.

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