I can’t be the only one who thinks the hemp leaf is everywhere these days, right? That’s because the hemp industry is making waves. Hemp leaves provide several benefits, so more and more companies are offering different hemp products. You can wear clothing like a hemp bra, take CBD oil for medicinal purposes, or even cook with hemp leaves.
WHAT ARE HEMP LEAVES?
Hemp leaves are what you see sprouting from a hemp plant. They’re typically bright-green in color and grow from stalks in groups of five. You’ve probably seen the tell-tale shape: long, thin leaves with the middle leaf being the biggest.
I always thought hemp was the same plant that got you high, but it’s actually a little different. Hemp can’t produce more than 0.3% THC, so it lacks the psychoactive aspects of marijuana. But hemp still comes up on top because it has 50,000 other uses, including fabric, food, paper, fuel, and a lot more.
HEMP LEAF USES
Hemp is a multipurpose plant, so the hemp leaf has a distinct use, as do the seeds, stalks, and roots. In the leaves, you’ll find a lot of nutrients and extracts, some with more than 80 compounds, including CBD, of course. Cannabinoids (like CBD) have antioxidants, so you can use them to help treat certain diseases linked to oxidation, like cardiovascular disease, inflammatory issues, and cancer. Or, like me, you can use it to calm your anxiety.
Hemp leaves themselves are highly nutritious, and you can even eat them raw if you want! Although I wouldn’t recommend it—they’re very bitter! Instead, pop them into a smoothie or juice to get all those amazing polyphenols. And you’ll want them, too, because hemp leaves offer a potent antioxidant known to help slow down skin aging. You’ll also find Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in hemp leaves—vegans can celebrate!
OTHER USES OF HEMP PLANTS
Hemp leaves aren’t the only part of the plant that’s useful. You can also find other benefits from the seeds, stalks, and roots.
- Hemp Seeds: Much like hemp leaves, hemp seeds also offer nutritional benefits. Besides Omegas, the seeds contain Vitamins B and E, plus minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. If you’re on the plant milk kick, you’ve probably seen hemp milk on the shelf. It’s also common to find tea and flour made from hemp seeds.
- Hemp Stalks: The hemp stalk is where you find the plant’s fibers and how WAMA makes hemp underwear. Hemp is an excellent textile for undies because it’s strong, keeps its shape, and has natural antibacterial properties to keep you healthy down there.
- Hemp Roots: Hemp isn’t new. We humans have used hemp root’s medicinal properties for centuries, including ancient uses for hemp in China. There are endless benefits, including pain relief, removing toxins from the body, and healing mild skin irritation. Now you know why even your grandparents are jumping on the hemp wagon!
HEMP LEAF BENEFITS
Aside from the nutritional qualities mentioned above, the hemp leaf offers other benefits for our bodies and the environment.
- Hemp is Non-Toxic. Hemp products are entirely non-toxic, even when used for typically toxic building materials like insulation, concrete, or plastics. I’m a big fan of hemp clothing because it contains no chemical residue, so it’s safe to put on your body and wear all day long.
- Hemp Absorbs Carbon Emissions. Using hemp for manufacturing purposes has environmental and human benefits because it’s non-toxic, absorbs carbon, and improves energy efficiency. In fact, just one acre of hemp offsets 9.8 tons of carbon! So it’s good for our bodies and the environment.
- Hemp Uses Less Water & Produces More Fibers. According to one study, growing hemp requires 50% less water than cotton, yet the plant produces 2x the amount of fibers. Hemp naturally provides nutrients to the soil and helps prevent erosion. When making paper, one acre of hemp plants provides the same amount of resources as four acres of trees! So not only do hemp plants need fewer resources to grow, but they produce more fibers in the process.
There are many debates over what material is the best for humans and the environment. You can research hemp vs linen, hemp vs cotton, or hemp vs wool. No matter how you swing it, hemp always comes out on top.
WHY WAMA USES HEMP
With so many hemp clothing benefits, it’s no wonder the hemp logo is everywhere! When it comes to the clothing you use every day, you truly can’t go wrong with hemp fabric. Here are a few reasons why WAMA uses hemp.
NATURAL & BREATHABLE
As I mentioned above, hemp is a non-toxic, plant-based fabric. As a result, it provides naturally breathable underwear. You wear undies all day long, right? Because the fabric constantly hugs your cracks and crevices, the wrong material can make it hot and sweaty down there—but not with hemp!
It’s super important to keep your privates dry and airy because yeast and bacteria love a dark, moist environment. Tight clothes and the wrong type of material (like nylon or other synthetics) can increase the risk of developing a bacterial infection.
ANTIBACTERIAL
Hemp also makes naturally antibacterial underwear, so it truly is the fabric of choice when it comes to covering your privates. You’ll stay dry and airy to discourage bacteria, but more importantly, bacteria can’t grow as well on hemp fabric. Plus, the antibacterial properties mean anti-odor. That’s right, you could give your hemp undies a good sniff, and they wouldn’t smell!
UPF FABRIC
Hemp makes a naturally upf fabric, meaning it’s the best fabric for sun protection. Even if a product only contains 50% hemp, it still gives you protection from harmful UV rays. So go ahead and lounge in your undies on the beach. And if you opt for fuller-coverage styles like the racerback bralette, mens boxers, or boy shorts underwear, you’ll protect more of your skin.
STRONG & DURABLE
If you’re going back-and-forth between hemp vs cotton, consider the materials’ strength. Hemp is more robust than cotton, and it only gets better with age, like a fine wine. When you wash hemp, it actually becomes more durable and softer on your skin. Just make sure you know how to hand wash underwear to help prolong its life span.
WAMA'S HEMP LEAF LOGO
Maybe you’ve seen a hemp leaf logo at a cannabis store, on t-shirts, or on products made with hemp. WAMA uses the classic shape of a hemp leaf for our logo. WAMA wanted to use this symbol because it represents what they know best: hemp is an exceptional plant that produces the perfect fabric for underwear.
When WAMA first studied the benefits of hemp fashion, the idea of weed underwear quickly came to mind. If hemp plants can create soft, strong, breathable, and antibacterial fabric, what better clothing to make with it than underwear? After a long design process producing WAMA’s unique hemp fabric, the company became the proud pioneers of hemp underwear. For me and the folks at WAMA, we believe that everyone deserves to cover their delicate parts with eco-friendly, sustainable, and non-toxic fabric.
FROM CLOTHES TO FOOD TO MEDICINE, HEMP DOES IT ALL
Thanks to the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, you and I are now seeing more hemp products take shape right here in the US. With its numerous uses and benefits, hemp is a crop you’ll want to keep an eye on. Who knows, maybe we’ll all be driving hemp cars someday, as Henry Ford once imagined!
Let’s take a poll: would you rather drive a hemp car, wear hemp underwear, or live in a hemp house? Let me know your preference in the comments—or tell me about the hemp products you’re already using!
