The Science Behind It

Why Hemp Hearts Are Nutritionally Unique

• Edestin Protein - The Most Bioavailable Plant Protein

  Hemp hearts contain two primary proteins: edestin (approximately 65% of total protein) and albumin (approximately 35%). Edestin is a hexameric globular protein - meaning it consists of six identical subunits arranged in a compact, easily digestible structure. Its amino acid composition and tertiary structure are remarkably similar to the globular proteins found in mammalian blood plasma and immune cells, making it highly recognisable to canine digestive enzymes. This structural similarity produces an unusually high digestibility coefficient and protein efficiency ratio compared to most plant proteins. Hemp protein is complete - containing all 9 essential amino acids that dogs must obtain from food (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine) at concentrations adequate for daily nutritional requirements.
• The 3:1 Omega Ratio and Why It Matters for Dogs

  The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet profoundly influences the body's inflammatory tone. Omega-6 fatty acids (particularly arachidonic acid) are precursors to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids; omega-3 fatty acids (particularly EPA and DHA, derived from dietary ALA) are precursors to anti-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving mediators. When omega-6 dominates heavily, the body's baseline inflammatory signalling is amplified - contributing to skin conditions, joint inflammation, cardiovascular stress, and immune dysregulation. Commercial dog food typically provides omega-6 to omega-3 ratios between 10:1 and 25:1 - far above the 2.5:1 to 5:1 range associated with optimal health in companion animals. Hemp hearts' natural 3:1 ratio is within this optimal range, making them one of the few whole foods capable of meaningfully correcting the pro-inflammatory fatty acid imbalance in most modern dog diets when used as a daily food topper.
• GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) - The Skin Anti-Inflammatory Most Dogs Never Get

  Gamma-linolenic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that, paradoxically, has potent anti-inflammatory rather than pro-inflammatory effects. This is because GLA bypasses the arachidonic acid pathway and is instead converted to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which in turn produces prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) - a potent anti-inflammatory mediator that inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in skin tissue. GLA is found at meaningful concentrations in only a handful of foods - evening primrose oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil, and hemp seed are the primary sources. Most commercial dog diets provide essentially no GLA. For dogs with atopic dermatitis, chronic itching, or inflammatory skin conditions, GLA supplementation through hemp hearts provides an anti-inflammatory pathway to skin health that dietary omega-3 supplementation alone cannot deliver.
• Magnesium, Zinc, Iron and the Mineral Deficiency Problem in Commercial Diets

  Hemp hearts are exceptionally rich in magnesium (approximately 210mg per 30g serving) - a mineral that serves as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body including those involved in protein synthesis, ATP energy production, muscle function, and the regulation of hundreds of transcription factors. Zinc (approximately 3mg per 30g) is essential for immune cell maturation, skin barrier function, wound healing, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase. Iron supports haemoglobin synthesis and immune cell oxygen transport. Most commercial dog diets provide these minerals at levels that meet minimum AAFCO requirements but leave little margin - and absorption from processed food sources is often significantly lower than from whole food matrices. Hemp hearts provide these minerals in a whole food context with naturally occurring cofactors that enhance absorption.