Chia seeds are one of the healthiest foods on the planet

Chia facts

You may have heard about Chia pets which are sold through television commercials during the Christmas season but you may not be familiar with chia seeds which are small and black and grow in South America. They come from the Salvia hispanica plant which is related to the mint. Chia seeds are considered to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet and are loaded with nutritional value. They can be eaten as a meal or a snack and are really tasty.

Chia seeds were an important food for the ancient Mayans and Aztecs because they provide sustainable energy. Even though the word chia is Mayan for strength and they have a rich history of being nutritionally beneficial this food has only recently been recognized as a modern-day superfood. A one-ounce serving of roughly two tablespoons of this product offers the following:

Calories 137

Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are omega-3s).

Calcium: 18% of the RDI.

Fiber 11 grams

Manganese: 30% of the RDI.

Protein 4 grams.

Magnesium: 30% of the RDI.

Phosphorus: 27% of the RDI.

Additional nutrition

Chia seeds also contain a pretty good amount of vitamin B2, vitamin B3 (niacin), potassium, zinc, and vitamin B1 (thiamine). Chia seeds are a whole-grain food, that is usually grown organically, naturally gluten free and non GMO. They are 40% fiber which gives them the ability to hold up to 10–12 times their weight in water, which gives chia seeds an additional benefit. Once in the stomach they become gel-like and expand. This may increase the feeling of fullness and slow down food absorption so that you consume less calories.

Thr fiber content also feeds the friendly bacteria in your intestine, which is important in keeping gut flora well fed. This is a necessity for optimum health. Chia seeds are about 14% protein in weight, which is high compared to most plants. A diet high in protein has been shown to reduce obsessive thoughts related to food and decrease nighttime snacking by 60%, both of which can cause unwanted weight gain.

Chia seeds also have a balance of amino acids which aids the body in making use of protein to decrease the appetite and aid in weight loss. Because they are such an excellent source of protein, Chis seeds are one of the best foods for vegans and vegetarians. Some people say they feel weak when they don’t eat animal protein do Chia seeds may be worth a try for them.

A Healthy diet is a must

Like flaxseeds, chia seeds are also very high in omega-3 fatty acids. Gram per gram they contain more omega 3 than salmon, but they are rich in ALS(alpha-linolenic scoff) which is not as beneficial as DHA. For this reason, plant-based omega’s are inferior to animal sources such as fish oil from fatty fish or a plant-based DHA supplement.

The bottom line is that when you put all of the wonderful things about this product together, there are two major benefits that come from eating this food source. Chia seeds may also reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease which are two leading killers. There is no one food that will cure all of our ills, but adding Chia seeds to a healthy diet along with other good lifestyle choices is surely a plus. You can put chia seeds in the blender when you make a smoothie or pop a handful in your mouth. You can also put them I oatmeal, grits , portage and bake them in cakes and pies.