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Have you ever heard about chia seeds? Do you know that eating these small seeds can help you attain many health benefits? If not, or if you want to know more, just read below and get informed about health benefits of chia seeds.
What are chia seeds?
Chia seeds come from the chia plant. Chia is a species of flowering plant which belongs to the mint family. It is called Salvia Hispanica in the scientific world.
Chia is grown mostly for their seeds which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients. Chia seeds are among one of the healthiest foods on our planet. They are loaded with health benefits. Chia seeds are oval-sphere in shape and they have a dark brown color shade which looks almost similar to black at the very first glance. However, these seeds are also found in white color but the important fact worth mentioning is that regardless of their color, these seeds contain the same health benefits.
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Chia seeds – Top health benefits
There are many health benefits of chia seeds which we will describe one by one:
They have good proteins
Chia seeds are an essential source of protein for people who do not eat any sort of meat products. They contain more protein than most of the plants. Proteins are present in every living organism and they have many biological functions. So, basically we need proteins otherwise, some biological functions carried out in our body by proteins would get disturbed. Chia seeds contain about 14% proteins by weight.
Chia seeds have low carbs
One of the important features of chia seeds is that they contain more fiber than carbohydrates. Consumption of high amount of carbohydrate increases blood sugar level. The seeds are good for diabetic patients as they do not contain a high amount of carbohydrate. The fiber present in the seeds is fed by the good bacteria in the intestine and keeping them well fed is essential for health as you know that there are many microorganisms in our body that play important roles to protect us from external agents that harm our health.
They are high in antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation. Biologically they can be described simply as substances that prevent some sort of cell damage. The antioxidants present in chia seeds prevent them from becoming rancid. They prevent the formation of free radicals in the body that could lead to ageing or cancer. Therefore, by eating chia seeds, you will not only stay healthy but will also enjoy the beauty benefits of looking young and attractive. If you want to know more about this then you can read the free radical theory of ageing!
Weight loss helper – Chia seeds?
If you talk to a health expert regarding weight loss with the help of chia seeds then probably you will get an answer- Yes! So, how is that possible? It is believed that the water absorption capability of chia seeds expands them in the stomach and therefore the seeds could increase fullness and make you less hungry leading you to consume fewer calories. So, the point is that less absorption of food would take place.
But only eating chia seeds would not help you reduce your weight, it might reduce appetite but might disappoint you with weight loss. What you can do is instead is check on your diet and add chia seeds to your weight losing diet plan and that could possibly help you out.
Chia seeds are good for heart
Chia seeds regulate cholesterol level. As we know that too much of bad cholesterol accumulation can block arteries and can lead to heart strokes or heart attack. Chia seeds also contain Omega-3 fatty acids that are very beneficial for protecting the heart by lowering the blood pressure and also reducing the cholesterol level. Inflammation can put a strain on arteries and veins putting pressure on the heart. So, chia seeds can also help with inflammation and therefore are good for the heart too.
Chia seeds help with the bones too
Our bones are mostly made up of calcium. And calcium is the fundamental element for bone development. Why do doctors encourage us to drink milk? Milk has a good amount of calcium and is the basic requirement of our bones. Chia seeds too have a good amount of calcium present in it and consuming chia seeds can be essential for maintaining the bone strength and mass as well. Chia seeds also contain other essential elements for bone health which are phosphorus, magnesium, and protein. Chia seeds can be a good supplement for people who do not consume dairy products.
Chia seeds can boost your energy or metabolism
Well, for this we would like to say that there have not been many convincing studies regarding chia seeds being more powerful energy boosters for athletes than their traditional energy drinks. But that does not make them fall behind in the race as there have been some ambiguous studies that chia seeds can indeed boost energy level and also improve the body’s metabolic rate. Research is still being continued for the same and we can hope to receive some positive results for the same.
Chia Seeds are a pack of nutrients along with fewer calories
These days, life has become very fast and competitive. With our busy schedules and targets that have to be matched every day, it becomes almost impossible to munch on something that is healthy and provides lesser calories. This is where chia seeds come as a blessing. Packed with many nutrients and yet embedding fewer calories is one of the reasons why these tiny black seeds are gaining popularity each day. Can you just imagine that these seeds contain good amounts of fiber, protein, omega 3s, fat, calcium, Manganese, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium and several vitamins too? Well, quite surprising but true!
So why not try a tasty recipe of chia seeds and stick to something that is healthy and contains lesser calories!
Chia as a wholegrain meal
Wholegrain is full of protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and many other nutrients. Studies on health benefits of wholegrain suggest that those who eat this healthy food item have a lower risk for obesity, heart diseases, diabetes and cancer. Also, the rich fiber content of wholegrain helps your digestion to work smoothly and properly. A wholegrain consists of three important parts, namely the bran, germ, and endosperm. During the processing of various grains, these important parts are lost. Presently, doctors and health experts are advising people to eat wholegrain because this non-processed food item provides you with many health benefits. You will be glad to know that chia is also a wholegrain food. Therefore, eating it can help you get nutritional advantages of a wholegrain, as explained above.
Chia seeds have good amount of minerals
Do you know these small and wonderful chia seeds also contain many essential minerals that are good for our body? Well, these seeds contain mineral like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and manganese too. All these minerals help you stay healthy and keep stress away from you. Also, you get a lot of energy from these minerals contained in chia seeds.
One of the best advantages of chia seeds is that they can be eaten through a variety of delicious recipes. These seeds can be easily incorporated into our daily diet as they don’t cause any harm. One thing is certain that they would surely increase the nutritional value of our diet as they have got many useful nutrients that are required by our body. So, increasing the nutritional value which is indeed good for our health can be considered as another health benefit of these lovely seeds. You can also use chia seed oil in multiple ways.
Now that you know the health benefits of chia seeds, you should give them a try! You can make a diet plan with foods that have less fat and with that you can incorporate some chia seeds as though not proved that it can reduce weight drastically, many people claim that it does work. If you are looking for high fiber and want to improve your diabetic health chia seeds may work. And if you are again looking to stay away from night snacking or keeping your tummy tucked up and not eating food at any time of the day then surely chia seeds would help as they stay in your digestive track for a long time.
Finally, we would like to say that be an informed consumer and always be aware of the food you consume and before accepting anything, that media claims, be a critical thinker. Your doctor would know better as he/she would glance through the prescription and decide which food is better for you or not.
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