Chia seeds are small oval black and white seeds that are high in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our bodies require daily. Not only that, but this superfood contains protein and is gluten-free, making it an excellent choice for everyone. Chia seeds are gaining popularity in the fitness and nutrition sectors due to their numerous health advantages. With the numerous health benefits of chia seeds, what will most surprise you are the different methods by which chia seeds can be consumed. It’s called a superfood for a reason. After reading this article, you will be genuinely surprised after learning the benefits of chia seeds can provide to our bodies. So, let’s get started.
All about Chia Seeds
In the nutritional industry, the term “superfood” is swiftly gaining popularity and is frequently used to describe meals that are thought to have notable health benefits. The superfood category also includes grey, oval chia seeds. Chia seeds come in a variety of colours, including black, brown, and white little round seeds. They come from Salvia Hispanica, a blooming plant from the sage and mint family. The regions of Guatemala and Mexico where it originated. But a plant known as chia pets is where most of the edible chia seeds come from. The health benefits of chia seeds to our body go much further than their nutritional quality as beneficial diet ingredients.
As in the Mayan language, the word chia signifies “strength.”
Chia seeds are also known as “runners’ food”, given that they were consumed as fuel by warriors and athletes who ran long distances or engaged in combat. They were consumed by Aztec warriors who said that one spoonful could keep them going for a full day. It suggests that in addition to serving the fundamental purposes of supplying beneficial fats, protein, and particular nutrients, they can also be utilised to advance general health and fend off certain diseases. Furthermore, a more recent study has revealed that the benefits of chia seeds surpass what was previously thought. They have been shown to strengthen the digestive system, strengthen bones, and reduce the signs of ageing.
Explore the health benefits of chia seeds and how it is changing the nutritional landscape.
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
As you probably already know, chia seeds are one of many superfoods that have been linked to numerous health advantages. We have furnished you with a list of health benefits of chia seeds in this article that will persuade you to include them in your regular diet. Let’s get started:
Helps in Improving Our Digestive Health: Chia seeds are incredibly high in fibre, packing about 11 grams into just one ounce. It indicates that consuming just one ounce of chia seeds each day can meet 45% of our daily fibre requirements. The benefits of chia seeds are primarily observed in our digestive health as their fibre content encourages regularity and improves the regularity of our stool to keep away constipation. Additionally, the fibre serves more like a prebiotic, giving the good or healthy bacteria in the intestines fuel to grow and thrive. These bacteria are essential for both good health and disease prevention. Moreover, fibre takes up a lot of water, swells in the stomach, and helps you feel fuller for longer. You can nourish Chia pudding with A2 Gir cow ghee and organic pure honey to amplify health benefits.
Improves Skin Health: Antioxidants are substances that help prevent oxidative stress, fight free radical damage, promote tissue repair, as well as protect against skin breakdown. Chia seeds are a rich source of these compounds. Chia seeds’ omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve circulation, lessen irritation, and soothe skin inflammation. Chia seeds possess Omega-3 fatty acids[1] as well as antioxidants that shield our skin from damaging UV radiation, air pollution, and toxic substances. The seeds might also tighten loose skin and halt the ageing process. It is one of the vital health benefits of chia seeds.
Keeps Us Energised: One of the main sources of high-quality protein from plants is chia seeds. These seeds include strontium, which aids in the absorption of protein and boosts energy levels. Also, the presence of a wide range of minerals and vitamins combine to boost your metabolism and keep you energised throughout the day. This benefit of chia seeds has been demonstrated by research showing that consuming chia seeds increases athletic endurance for distance races lasting longer than 90 minutes, as effectively as consuming protein shakes with added sugar.
Source of Plant-based Protein: Another benefit of chia seeds is their amino acid. The building components of protein are known as amino acids, and the body needs them. In 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, there are four grammes of protein. A person weighing 140 pounds needs about 50 grammes of protein a day, whereas a person weighing 200 pounds needs about 70 grammes. You can obtain more protein by eating chia seeds along with meat, chicken, and dairy products.
Suppresses Our Appetite: Chia seeds are a wonderful addition to a diet designed to help people lose weight since they have the right combination of low calories and high fibre content. Due to their fibrous nature, chia seeds can absorb 1 to 12 times their water content and develop a gel-like consistency, growing larger and heavier. Chia seeds are more likely to be digested slowly and keep you fuller for longer when eaten in this gel form. This benefit of chia seeds also prevents binge eating at your subsequent meal and manages your hunger pangs in between meals.
Improves Our Dental Health: Our oral health benefits from nutrients like zinc, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A. Chia seeds are excellent for dental health since they contain a significant quantity of calcium, which helps to strengthen our teeth. In addition, zinc reduces tartar by blocking the formation of plaque. Also, because of its antibacterial properties, the microorganisms that cause bad breath are unable to survive. Your teeth are strengthened and kept healthy by phosphorus and vitamin A.
Improves Our Heart Health: As has been noted previously, chia seeds are a very rich source of heart-healthy lipids, antioxidants, and fibre. And as a result of these elements, we can enjoy many of the health benefits of chia seeds. It helps in protecting our bodies against cardiovascular diseases. It is also well known for preventing inflammation while maintaining normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure. These incredible seeds also actively control inflammation, blood pressure, and bad cholesterol level because of high-level of Omega-3 fatty acids present in them. Regular consumption of Chia seeds can eliminate the risk of developing any coronary diseases.
Improves Our Bone Health: Bone health is one of the massive benefits of chia seeds. Research has demonstrated that regular consumption of chia seeds can strengthen our bones while maintaining bone density. These seeds have also been linked with the treatment of a major bone disease known as osteoporosis. The manganese and calcium content of chia seeds provides our bones with nourishment and strength. It is so because calcium is crucial for maintaining bone density and strength. Moreover, manganese has a critical importance in bone metabolism. Incredibly, only 1 ounce of chia seeds can meet our body’s demands for manganese and calcium by about 30 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.
Prevents Cancer: Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid which has the property of fighting cancer, is abundant in chia seeds. According to research from the Journal of Molecular Biochemistry, alpha-linoleic acid effectively contributes to the elimination of cells that might cause breast and cervical cancer. It is surprising how well the chia seeds may kill cancer-causing cells while protecting all other bodily cells. This health benefit of chia seeds is more of a hope in dark times.
Helps with Weight Loss: Chia seeds naturally include a high protein content that is ideal for building stronger yet lean muscles and assists in fat burning while successfully controlling your appetite and hunger. Research has indicated that consuming more chia seeds can boost weight loss. It functions by lowering total calorie intake and suppressing any food cravings. Another study demonstrates that the benefits of chia seeds for weight loss begin by lowering levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. Yet the best thing about these seeds is that they work well since they suppress hunger while keeping the body’s energy levels stable.
Helps in Balancing Blood Sugar Levels: Chia seeds can effectively aid in regulating the body’s levels of blood sugar. Research has revealed that the benefits of chia seeds can aid in the control of healthy blood sugar levels due to their high content of fibre and alpha-linolenic acid. It aids in fighting type 2 diabetes.
Treats Anaemia: Chia seeds are a fantastic source of iron and are packed with minerals. The benefits of iron include increased red blood cell production and bodily cleansing. Your body receives 2.2 milligrams (12% of RDA) of iron by eating two tablespoons of chia seeds every day, which helps to raise your haemoglobin levels.
Improves Brain Functioning: Chia seeds may help promote healthy brain function as well as memory and focus improvement. Chia seeds’ rich omega-3 fatty acid content aids in keeping the veins in the brain free of blockage. The coordination among brain cells is subsequently enhanced as a result. These essential fatty acids also contribute to improved cognitive performance by making the brain’s cellular membranes increasingly flexible, as well as nerve transmission more effective.
Helps Improve Our Mental Health: This is yet one of the significant benefits of chia seeds that make them so popular and widely used! Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely effective in treating mood disorders like depression. Since chia seeds are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, people with mood and behavioural problems like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and stress should include them in their diet.
Easy To Consume: The fact that chia seeds are so simple to include in our regular diets is one of the significant benefits of chia seeds. The seed’s flavour and texture are quite unique at the same time; it is not overpowering; they also taste like poppy seeds. However, they provide food with fantastic flavour and texture. Chia seeds can be easily added to your every meal as they don’t require to be cooked. You can consume it uncooked or merely sprinkle it on your juices, sweets, smoothies, yoghurt, veggies, cereals, or even rice; they’ll blend in without dominating the flavour. Also, because they can absorb water, these seeds are useful as an egg alternative in recipes and to enhance the texture of sauces.
Conclusion
Have you already made up your mind to buy a pack of chia seeds for yourself? If not, why are you still holding out? These seeds are readily accessible both offline and online. Chia seeds are exclusively available in black and white; the colour has no bearing on their nutritional value. To get the most out of it, mix it into yoghurt, smoothies, cereal, veggies, and puddings. Moreover, 20 grams of chia seeds served twice daily can be regarded as the best serving size; however, this can change depending on factors such as age, body weight, and gender. In conclusion, there are diverse health benefits of chia seeds. Adding chia seeds to your diet can assist you in losing weight, preventing major diseases, and enhancing your life.