Remarkable Benefits of Chia Seeds

    06-Feb-2021   
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Chia seeds are probably one of the healthiest things on earth. These seeds are full of nutrients that will benefit your body and the brain. People have been using these seeds for centuries now to fuel their health. A little bit of history about chia seeds is that these are native to South America and were venerated by the tribes of Mayans and Aztecs. In fact, chia is derived from the ancient Mayan word ‘strength’. These tribes actually held these seeds to be more valuable than gold.
 
So what actually are chia seeds? Chia seeds are actually related to the mint plant, and come in black and white, and are as small as sesame seeds. Their scientific name is Salvia Hispanica. They are easy to consume, are a great source of protein, and are high in fiber. If you would like to know some more benefits of these, keep reading!
 
Lot of Nutrients, Minimum Calories - In an ounce of chia seeds, you will find 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat. These also contain vitamins like B1, B2, B3 and also zinc, and potassium. All of this is included inside just an ounce, i.e. 28 grams of chia seeds. What is even better is that the chia is a whole grain food and is mostly grown organically. They are also gluten free. They also contain a lot of nutrients great for the bones calcium, magnesium and protein. The calcium content in a single gram is higher than what you’ll find in dairy.
 
Chia is loaded with Antioxidants – Chia Seeds are known also for their high content of antioxidants. What they do is that they protect the sensitive fat in the seeds from getting rancid. Antioxidants fight the production of free radicals which damages the cell molecules and can help in aging and diseases like cancer. Although the topic is still up for debate, researchers have said that antioxidants from food stuffs can be good for the body.
 
Chia Boosts Mental Functions – Chia is filled with Omega 3 fatty acids (in fact, it contains more Omega 3 than salmon) along with neuroprotective antioxidants. These two produce cell membranes which are efficient and flexible. The healthier the cell membrane, the more efficient the nutrient delivery system and faster the nerve transmission process works. This has proved to improve brain function like concentration and memory.
 
You can incorporate these seeds in your diet fairly easily. Chia seeds do not have much taste of their own, so you can add them to pretty much anything. They do not need to be ground, and can be eaten raw. You can add it to puddings and smoothies or even muffins. But it is true that adding these seeds to any of your food items will definitely scale up the nutrient value of it.
 
To wrap up this article, chia seeds aren’t just high in nutrients and antioxidants but can also be prepared incredibly easily. You will see tones of people adding it to their puddings or parfaits. A few more benefits of their consumption, according to studies, are that it reduces inflammation and helps in weight loss.
 
So if chia seeds aren’t a part of your daily diet, do consider trying them. I really hope you liked this article and learned something new from it. Come back for more such content!