In recent years, chia seeds have gained immense popularity in the health food world. Where you might not have heard of them five years ago, now they’re promoted for their various health benefits and sustainable energy. These small seeds contain serious goodies, with fiber, protein, fat, and various nutrients including calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients, helping to reach the recommended daily amount of all of these in just one serving!
Small Seeds with Low Calories
If that’s not enough good news, the one ounce serving that contains all of those listed above also has only 137 calories, but packs enough fiber to be a filling addition to any diet! These seeds also give plenty of energy, so you don’t have to worry about packing a pick-me-up in your bag if you have chia seeds at breakfast. If you like endurance exercise, the rich fiber and energy can also help you prepare for a great workout. Since the carbs chia seeds contain are mostly fiber, they are a good option for those who are following a low-carb diet. These seeds are credited as being one of the best sources of fiber out there, which is great for digestive health and maintaining a healthy weight. These seeds are a good addition to a healthy diet and exercise plan for weight loss.
Effective Health Promotion
For others wanting an organic, gluten-free diet, these seeds also fulfill those needs, but make sure to check with the source of your seeds before buying; however, most are organically grown. Chia seeds also promote health due to their high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are great for health and aging, and are linked to reducing cancer risks.
Though a plant-based food, chia seeds have a high amount of protein, with essential amino acids that our body needs to ingest, because it can’t produce them on its own. Protein is also good for muscle development, healthy weight balance, and chia seeds are a better source of protein than animal-based protein in terms of overall health benefits.
These seeds also contain a good level of omega-3 fatty acids, which are also found in fish, and are recommended as part of a healthy diet. In addition to the healthy fatty acids, chia seeds can be a good addition to a heart-healthy diet, in managing cholesterol levels.
If you’re lactose intolerant, you may be missing out on vital nutrients for bone health, and chia seeds contain these vital nutrients, so they can be a good supplement if you avoid dairy products. For diabetics, chia seeds can help maintain heart health and good blood pressure, common problems faced in diabetes.
Good Supplement for Daily Use
Now that you know some of the myriad of benefits that chia seeds can deliver, how can you work them into your daily diet? There’s good news here too. These seeds aren’t very flavorful, so they’re easy to add to most meals. They’re easy to prepare and can be eaten many ways, such as ingested raw, added to sauce or cereal, baked into food, etc. The biggest benefit of these seeds is the sheer density of nutrients packed into small portions, making it easy to boost the nutritional intake involved with any meal just by adding an ounce of these seeds.