History
This is a super seed that comes from the dessert plant Salvia Hispanica. It grows abundantly in souther Mexico and was originally a key element in the Aztec and Mayan nutrition. Since those times, chia seeds have mostly been forgotten. But, recently they have found there way back into our culture.
This is a super seed that comes from the dessert plant Salvia Hispanica. It grows abundantly in souther Mexico and was originally a key element in the Aztec and Mayan nutrition. Since those times, chia seeds have mostly been forgotten. But, recently they have found there way back into our culture.
Benefits of Chia Seeds
1 tablespoon of chia seeds has the raw nutritional value of an entire meal. It contains:
-The same amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a 9 oz piece of salmon
-The same amount of Antioxidants as 15 grams of blueberries
-The same amount of Dietary Fiber as 2 cups of rasberries
-The same amount of Protein as 44 grams of kidney beans
-The same amount of Calcium as 3 oz of whole milk
-The same amount of Magnesium as 73 grams of spinach
-The same amount of Iron as 103 grams of spinach
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The most valuable part of chia seeds is its Omega-3 contents. Omega-3's are an essential fatty acid, meaning the body can't produce it and the only way to obtain it is through our diet. The problem is that Omega-3's are very sparse in our normal diets. Most people fill this void through eating fish and some nut oils. Now you can eat chia seeds!
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to brain functioning and can help prevent heart disease, arthritis, and, even cancer. Stay tune for more on this topic in a later blog post!
1 tablespoon of chia seeds has the raw nutritional value of an entire meal. It contains:
-The same amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a 9 oz piece of salmon
-The same amount of Antioxidants as 15 grams of blueberries
-The same amount of Dietary Fiber as 2 cups of rasberries
-The same amount of Protein as 44 grams of kidney beans
-The same amount of Calcium as 3 oz of whole milk
-The same amount of Magnesium as 73 grams of spinach
-The same amount of Iron as 103 grams of spinach
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The most valuable part of chia seeds is its Omega-3 contents. Omega-3's are an essential fatty acid, meaning the body can't produce it and the only way to obtain it is through our diet. The problem is that Omega-3's are very sparse in our normal diets. Most people fill this void through eating fish and some nut oils. Now you can eat chia seeds!
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to brain functioning and can help prevent heart disease, arthritis, and, even cancer. Stay tune for more on this topic in a later blog post!
How to Eat Them Now that you know how great chia seeds are, here is how you can incorporate them into your diet. Chia seeds are most commonly spread over oatmeals, cereals, yogurts, shakes, or salads, but their small size and faint taste allows you to through them into almost anything without noticing a difference. Chia seeds also have a gel form after sitting in fluids for about 5 minutes. |
This is part of the reason why they digest so slow and leave you feeling full for a long time. It is also the reason why they go undetected in yogurt, oatmeal, and some shakes. So mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds into your daily life and feel the benefits.