The ancient Aztecs were on to something when their warriors subsisted on a small seed called Chia during battles and long marches. Today, most people are familiar with Chia because of the Chia pets seen or television, the cute little clay pots that sprout vegetation for fur and hair. Little was known, however, of the seeds tremendous nutritional value and medicinal properties until they starting sprouting up in health food stores as a nutritional food.
Chia seeds are a wonderful addition to any eating plan. Chia seeds have 11g of fiber per 1 ounce serving, most of which is soluble fiber; the kind that is very heart healthy and great for balancing blood sugars. You can see the soluble fiber at work if you try mixing a spoon of chia seeds with water, after about 5 minutes a gel starts forming. All this soluble fiber means it’s an excellent ingredient for weight loss and satiety. Fiber takes a long time to pass through the digestive tract so it can help us feel full for longer. Not to mention that fiber helps keep the digestive tract working smoothly!
Chia seeds are also a wonderful source of omega-3 essential fatty acids – 4915mg per ounce of dry seeds. Essential fats are so called essential because they must come from our food because the body can’t make them. Omega-3 fats have been shown to be heart friendly and have anti-inflammatory properties. Most people don’t get enough omega-3’s in their diet so chia seeds are another food (along with oily fish and flax seeds) that can help fill the gap. Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds do not have to be ground to receive the benefits and they can be stored without risk of rancidity.
There are limitless ways to incorporate Chia seeds into your diet: add to juice, smoothies, soups or muffins etc. Chia has a mild nutty flavor that I find very yummy when mixed straight with water. Chia seeds can be found at your local health food store. Experiment and enjoy!
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