Chia seeds are considered one of the healthiest foods, so it is no surprise that is also a staple superfood. These little seeds, which have a striking resemblance to poppy seeds, come from the Salvia hispanica plant. This plant is closely related to mint.
Not only are they rich in nutrients, but chia seeds are rich in ancient history as well. The Aztecs and the Mayans considered chia seeds to be a staple in their diet due to the sustainable energy the seeds provide; the ancient Mayan word for strength is “chia”.
The health benefits of chia seeds include:
- Loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight off the production of free radicals, which are known to damage cells as well as contribute to diseases such as cancer.
- Nearly all carbs in them are fiber. This means there is an increase in fullness when eating them so that you will eat fewer calories. Fiber also feeds gut-friendly bacteria in your intestines which help with overall health.
- High in quality protein. They are 14% protein, by weight, which is very high for a plant. They also contain essential amino acids which help with the absorption and usage of the protein.
- High in omega-3 fatty acids. This means that it helps prevent and manage heart disease, as well as lower blood pressure.
- Contain many bone-health nutrients. They are high in calcium, phosphorous, protein and magnesium.
Chia seeds are often grown organically, they’re non-GMO, and naturally gluten-free, which are just a few extra reasons why it has increasingly gained popularity in recent years.
It is very easy to incorporate chia seeds into your diet. They naturally have a bland taste, which makes it easy to incorporate into any dish. Chia seeds are great added to oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, toast, smoothies, pudding, etc.
