Whenever I see an interesting news article regarding food and nutrition it perks my ears and the article I read last week about Chia seeds really piqued my interest.
"Ch-Ch-Chia". Come on, you know the words to the song from those annoying Chia Pet commercials. So sing along.
Those things were kind of weird if you ask me. Spread some green mushy seeds across a clay sculpture, water it and watch it sprout green "hair".
They made a slight comeback in recent years with more creatures to spread the mush on, ranging from animals to Disney's Shrek.
But, did you know that Chia seeds are actually good for you? Who would've thought that a novelty item would actually turn out to have some tangible use?
It turns out that Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein. The ancient Aztecs ate lots of Chia seeds, including when they would go on long marches. The Chia seeds turned out to be a very good food for endurance, as well as staving off hunger. The fiber in the Chia seed expands in your stomach, making you feel fuller longer. As a matter of fact, Chia seeds can absorb up to 10 times their weight in water. That sounds like me after I eat a meal high in salt.
I've written before about how important Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber are to your diet, not only for fat loss, but for general health as well. Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent heart disease and other heart ailments, lower triglycerides, lower mild hypertension, aid with circulatory problems, depression, brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, skin health, arthritis and other joint issues, hair health, diabetes, immune system, muscle function, fat loss, and the list keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Chia seeds are also fantastic for diabetics because they slow down the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose because of the fiber and protein content.
The Chia seeds are also loaded with calcium, B vitamins and other vitamins and minerals.
If you're a runner, you may want to give Chia seeds a try because they are known as the "Indian Running Food". Not very politically correct, I know, but that's beside the point. As I mentioned earlier, the ancient Aztecs would load up on Chia seeds before their conquests and long marches. They found that the seeds gave them more sustained energy.
I'm sure that you have probably heard of Flax seeds and Flax oil, but Chia seeds are actually more nutritious than flax in that they have more Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein.
You can add the Chia seeds to just about anything. You can add them to your smoothies, salads, yogurt, cereal (both cold and hot), jellies, pancake and waffle mixes, sauces, etc. You're only limited by your imagination.
Here's the breakdown for 1 oz. of Chia seeds: Per 1 oz. serving they have approximately 9 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.
Kind of interesting isn't it? We keep trying to come up with more and more super foods, magic diets and prescription pills to fix what ails us, but the most nutritious foods are right under our noses and have been for centuries.
Not only things like Chia and Flax seeds, but fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole-grains, etc. Eat more of them and I guarantee you'll lose fat and be in better health overall.
