Chia seeds are native to Mexico and Guatemala. In the past, they were a dietary staple of the Aztecs and Mayans in Central America, being used as a lean source of sustainable energy. In fact, “chia” means “strength” in the ancient language of the Mayans. Up until recent years, chia seeds had gone relatively unknown in North America. But since being introduced to us through the research of Professor Wayne Coates, they are known today as one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
These tiny seeds are proof that incredible things can come in exceedingly small packages. Chia seeds are one of the most nutritionally dense foods per their weight on earth and boast an impressive nutritional profile.
Chia has a range of benefits on health including (but not limited to) the following:
– Provides long-lasting energy
– Stronger, shinier hair
– Smoother skin
– Fights diabetes
– Better digestive health
– Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease
– Can aid weight loss
– One of the richest plant sources of protein
– Improves brain function and mood
– Improves quality of sleep
Because chia seeds are very low in carbs (containing just 1 gram in a single ounce serving) yet are an excellent source of fiber, they improve digestive health and can help you maintain a healthy weight or even aid in weight loss. Chia seeds are roughly 40% fiber by weight, making them one of the world’s best sources of fiber. Fiber helps feed the good bacteria living in your gut, much like probiotics would, which is important to keeping your digestive health primed.
And because they are so high in fiber, chia seeds can help diabetics maintain healthy blood sugar levels by regulating the rate at which glucose enters the blood stream during digestion. Studies have shown that the high fiber content in chia seeds is what helps them lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglycerides, reduce inflammation, and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Chia seeds are an excellent source of quality protein and are low in cholesterol, unlike meat sources of protein. Adding chia seeds to your diet is a fantastic way to fuel your body safely and healthily. A single serving of chia seeds (just two tablespoons) will give you nearly 10% of your recommended daily intake of protein. It’s no wonder the ancient Aztecs and Mayans relied on this ancient superfood as a sustainable source of energy!
The amount of omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in chia has alone been a major reason for the attention the seeds have gotten over recent years throughout the superfoodie community. Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for healthy brain function and the construction of cell membranes. They are one of the nutrients that our bodies cannot produce on their own and therefore must acquire from outside sources—mainly our food. You can get 5 grams of omega-3 fats from just one serving of chia seeds. That means that, gram for gram, these plant-based superfood wonders are richer in omega-3s than salmon!
Since each of our superfood NRg Infusions™ contain chia, they become a convenient and nourishing source of omega-3 fats and can help power you through your day as well as provide your body with lasting long-term health benefits. Dr. Frank Sacks, Omega-3 Expert at the School of Public Health at Harvard says omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. These are just more excellent reasons why you should be constantly on the lookout for new ways to add omega-3 fats to your diet. Chia seeds are one gluten-free, vegan way to do this.
Chia seeds also contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that cannot be synthesized by our bodies and so must be obtained through the foods we eat. This nutrient is known to help regulate appetite, boost mood, and improve quality of sleep. It is responsible for sending the signal to your brain that says you are full when you have had enough to eat, which helps you to avoid overeating. This, combined with the other nutritional benefits of chia seeds, makes them a diet-friendly source of energy for people wanting to lose weight.
There are also a number of other essential nutrients that can be found in chia seeds, including calcium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus. These are all minerals that play vital roles in one’s health. They are responsible for cell growth and repair, skin and bone health, protection against free radical damage, proper function of the nervous system, regulation of the metabolism and energy production and can provide protection against heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Vitamins B1, B2 and B3, which are responsible for metabolizing food into energy, are also found in chia in slightly lower amounts.
Chia seeds are rich in potent antioxidants. These antioxidants help our bodies fight off free radicals that can harm the immune system and result in cancer and other diseases. It is important to eat plant foods that provide these powerful immune-boosting soldiers in order to stay healthy and guard against illness. By enjoying at least two of Nutrient Rich’s delicious NRg Infusions™ a day, you can significantly boost your body’s levels of antioxidants. Remember that simply taking vitamin and mineral supplements is not the best way to get the proper nutrients your body needs since they are not in their natural absorbable forms. The nutrients such as the antioxidants found in the plant foods we eat are much more easily absorbed and utilized by our bodies.
The versatility of chia seeds means incorporating them into your diet is as easy as sprinkling them over salads, yoghurt, cereal, and oatmeal, and adding them to pancakes, soups, breads, muffins, sauces and dessert dishes like pudding and ice cream. The variety of things you can do with them is limited only by your creativity! Chia seeds have virtually no flavor of their own, meaning they can safely be added to pretty much any dish without disrupting the original flavor of the food. They can be eaten whole and raw when mixed into other foods, unlike flaxseeds, which must first be milled in order for your body to access the nutrients they provide. We love how fun and versatile this ancient superfood is, and how well it blends effortless into the other textures and flavors of our NRg Infusion™.
Now that you understand the wealth of health benefits that chia seeds have to offer, you can seriously consider adding them to the list of superfoods in your diet if you haven’t done so already. Just a regular one or two servings a day could improve your digestion, lower your blood pressure, boost your energy levels, lower your cholesterol levels, raise your immune system, and help you lose weight.
Nutrient-Rich’s NRg Infusion Organic Superfood Smoothies™ simplify things even more by making it easier than ever before to incorporate those couple servings into your daily eating habits. Our superfood smoothie blends make getting the nutrients you need fast, convenient, and delicious by delivering a sophisticated flavor and nutrient profile in adult-sized pouches ready to be enjoyed when and where your schedule allows.
Now you can get more fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals from a trustworthy, 100% organic, plant-based source: chia seeds. And that source can be found within each variety of our lip-smacking NRg Infusion™
If you’re ready to start enjoying the array of health benefits provided by the ancient grain chia seed, you can pre-order NRg Infusions™ today and start fueling your success.
Tags: chia seed health benefits, vegan superfoods, nutrient-rich foods, benefits of chia seeds, gluten-free superfoods, superfoods for diabetics
Resources:
http://www.authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/03/chia-seed-benefits-_n_3379831.html