“The greatest wealth is Health.” – Unknown
I have recently started eating more chia seeds in my daily routine, but before diving into the next crazy thing someone says is “healthy” I prefer to do my research beforehand… So let’s dive in.
Benefits of Chia Seeds for Your Health
FIRST: What are they?
These little dark coloured seeds are grown on a plant from the mint family which are native to Mexico, historically used by the Mayans and Aztecs and means “strength” in the Mayan language.
SECOND: Are they organic?
They are grown as a “whole grain” food, which means they are grown organically, non-genetically modified and naturally free of gluten.
THIRD: What are they good for?
They are well known as a great source of omega-3, but they also contain calcium, manganese, and phosphorus. Documented benefits of chia seeds:
- boosts energy and metabolism;
- high fibre aids digestion;
- loads of antioxidants (helps fight liver cancer);
- high in good protein (which reduces appetite if you are trying to lose weight);
- some studies have shown that they have a good effect on lowering cholesterol (others showed no change in cholesterol)
- calcium proves to be higher than in dairy products, good for bones and teeth;
- good for your heart and skin
FOURTH: Recommended amount?
From online research and health experts, it is said that a recommended amount is up to 2 tablespoons (24g) a day, which contains 117 calories, 4.6 grams of protein, 7.4 grams of fat and 11.8 grams of carbohydrates and 9.6 grams of fiber.
FIFTH: How to eat them?
They can be easily incorporated into your daily diet without extra hassle or time wasted, as they do not have much flavour they are easy to add to many dishes!
Some ideas:
- bowl of porridge;
- a bowl of cereal;
- mixed with scrambled eggs;
- sprinkle on top of yoghurt;
- soak and have with milk or juice;
- add to evening veggie and meat dishes;
- mix with baking ingredients;
- add to smoothies.
SIXTH: Any side effects?
Just like any other food in the world, it is recommended to eat things in MODERATION and the recommended amount is up to 2 tablespoons as mentioned above. So obviously if you start eating way too much you will end up with a few side effects.
Just as a precaution I recommend you seek your doctors advise if you fall into the categories below:
- if you already have low blood pressure, it might thin your blood too much;
- because they regulate glucose levels, people with diabetes might want to be wary of eating too much;
- constipation or gas
So….my conclusion for chia seeds is simple, I think they are GREAT for your overall health, and I will definitely keep adding them to my food for the future!