Last Updated on March 15, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev
Superfood, warrior food, nutrition powerhouse; these are just a few names you must have heard for Chia seeds. If you would surf through Instagram stories and posts of beauticians, influencers, fitness enthusiasts, healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, you would probably notice that everyone is talking about it. 
Every health-conscious person these days knows about chia and it’s benefits. There are enough recipes and information on the internet telling us how to use chia seeds in various ways.
To talk a little about Chia seeds a little bit, Chia seeds are the small, black seeds from the Salvia Hispanica plant, a member of the mint family which comes from Central and South America. Legend has it that the ancient Aztecs and Mayans used chia seeds as a source of energy. The increasingly high demand for Chia seeds is not without reason. Its benefits are several and we will discuss it briefly in this article.
Table of Contents
A Brief History of Chia Seeds
Though it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, the history of chia seeds dates as far back as 3500 B.C, beginning in Central America with the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.
The prevalence of Chia continued for quite some time. Later, between 1500 and 900 B.C, it was grown in Mexico by the Teotihuacan and Toltec people.
Mayan and Aztec warriors utilized Chia seeds as their sole food source when voyaging significant distances because simply a little pocket carried at their waists gave total nourishing food to days- while never halting to eat. With the sort of history, it’s no big surprise that the Mayan word for Chia seeds is “chiabaan”, which indicates ” strengthening”.
Benefits of Chia Seeds
These tiny wonders are considered to be all-rounders for many reasons. Let us know that in the article here.
1. Weight Loss
You must have heard enough people claiming chia seeds helped them in losing their weight. So, chia seeds consist of fiber and protein in a good deal – 9.75 grams (g) per 1 ounce (oz) serving, and 4.69g serving respectively. It also consists of Omega-3.
Now, if we break down these three into pieces and try to understand the significance of it, you know that fiber is vital for the body functioning and regulating fat while if you consider the dietary rule, people usually cut down on carbs and sugar and increase their protein intake. Talking about Omega-3, it is considered to play an instrumental part in fastening the process of weight loss.
If we all consider this, we can build a conclusion in the relationship. Well, there is no firm evidence to claim if chia seeds and weight loss are associated with each other or not. But the results are visible to many of them. Well, I think you guys should definitely fry and come back to this article and share the results with us.
2. Prevents Diabetes
Chia seed is considered to be one of the most beneficial home remedies for diabetes. To lower the illness of diabetes, it is desperately crucial to have the adequate function of insulin and glucose. One of the promising elements of chia seeds is it enhances glucose and insulin tolerance in the body. It also assists in lessening the high blood glucose level by slowing the sugar passages into the blood. However, there are few cautionary points to keep in mind such as patients could be allergic, and also heavy consumption should be avoided.
3. Helps in Digestion
Chia seeds are enriched with fiber. Each 100 gram will give you nearly 40g of dietary fiber. Fiber is a brilliant agent for processing and helps keep bowel-related diseases ( like constipation) away. Fiber likewise helps in alleviating from bowel inflammation, irritability, and aids in regulating cholesterol levels as well.
4. Omega 3 Dose
Omega 3 is extremely important for our bodies working. Chia seeds are perhaps the highest sources of plant-based omega corrosive, otherwise called Alpha-Linolenic Acid ( AHA). These are a piece of polyunsaturated fats which are ‘ acceptable fats’ and incredibly fundamental for the nervous functioning of our body.
5. Antioxidants
Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from free radicals, aging, and cancer. The high antioxidant profile also helps them have a long shelf life. They last almost two years without refrigeration.
6. Egg Substitute
No matter whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or simply allergic to eggs, chia seeds can be the best substitute for cooking and baking. You don’t have to worry about missing out on the nutritional value by removing eggs from the recipe because chia seeds provide more Omega-3 fatty acids than even fortified eggs.
7. Quick Recipe
Grind half a tablespoon of chia seeds in a coffee grinder, add three tablespoons of warm water, stir the mixture well, and let it soak for 15 minutes.
You got your egg substitute!
8. Good for Bone Health
These tiny, magical seeds have so many nutrients like phosphorus, protein, and calcium. The calcium in chia seeds will benefit your bones. A monitored study suggested that bone health and density were enhanced when the diet was reinforced with chia seeds.
9. Boost Metabolism
According to the report published by the University of New Hampshire, they suggested that chia seeds can also boost your metabolism as it is packed with B vitamins, zinc, iron, and magnesium – all of which help boost energy.
Add chia seeds in your energy drink and get ready to roll!
10. Gluten-Free
Many individuals, especially that health-conscious ones are avoiding grain-based foods because they contain a high volume of a protein called gluten. There are several reasons to avoid gluten. Some do it to manage celiac disease, some do it to control dermatitis herpetiformis, and some simply because they are gluten intolerant. None of these is a problem with chia seeds as it does not contain any gluten.
11. Chia Seeds Contain Magnesium
Magnesium has a range of significant functions throughout the body. It is said that when you consume 100 grams of chia seeds, you get a remarkable 83% of your magnesium DV and that implies that you can use these as a great way to relax and unwind ready for bed.
Conclusions
In a nutshell, chia seeds have a dense amount of nutrition, very few calories, and are packed with fiber, protein, antioxidants, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Don’t forget to share your recipes on our comment section now that you know the benefits of it.
Sources:
