Chia seeds are all the rage right now and they have all the reason! This is why I wanted to go over the health benefits of chia seeds. These little seeds gel up when mixed with liquid to form a pudding consistency and I’m sure you’ve seen them in kombucha, granola, yogurt, and many more places! If any seed is trending, it’s these guys!
Where do they come from?
If you’re like me, you’ve just seen these seeds get popular & you might think where the heck did they come from? They come from Mexico! Particularly a tribe called the Aztecs used chia seeds all the time for energy.
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
So, why exactly are they all the rage? First, chia seeds are a pretty balanced seeds with their macronutrients. They have the perfect amounts of fats, carbohydrates, AND protein. And did I mention that they are loaded with fiber that can help feed those good gut bacteria I’m always talking about for a healthy gut!
They have both omega-6 and omega-3, but 3x the amount of omega-3! Which means, chia seeds can reduce some inflammation. These little chia seeds are packed with nutrients such as…..
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Potassium
How can they keep you young?
Chia seeds have strong antioxidants, which reduces the amount of free radicals in our body. Free radicals are a huge part in
speeding up the aging of your body on the outside (your skin & wrinkles) AND the inside.
Chia seeds can also reduce that abdominal fat, like this study shows here by promoting a body free of insulin resistance. Since chia sees are full of fiber, protein, and fats, it can keep you satiated to
reduce overeating. Now, just chia seed itself won’t make you lose weight. This has to be a combination of being active and eating a real food diet. But, chia seeds will always be added to my grocery list!
Chia seeds also promote a healthy heart! In a
study done in the Nutrition Research Journal, it showed a reduced triglyceride level and an increase in HDL (which is known to be the healthy type of cholesterol). Blood pressure decreased with chia seed, as well as an inflammatory marker done by a
study from the American Diabetes Association.
Because chia seeds are loaded with omegas, such as alpha linolenic acid, a
study done in Journal of Molecular Biochemistry showed that
ALA actually regulated the growth of breast and cervical cancer cells.
How To Use Them
The most common ways to use chia seeds is to soak them to become gel-like or grounded up. When the chia seeds are soaked to create that gel-like substance, it can release any inhibitors, as well as maximize the absorption of the nutrients.
I estimate that I use about 1/4 cup of chia seeds per 1 cup of liquid. Some people like to use chia seeds in baking if they have a sensitivity to eggs.
Oh, another great thing is that chia seeds don’t taste like much. This makes chia seeds even more versatile, so you don’t have to worry about mixing flavors in recipes!
Ready to grab some? Get some
organic chia seeds here! Make our chia seed pudding! Which health benefits of chia seeds is your favorite?
