5 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds

5 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds

There are many foods that pack a super nutritional punch and chia seeds are at the top of the list. These tiny wonders have a rich history of being one of the most important food sources for ancient tribes.

Mayans and Aztecs, two highly influential groups of people that paved the way for innovations in math, architecture, science, defense and much more considered chia seeds a superfood. In fact, “chia” is derived from the Mayan word for strength and was once a staple food considered as important as precious jewels and gold.

Today chia seeds have had a resurgence, finding their way back into the human diet as well as being studied for their highly nutritional benefits. These 5 reasons to eat chia seeds are some of the results of such studies as well as nutritional data.

Weight Loss

Eating a handful or two of chia seeds when hunger pangs strike could help you stave off eating fattening, nutrition-less choices instead.

After consumption, due to their high fiber content, these seeds are able to expand much more than their size creating a gel-like, nutritionally packed mass in your stomach. This can help you eat less and stay full longer while at the same time slowly feed your body with a variety of essential vitamins, minerals and more.

In addition, chia seeds contain the amino acid tryptophan which has been linked to regulating appetite, sleep and improving mood.

Energy

Ancient tribes also referred to chia seeds as the “running food”. This is because these seeds can help regulate your electrolytes employing optimal use of these important body salts for energy.

They also contain complex carbohydrates which break down slowly resulting in improved stamina and endurance (simple carbs, like a donut, give a spike of energy then a crash).

Brain Booster

Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have been linked to many health benefits including enhancing brain function, particularly in the elderly. According to Natural News,

“Healthier cell membranes result in more efficient nutrient delivery systems and faster nerve transmission processes. This improves brain function, including memory and concentration.”

The Pre-Probiotic Seed

If the microbes in your gut are working symbiotically you have a good chance of enjoying a robust immune system. If not, chia seeds may help.

Chia contains a combination of ingredients that when traveled to the gut act as a booster shot or pre-biotic for an unhealthy gut. These may help the creation and maintenance of a much needed healthy environment for microorganism life.

Some pre-biotic compounds found in one chia seed are:

  • Anti-oxidants
  • Anti-parasitics
  • Fiber (insoluble and soluble)
  • Essential fats
  • Waste removal properties

Disease Fighter

Chia seeds are also a disease fighting superfood with properties that may help ease diabetes and tumor growth. Two studies found the positive effects of chia seeds on these two afflictions.

Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry, School of Biochemistry, University of Litoral, Argentina that studied chia seeds affect on diabetes concluded that,

“The present study provides new data regarding the beneficial effect of chia seed upon lipid and glucose homeostasis in an experimental model of dyslipidemia [abnormal amount of fat molecules in the blood] and IR [insulin resistance].”

In another Argentinian study, chia seeds presented the ability to fight specific tumor growth. Published in Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Essential Fatty Acids (7/07) it was found that,

“Present data showed that ChO [chia seeds], an ancient and almost unknown source of omega-3, inhibits growth and metastasis in this tumor model.”

Check with your doctor or nutritionist to see if chia seeds may be a good addition to your diet.

These 5 reasons to eat chia seeds are some of the many benefits of enjoying their poppy-seed like texture that are crunchy and easy to add cereal, fruit shakes and even salads.