Image: Hannie Petra
Chia seeds are added to most foods and beverages to boost them with micro-nutrients and fibres.
These oval pale or dark brown seeds contain antioxidants, fibre, calcium, carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein which makes them one of the world’s greatest sources of many essential nutrients, with almost zero calorie intake.
They can also be combined with water and consumed on their own. On top of that, they also contain a good amount of Vitamin B1, B2, and B3 as well as zinc and potassium.
Below are some of the benefits of consuming them:
Great source of fibre
Chia seeds are believed to be 35% fibre by weight and most of the fibre in these seeds is soluble fibre.
This means once it absorbs water it becomes gel-like thus expanding in your stomach, slowing your digestion down and helping you feel full after a meal.
Helps in diverticular disease treatment
High fibre meals have been known to reduce the occurrence of outbreaks of diverticulitis by absorbing water in the colon.
This helps make bowel movements easier to pass. Even though the cause of diverticulitis is still unfamiliar, it has been frequently linked with low fibre diets.
Great for weight loss
The seeds are rich in fibre, proteins and low in calories thus they keep one feeling full for longer. This helps with weight loss as you won't get the urge to binge or snack after meals.
They also turn gel-like when they absorb water, thus expanding in your stomach and slowing down your digestion, this keeps you feeling full after a meal.
Helps in detox and digestion
They act as a pre-biotic which means, they help your stomach produce good bacteria that help keep your digestive system working properly. The fact that they're rich in fibre helps prevent constipation ensuring one has regular bowel movements which are crucial for the daily excretion of toxins through bile and stool. They also collect toxins on their way out thus helping in detoxifying the body.
Helps lower cholesterol and cardiovascular disease
Increased intake of fibre has been found to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. These fibres help lower "bad" cholesterol and slow down digestion which in turn prevents blood sugar spikes after consuming a meal. They also help regulate/lower inflammation, thus reducing the risk of inflammation-related conditions such as obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Help reduce chances of thrombosis and Arrhythmia
Omega-3 has been noted to help reduce the risk for arrhythmia and thrombosis, which may lead to heart disease, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. Chia seeds are effective at reducing blood pressure as they're high in omega 3 fatty acids which are known to work as blood thinners thus lowering the risk of the above-mentioned diseases as well as blood clotting.
Now tell me why with all these deets you would still skip on incorporating these tiny seeds in your diet?
All these health benefits are yours to reap and are guaranteed to give you a healthier lifestyle and overall well being.
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