Chia seeds are the small black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, which is also called Salba. There are many different health benefits that can be obtained by eating chia seeds. Here are some of them:
Fiber
A single ounce of chia seeds delivers 11 grams of fiber. Adult females need to ingest about 25 grams of fiber daily. Adult males should consume at least 38 grams per day.
Since fiber helps ensure that your digestive tract remains healthy and constipation is avoided, it is best to consume the recommended amount. In addition to helping waste flow through the digestive tract properly, fiber helps maintain balanced levels of blood sugar. Chia seeds are a great way to ingest your needed fiber without consuming a large amount of food.
Due to the fiber content in Chia food, the seeds are considered low-carb, so they can be a great way to add more fiber to a low-carb diet that consists mainly of animal products.
Quality Plant Protein
Each serving of chia seeds delivers about four grams of quality plant protein. Thus, chia seeds can help people who are vegan meet their daily quota of protein without feeling the need to add any animal products to their diet.
Omega-3s
Chia seeds are also a great source of healthy fat. Each one-ounce serving of chia seeds, which contains only 137 calories, offers 4,915 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids. Consequently, you can increase your omega-3 intake without adding a large number of calories to your diet.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Several minerals, which include calcium and phosphorous, are extremely important to your bone health. As these minerals become less available to the bone, the bone density may suffer.
Chia seeds provide 18 percent of the daily allowance for calcium in a single serving. In addition, 27 percent of the of the daily value of phosphorus is obtained in a serving. Thus, people who are concerned about bone loss and want to increase their calcium intake can do so without having to consume large amounts of dairy product. This can be particularly helpful for people who suffer from lactose intolerance.
Reduction in Blood Pressure and A1C for People with Diabetes
One study that reviewed the effects of adding chia seeds to the diet of diabetic people indicated that the addition of the seeds decreased the A1C factor of the participants and reduced their systolic blood pressure.
To add chia seeds to your diet, consult with a reputable vendor in your area.
