Did you know that chia seeds date back to the Aztec Civilization
in the 16th century? In fact, the Aztecs thought so much of them, they offered the
seeds to their gods as worship. Hi viewers and welcome back to another Bestie video!
One of the most nutritional edible seeds available, chia seeds are among
the healthiest superfoods on the planet. They have officially transitioned from trendy to mainstream.
You’ll find them stocked in regular supermarkets and added to lots of items—from fruit drinks and
energy bars to cereals and even tortilla chips. These seeds are nutrient powerhouses which have
amazing health benefits for your body. And in today’s video, we will tell you what they are.
From lowering blood pressure, making you feel full for longer, reducing stress, strengthening bones
to improving skin health and more, watch till the end to learn about all of them.
Prevents Constipation: Chia seeds provide about 50% of the average
dietary fiber requirement in just a 1/4 cup serving. Fiber offers a host of benefits,
especially when it comes to digestive health.﻿ Two forms of fiber are found in these seeds,
the type that mixes with water called soluble fiber and the other one, called insoluble fiber.
This combination means that chia seeds help soften stool and also add bulk,
making it easier and faster to pass. Just be sure to increase your intake
of fiber slowly and drink plenty of water as your body adjusts to this positive change.
What foods cause you to have constipation? Tell us quickly down below in the comments section!
Lowers Blood Pressure: Chia seeds consist of important components like fiber, omega-3,
and antioxidant polyphenols. All of these have a beneficial effect on the liver and
circulation that can lower blood pressure. It also contains Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA
which is known to block the formation of blood pressure increasing compounds in your body.
They also contain fiber, lignans, antioxidants, magnesium, calcium,
and potassium, which provide great protection against high blood pressure. Chia seeds are
also said to reduce the levels of nitrites in the blood, which leads to lower blood pressure.
Helps You Feel Fuller For Longer: Chia seeds help control weight gain by fighting the tendency to
overeat. They are hydrophilic, meaning that they can take in 12 times their weight in
water. When you mix chia seeds with water, it expands and becomes a gelatinous substance.
Having this chia gel in your food makes you feel full for a longer period of time,
even though you may have not eaten a lot. It is important to keep drinking enough water
after eating chia seeds. This will enable them to move through the digestive tract easily.
Great Alternative For Vegans: When people are switching to veganism,
their most important concern is protein and calcium. The good news is that chia seeds
have more calcium per ounce than many other dairy products. Eating chia seeds regularly
in place of meat means that you won’t miss out on anything—neither the nutrition nor the taste.
These versatile seeds can also replace eggs in baking because of their gel-like
consistency. Here’s how. For 1 whole egg, mix 1 tablespoon of whole chia seeds or 2
teaspoons ground chia seeds with 3 tablespoons water. Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes or
until the mixture thickens to the consistency of a raw egg. You can make some extra chia gel,
put it in a jar and refrigerate it for later use for up to one week.
Chia seeds are gluten free, they can make a healthier alternative to processed grains.
For the same reason, they are great for people with gluten allergies. Their nutritional value
makes them an attractive addition to less healthy food items like cakes and muffins.
Caffeine Free Source Of Energy: Being dehydrated can tire you out. Add a teaspoon of chia seeds
into your water bottle, wait five minutes for the seeds to soak up the water, then sip it all down.
They will give you stable energy because they have a balanced ratio of protein,
fats and fiber. This means they won’t cause peaks and valleys in blood sugar.
Powerful Stress Buster: Chia seeds are chock-full of an unsung nutrient hero,
magnesium. This mineral can help keep cortisol, the stress hormone’s levels low. Another reason
you want more of this mineral? Low magnesium levels are associated with headaches and fatigue.
Chia seeds are also high in tryptophan, an amino acid that can help your body produce
serotonin. This is helpful to fight anxiety and have more regular patterns.
﻿Good For Bones And Teeth: One study has shown that increased consumption of calcium-rich foods,
like chia seeds, can improve skeletal health.
Eating chia seeds is also considered an effective way to improve calcium.
In addition to calcium, they’re also rich in manganese – both of which are
crucial for strong bones and teeth. They’re also rich in phosphorus, a mineral that has
been found to enhance bone health. That plus the antioxidants can protect your teeth from damage.
Helps You Lose Weight: Of course, no single food can aid weight loss or cause weight gain. It all
depends on our habits and lifestyle. What makes chia seeds a good weight loss food is
the excellent fiber content. A normal intake of chia seeds each day, about 25 to 38 grams,
can go a long way in helping you shed those kilos. The seeds are also found to reduce belly fat.
Fiber in chia seeds helps you feel full for longer periods of time.
As per a study, chia seeds play a role in fat reduction. They are also rich in
protein, which has been found to promote satiety and weight loss.
Improves Skin Health: The omega-3 fatty acids in chia seeds have been found to
increase circulation and reduce dryness and skin inflammation. According to a study,
omega-3s help protect the skin from UV radiation. Chia seeds contain anti-inflammatory properties
that can help prevent wrinkles. The seeds also help reduce skin sagging.
Helps Treat Diverticulosis: Diverticulosis is the presence of tube-like structures in
the intestine with no signs of inflammation. Chia seeds, simply because they are vegetarian
and rich in omega-3s, are found to help prevent diverticular disease.
Lack of fiber has also been linked to diverticulosis. And chia seeds, being an
excellent source of fiber, can help. They absorb the water in the colon and smooth bowel movements.
Here are a few ways you can add Chia seeds to your diet:
Smoothies: Drinking smoothies is a fantastic way to ensure you’re getting enough fruits and
vegetables in your diet. They’re also incredibly easy because all you need
to do is toss everything in your blender (including chia seeds) and voila. Since
they have no flavor, they work well in almost every smoothie recipe imaginable.
Oatmeal: If oatmeal is your go-to morning breakfast,
you can mix a tablespoon of chia seeds in it for even more fiber and protein.
The chia seeds will improve the texture and make each bite perfectly satisfying.
There are plenty of reasons for adding oats to your daily diet. Learn all about its health
benefits by watching “14 Important Health Benefits Of Oats That Will Surprise You”
Now, back to Reasons Why Chia Seeds Are Good For You And How You Can Add Them To Your Diet
Baked Goods: If you’re not a fan of chia seeds’ gelatin-like texture,
try adding them to baked goods. Chia gel helps keep baked goods moist and may be used in place of
eggs or as a thickener. You may also top muffins or quick breads with chia seeds before baking.
Healthy Bars: Chia seeds give homemade granola, energy, or protein bars a fiber
boost. Try making chia seed energy bars made from dates, coconut oil, chia seeds or vanilla.
You may add other healthy items like dark chocolate, coconut, and dried fruit as well.
Stir-Fry: You may not think of adding chia seeds to savory foods like a stir-fry, but you’d be
surprised to find out how versatile they can be. They will soften with the other ingredients
so that you’ll barely notice them in your dish. They can help boost the protein and omega-3
content of vegetarian stir-fries, and provide plenty of extra fiber alongside vegetables.
Jam: When you make your own fruit jams, you usually need to use pectin to help them thicken.
That’s not the case when you make a chia seed jam. The seeds act as a thickener because they
absorb liquid from the fruits and offer a great jam-like texture. Chia jam is a lot healthier than
store-bought jams. You can serve it on toast, muffins, pancakes, and any other baked treats.
Salad Dressings: Chia seeds blend well with salad dressing ingredients such as olive oil,
vinegars, honey, and lemon juice. Add about a tablespoon of seeds to
most any salad dressing recipe. The more seeds you add, the thicker the dressing.
Avoid the artificial ingredients and MSG found in many salad dressings by making this chia
seed vinaigrette. It combines chia seeds with honey, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar.
Juices: Expensive chia drinks are all the rage in health food stores and juice bars. Save money and
make your own by adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to 2 cups water or coconut water and 1 cup
fruit juice or pureed fresh fruit. Let the mixture sit until thickened, and stir before drinking.
Pudding: You may find chia pudding on the menu at organic cafes and health food stores,
but it’s simple to make your own versions at home.
Chia pudding is similar in consistency to tapioca. It’s simple enough to make for
breakfast yet elegant enough to serve for dessert at your next dinner party.
While chia seeds are very beneficial for you,
there are other seeds as well that you should not ignore. Learn what these are by:
Watching: 8 Powerful Seeds That Benefit Your Health
Or
Finding out What Happens To Your Body If You Eat Pumpkin Seeds Daily
These 2 videos will definitely help you pick the
best seeds for your health. So go ahead and watch one or both of these videos.
How do you like adding chia seeds to your diet? Let us know in the comments section below!