Chia seeds and superfoods are synonymous. And if you’re not sure why, the reasons are endless. For instance, chia seeds have boat loads of medicinal properties and are loaded with nutritional value. Plus, there are tons of ways you can incorporate chia seeds to your daily routine. Take a look below at just three reasons why chia seeds need to be your kitchen cabinets.
Chia Seeds Pack a Nutritional Punch:
Granted, chia seeds may be small but don’t let the size fool you. For a super tiny seed, they pack a powerful nutritional punch – and here’s how so.
Just 1 ounce, or 28 grams, serving of chia seeds have the following:
– Fiber: 11 grams
– Protein: 4 grams
– Fat: 9 grams (5 that are Omega-3s)
– Calcium: 18% RDA
– Manganese: 30% RDA
– Magnesium: 30% RDA
– Phosphorus: 27% RDA
– Additionally, they contain Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.
Helps With Weight Loss
This might be our favorite health benefit that chia seeds offer – they can help with weight loss. Now that’s music to our ears. Due to the fact that chia seeds are stuffed with high fiber and protein contents, it means: the fiber will absorb large amounts of water which will expand in your stomach. Meaning that as the seeds expand, they make you feel fuller and will slow down the absorption of food. That sounds good to us! Simply add some chia seeds to yogurt, cereal, pudding, water, in a stir fry, and more.
Helps With Weight Loss
Improves Exercise Performance
Sticking with talk of weight loss, chia seeds can help improve your exercise performance. No really. And probably more than any sports drink can. As you know, most sports drinks are loaded with caffeine and sugar which means you need more water just to stay hydrated. However a chia seed pre or post workout drink means you get a natural boost of sustained energy and also hydration.
**A simple drink recipe for optimal weight loss and exercise performance: Add a spoonful of chia seeds, with a dash of lemon, to water or a caffeine-free sports drink of your choice. It really is that easy.**
Improves Exercise Performance
Skin & Aging
And finally, recently researchers from Mexico have discovered that chia seeds are chock-full with a total natural phenolic (antioxidants) concentration that is almost two times more than what was thought before. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity shows a stoppage of around 70% of free radical activity. Meaning that antioxidants speed up your skin’s repair systems, and this prevents any additional damage such as premature skin aging. So if the weight loss didn’t convince you, this surely will.
Skin & Aging
