Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Do you use Chia Seeds?  I do and quite frankly I love them…

I like to buy Nutiva’s  brand at Costco because it’s a good value, organic, and comes in a larger package than you’ll find most other places.  I’ve also seen them in bulk food sections of health food stores for a pretty good price too.

What are the health benefits of chia seeds?

Those little tiny seeds are an ancient food, but the mighty chia seeds were revered by the early Aztec and Mayan cultures and are making a strong comeback in the 21st century.

Each seed is packed with fiber, protein, minerals, omega-3, and antioxidants.

Chia’s bland flavor makes it versatile for use in recipes both savory and sweet, and it swells to 12 times its weight in liquid within 10 minutes.

Try Nutiva Chia Seeds on yogurt and oatmeal, or in smoothies. Add them to sauces as a thickener and to muffins and cakes as an egg replacement.

 

Dr. Oz says Chia Seeds also help you lose weight:

The chia seeds are “super” because, like a superfruit, they deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with minimum calories. They have several of the same benefits as the more well-known “super seed” flax, but unlike flax seed, you don’t need to grind them to reap the health benefits. The nutritional benefits of chia include fiber, omega fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants and much more – even protein!

While the American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day, unfortunately the average American only gets 12 to 15 grams. With nearly 11 grams of fiber per ounce, chia delivers 42% of your recommended daily value of fiber in a single serving. Fiber is vital for all aspects of health, and is especially key for weight loss and digestion. Fiber helps slow digestion and makes you feel fuller by soaking up fluid and expanding in your digestive tract.

Chia absorbs up to 12 times its own weight and expands to curb your appetite, so adding just an ounce or so of chia seeds to your diet can reduce caloric intake and help lower the energy density (or calories) of foods, plus double the amount of fiber you receive.

 

 

If you’ve never given Chia Seeds a try… check them out- they’re easy to use!  I use approximately 1 Tbsp of chia seeds in my shaker bottle full of ice and water, then I add a packet of Peach Ice Tea flavor packet from Crystal Light.  There’s a million different flavors and companies that make these packets to flavor water.

Chia Seeds are also great to add to smoothies, breads, cookies, etc, and you can hardly even tell they are in there.  Be on the look out for some yummy Chia Seeds recipes coming your way soon!

Start enjoying all the health benefits of Chia Seeds too  🙂

Happy Thursday!

xoxo~ Ruthie