By Pallavi Sharma
What is that new superfood which is in the trend, which helps you to lose your weight and also, give good nutrition to your body? Any guesses?
Okay, one more hint. It’s tiny in size, black in colour and related to the mint family. Yes, you guess it right, its Chia Seeds. The very tiny seeds packs a great punch and is a powerhouse of nutrition. For instance, a single ounce provides four grams of protein, nine grams of fat, thirteen gram of calories, twelve gram of carbohydrates, eleven gram of fibre, twenty-seven per cent of phosphorus, thirty-six per cent of magnesium and eighteen per cent of calcium. In addition, it also provides some amount of vitamins like B1, B2, B3 and zinc.
Chia Seeds provides sustainable energy as they contain large amounts of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids, plenty of high-quality protein, and several essential minerals and antioxidants. It is derived from plant Salvia Hispanica, which is said to be first originated in the central valley of Mexico.
Chia seeds also help with chronic inflammation. A study says that having 30 grams of seeds every day is good for the body. It also improves the digestive system and reduce bloating and inflammation. They are good for diabetic patients and patients with high blood sugar as it reduces blood sugar level. They reduce the risk of heart disease. A recent research indicates that “components of chia seeds are ascribed beneficial effects on the improvement of the blood lipid profile, through their hypertensive, hypoglycaemic, antimicrobial and immunostimulatory effects”, thus making it quite beneficial for people with cardiovascular problems. A lot of nutritionists recommend chia seeds for people who want to reduce their weight. Because of good amount of protein in it, which makes people less hungry, it has become a good option in most weight loss diet and fitness regimes.
However, while these small and tiny seeds have so much good in it, one needs to careful as Chia seeds contain omega-3s which produces anti-inflammatory effects, not suitable to be people with low blood sugar. As per research, Chia seeds also tend to make the blood thinner, thus it is recommended to take it in small portion and under the supervision of a health expert.
Some people who have allergies to mint, sesame, or mustard seeds should also take precautions before trying chia seeds as it belongs to the mint family, which may cause issues liking vomiting, motions, itching etc. Due to good amount of fibre, at times, chia seeds may cause gastrointestinal issues too when the intake of fibre is more than required in the body.
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