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Monday, August 4, 2014

Cha Cha Cha Chia Seeds

There seems to be a pill or a powder for everything. You need fish oil for control of blood sugar and introducing good fats to the body.  You need glucosamine for joint health.  Aspirin for heart health and blood thinning. And why not throw in some extra fiber for help with digestion.  Why can't it all be brought together in one food?  It seems to simple to be true.
However, the chia seed is making a play towards combining at least most of the products and the ailments they help listed above.  These seeds appear to be a wonder food, in as little (and as much as needed) as two tablespoons a day they can have a wonderous effect on your health.
In terms of weight loss chia seeds help by actually preventing some types of food from being absorbed into your system.  This helps in the fact that you will get the sensation of fullness while some of the nutrients you don't need pass through your system and are not stored.  There is also the benefit of getting a full feeling while ingesting these because these seeds are able to absorb up to ten times more water than most nutrients.

The nutrient density of chia seeds is also outstanding.  They are the richest plant source of omega 3 fatty acids and even containing more than salmon which is commonly suggested to add to the diet to bring up your alpha-linoleic acid levels.  These seeds are also a decent source of protein (about 4.4 grams per serving) and contains all nine essential amino acids.  A serving of chia seeds is an excellent way to ensure all amino acids are being accounted for on a daily basis.
Antioxidants are constantly in the headlines for their health benefits and it is commonly recommended to ingest high amounts of berries or a supplement.  Chia seeds contain more antioxidants than a serving of blueberries and in the long run work out to be cheaper.
With a serving size of two tablespoons (20 grams) that include 4.4 grams of protein, 4.2 grams of omega 3 fatty acids and 1.24 grams of omega 6 fatty acids (the almost perfect ratio), chia seeds are an excellent buy.  Prices commonly around $10-12 for a pound and $20 for three pounds.

These seeds are definitely worth trying and seeing how easy it might be to get your general health back in line.

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