Chia Seeds – Curb Cholesterol and Lose Weight

Chia seeds comes from Mexico and is of an ancient origin. It is said that the Aztecs already knew the benefits of this plant. Despite its ancient history, chia seeds were only recently recognized as a superfood. In the last decade, it has grown in popularity and is now consumed by people seeking a healthy lifestyle.

The Aztecs cultivated various varieties which, once harvested, were left to dry, toasted and milled, to later obtain a dense flour known as chianpinolli, with which they made different products for regular consumption, such as bread, cakes, soups, and even spirits.

It is a plant from the Salvia family, Salvia Hispanica, like thyme or basil. The fruit contains many tiny, spherical, shiny seeds, barely 2 mm wide, very rich in oil, and fiber. These seeds are its central medicinal part, although the moderately fragrant leaves and flowers are also harvested.

The Chia is a primary source of Omega 3 oil, contains carbohydrates, essential starches, and insoluble fiber, which undoubtedly helps significantly in conditions of high cholesterol and triglycerides, in addition to having a cleansing effect on the colon.

To prevent infections and fight high cholesterol, Chia is an excellent herbal resource. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, hypolipemiant, hypotensive, cardiac tonic, antioxidant, laxative, demulcent, digestive, depurative, vitaminic, and remineralizing.

One area in which Chia seeds stand out is in their high amount of antioxidants. Since antioxidant supplements are not very useful, getting them from food sources can have positive effects on health.

For low-carb diets, Chia is a friendly food. Given their fiber content, chia seeds can absorb 10-12 times their weight in water, becoming gelatinous and expanding in the stomach. This increases the feeling of satiety, which consequently results in lower calorie intake.

The seeds themselves are almost tasteless, so they can be added to just about anything. Also, they do not need to be ground like other seeds, making them easier to prepare.

They can be consumed raw, in juice, or added to baked recipes. They can also be sprinkled on cereals, yogurt, vegetables, or rice dishes.

Because of their ability to absorb both water and fat, they can be used to thicken sauces and even be used as egg substitutes in some recipes. They can also be mixed with water and turned into a gel.

Adding these seeds to recipes exponentially increases their nutritional value, and they are usually well-tolerated in measured doses. The recommended dose is 2 to 3 tablespoons per day.

Chia has rich nutritional power, helps control and lose weight, and suppresses appetite. Consuming 28 grams of chia per day, or two tablespoons, supplies the body with 128 calories, of which 11 grams are fiber, 4 are protein, 9 are fat, 5 of which are omega-3 acids. This helps to keep a healthy intestinal flora.

This amount of soluble fiber, present in chia, is not digested by the body, because it is absorbed 11 to 12 times its weight in water, becoming a gel and expanding in the stomach. This decreases the absorption of food and calories.

But for this to be more effective, it is recommended to eat chia seeds as a mid-morning snack, which will give a feeling of satiety in the short term.

It should be noted that they contain large amounts of calcium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus, good for healthy bones.

It also has a smaller amount of zinc, vitamin B3-niacin, potassium, vitamin B1-thiamine, and B2.

If you do not yet use this superfood, it is time to consider it and incorporate it into your menu or daily diet. You won’t regret it!

28 grams of seeds (approximately two tablespoons) contain the following nutrients

11 grams of fiber
4 grams of protein
9 grams of fat (5 of which are omega-3 acids)
18% of the RDA for calcium
30% of the RDA of manganese
30% of the RDA of magnesium
27% of the RDA for phosphorus

They also contain a significant amount of zinc, vitamin B3 niacin, potassium, vitamin B1 thiamine, and vitamin B2.