Chia Seeds

supqa5
Dec 30, 2014
2 min read

Chia Seeds. . .

What are they?

How do I eat them?

Simply put: Chia Seeds are a SUPERFOOD!

Did you know 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains :

Fiber: 11 grams.
Protein: 4 grams.
Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s).
Calcium: 18% of the RDA.
Manganese: 30% of the RDA.
Magnesium: 30% of the RDA.
Phosphorus: 27% of the RDA.
They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.

Where do they come from?

Chia seeds are tiny black seeds from the plant Salvia Hispanica, which is related to the mint. This plant grows natively in South America.

Chia seeds were an important food for the Aztecs and Mayans back in the day. They prized them for their ability to provide sustainable energy… in fact, “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.” Despite their ancient history as a dietary staple, only recently did chia seeds become recognized as a modern day superfood. In the past few years, they have exploded in popularity and are now consumed by health conscious people all over the world.

Healthy facts about Chia seeds:

Chia seeds deliver a massive amount of nutrients with minimal calories.
Chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants.
Almost all the carbs in Chia are fiber.
Chia seeds are high in quality protein.
Chia seeds help you lose weight (due to the high fiber and protein content).
Chia seeds are high in Omega 3 fatty acids.
Chia seeds are excellent for bone health!! They are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein. All of these nutrients are essential for bone health.
Chia seeds have been studied for helping endurance athletes! One study showed they can partly replace gatorade or as a way of carb loading for endurance athletes (more research needs to be done here, but great to know!)
Chia seeds are incredibly easy to incorporate into your diet.