5 Reasons to Add Chia Seeds to Your Diet Today

Chia Seeds Pack a Punch!

The Aztecs used them, so did the Mayans. They knew chia seeds were good for them – and today’s science shows they were right.

But there are lots of healthy foods available in your supermarket now. Why should you choose chia seeds?

Here are 5 great reasons (and read to the end for a great infographic – and there’s a yummy recipe too):

1 Chia Seeds are Green and Eco Friendly

As this is a green and eco friendly blog, the first thing you need to know about these seeds is that they are eco friendly food.

They’re plant-based so their carbon footprint is low (little pollution), and they don’t need huge amounts of water to grow either They pack a punch for their size, so even transporting them isn’t a big problem as they’re so light. And they have a long shelf life so waste is reduced, and they don’t need to be refrigerated so energy use is minimal.

2. Chia Seeds Regulate Your Blood Sugar

It’s all about your energy levels.  If your blood sugar is low, you may feel sluggish – perhaps even weak and light-headed. A high blood sugar level is also problematic.

These seeds help to regulate blood sugar levels in two ways: first, they reduce insulin resistance and second, they reduce your blood sugar level if it’s too high. This leaves you feeling more alert and energized.

3. Chia Seeds are Easily Digestible

We don’t often think about it, but it’s really helpful when a seed can be digested whole.

Flaxseeds, for example, are good, healthy seeds too – but you need to grind them before your body can glean their full health benefits.

By comparison, you can eat, drink and fully digest whole chia seeds and still get the full amount of nutrients and minerals.

This makes them much more versatile – they can be added to loads of different dishes in many different ways.

4. Chia Seeds Keep You Full

If you’ve ever gone on a diet to lose weight, you’ll know that one of the problems is that you can feel hungry and have food cravings – and as soon as you start to feel deprived, then it becomes really difficult to stick to that diet.

Chia seeds offer satiety, which helps to lower food cravings between meals. When you mix the seeds with water, tea, or other liquids, they have a kind of “gelling” effect, which means they help you to feel fuller for longer.

5. Chia Seeds are Gluten-Free

There are absolutely no grains or gluten. That’s great news for anyone who is gluten intolerant, on a gluten-free diet or has coeliac disease.

Perfect!

How To Use Chia Seeds

These seeds are delightfully easy to add to an everyday diet – use them in cooking – add them to dishes, to salads and to drinks, and put them into baked goods.

Here’s a yummy recipe for Peanut Butter Chia Roll:

This roll up is the perfect breakfast for those on the go! There’s no cooking. No prep. A wholesome breakfast in two minutes flat!

Ingredients: (Serves One)

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 1½ tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 banana
• ½ tbsp. chia seeds

Spread tortilla with peanut butter. Place banana on the one edge of the tortilla and sprinkle with the seeds. Roll tortilla and banana until the banana is completely wrapped in the tortilla. Enjoy!

Recipe by Peanut Butter Fingers

Nutritional Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia Seeds are small but powerful – they’re packed with vitamins and minerals. Let’s take a quick tour of their main benefits.

• Essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: They are one of the richest plant-based sources of essential fatty acids, which help to reduce inflammation and are good for reducing high cholesterol too. As well as improving heart health, they are also said to help cognitive abilities- so if you have a tough day ahead and need to stay focused and alert, add the seeds to teas and water.
• Antioxidants:  Chia seeds help to protect your body from free radicals, cancer, and the negative effects of aging.
• Fiber: Fiber is great for aiding digestion, lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and keeping you full after a healthy meal. If you find it hard to get the recommended amount of fiber into your daily diet, add it by using the seeds.
• Minerals: Chia contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and manganese – all minerals required for a healthy body.

And finally, here’s a great infographic which you can share:

Please Share this post with your friends and family –  it’s easy – sharing buttons below and right!

Do you like chia seeds? Do you have a favourite recipe for them? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,

P.S.  Don’t forget to download your FREE juicing and smoothies recipe book here!

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