I’m super fluffy on your tongue but super tiny to your eyes. Swimmer by nature and have existed since even before Christ did. Was that easy to guess? If you didn’t, we are your beloved Chia seeds. So today, we thought why not do a rendezvous with our dear readers who want to thrive in health and lifestyle with a nutritious and sustainable diet. Known to have existed from 3500 BC and referred to in the ancient books of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Tarahumara-Indians, we’ve had a long run with various generations. The ancient folklore mentions and as we remember, soldiers of these clans used to carry us around in pouches when traveling long distances because consuming just a few of us would help them in their nutrition sustenance on the go. No wonder the mayans called us “Chiabaan”. Oh you guys didn’t get that, did you? It’s their word for referring to something as “strengthening”. We are powerhouses as well as storehouses for some of the most important nutrients including Fiber, Protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients that keep you in the prime condition for your daily activities.A single serving, about 28 grams, would give you the following:
- Calories: 138
- Protein: 4.7 grams
- Fat: 8.7 grams
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): 5 grams
- Carbs: 11.9 grams
- Fiber: 9.8 grams
- Calcium: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Iron: 12% of the DV
- Magnesium: 23% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 20% of the DV
- Zinc: 12% of the DV
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 15% of the DV
- Vitamin B3 (niacin): 16% of the DV
Gloss to your weight loss
We, when teamed up with your overnight oatmeal for breakfast or with yogurt and milk as your on the run snack, can add extra sheen to your weight loss journey. Also, hold up, if you’re thinking that stuffing yourselves with us could give you abs, that’s not how it works. So, we’re loaded with fiber and protein, both important components in a diet for a fruitful weight loss journey.An ounce of us, has about 10 grams of fiber which is about 35% fiber by weight and when consumed in the morning along with dairy of choice could help you feel full for a longer time and take that extra mile when dieting for weight loss.
Smart For Your Heart
The soluble fiber present in us has been recognised for its ability to lower the total cholesterol level, significantly the bad cholesterol (LDL). Omega-3 fatty acid(Alpha-linolenic acid , ALA) , a very good addition for people with heart diseases, has been found in our composition and has been researched for its ability to lower heart diseases. So every time, you gobble us down, your heart is going to do a happy dance.
Hone Your Bones
Just like a strong skeleton for construction, bones are essential for human build. And guess what, the crucial nutrients for bone health such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium can be found in us and it is absolutely necessary to consume them as per requirement to maintain good bone mineral density. Additionally, the omega-3 fatty acid (ALA) has been observed and studied for its ability to increase bone mineral density, hence our components are multi-functional benefiting various parts of the human body.
Don’t Get Scared, But?
We are great hydration for your body but we have certain red flags as well. We’re sure you would’ve heard this quote, ”Too much of anything is good for anything”. Yes, although we’re great for nutrition, the safe dosage often recommended is 20 grams (1.5 tablespoons) twice a day, and the most crucial thing is to consume them with loads of water or any liquid which would give them room for absorption before you ingest them or else there’s a high chance that we could suck up the water within your system and cause blockage.
Rain-Check With Us If ?!
While there are studies that suggest we could be helpful for people with diabetes, because of the high fiber content in us that could lower blood sugar levels, by slowing down the sugar absorption in the gut, that prevents rapid spike in blood sugar levels. But the complication to be considered is, for a diabetic, the medical physician calculates the insulin dosages to prevent spikes in their blood sugar levels. Hence, if a diabetic regularly consumes us, we might significantly lower their blood sugar levels which might require their insulin dosage adjustment.
Additionally, if you are prescribed medicines such as anticoagulants and anti-platelets (prevents blood clots), anti-hypertensive (treats high blood pressure), anti-cancer, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, we might interfere with these medicines and their biological functionalities. In case of anticoagulants, the rich composition of omega-3 fatty acids known to be blood thinners could increase the risk of bleeding and pronounced blood pressure lowering effect in case of anti-hypertensive drugs.
If you’re an OG with an allergy to mustard seeds and sesame seeds, it’s vital to know that you might be allergic to us as well. So, make a checklist and ensure with your medical professional that we’re safe for you before you adopt us.
Say Hi to our Alternatives!
In case we aren’t suitable for the job, you should always know that our friends here, the vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts, yes all of them are great at filling in for us as they’re rich in fiber and can take care of your macro and micro nutrient requirements. If you’re particular at increasing your omega-3 fatty acid consumption, our friends at the sea, Salmon, Mackerel, Sardine and all the rest would do a fantastic job at that. So, wishing you a happy healthy nutritional journey and signing off.
