We used to hear a lot about protein (particularly when it comes to weight loss), but many health experts are actually touting the significance of fat molecules and fiber. Whether you're attempting to lose a few pounds, coping a chronic condition, or are simply taking care of your health in general, fat and fiber are key nutrients people need as they supply the baseline for the bodily systems to operate optimally. The good news is, you will get both by adding just one treat for your diet every day – chia seeds.
Chia seeds originate from Salvia hispanica, a plant in the mint family. They might be tiny, but they pack a powerful nutritional punch. They're loaded with antioxidants, iron, phosphorous, manganese, and calcium. Also they are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and insoluble fiber that will benefit your wellbeing in more ways than one.
The weight reduction conversation often centers around protein since proteins are essential for healthy muscles and helps to help keep hunger hormones away, thus reducing cravings. However, now that we know that both fiber and healthy fats are crucial components, too.
According to the Mayo Clinic, fiber might help achieve a healthy weight by enhancing digestion, controlling blood sugar levels, and increasing satiety. Better digestion creates a healthy weight because we're able to better eliminate toxins from the body, while reduced blood sugar implies that extra glucose does not get stored as fat. In addition, fiber has shown to improve gut health by feeding the great bacteria in our microbiome. Inside a healthy microbiome, good gut bacteria creates an impermeable gut lining which enhances immunity by stopping toxins from leaking in to the bloodstream. Fiber backs up your body's powerful, natural defenses!
What's more, the omega-3 essential fatty acids in chia seeds can safeguard your brain and also have even been associated with a lower chance of neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline. Perhaps more impressive is the concept that these fats can actually assist you to burn off fat. Omega-3's have been shown improve inflammation, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in subjects with metabolic syndrome, leading to a low chance of obesity. And if that weren't enough, these fatty acids have also shown to improve eye health by reduction of the risk of macular degeneration, as well as fight symptoms of depression and anxiety!
It might seem too best to be true that you can get both of these health-boosting nutrients from one food, but it really is the fact that simple. So what can we are saying, nature has all we need to keep our bodies functioning optimally. If you've didn't have chia seeds before, the most common – and in my estimation, delicious – way to eat them is in chia pudding.
