6 Surprising Benefits of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are one of nature’s best-kept secrets! They’re tiny but they hold a powerful punch. The ultimate superfood, chia seeds are incredibly nutritionally dense and packed with an abundant amount of nutrients. Here are 6 benefits of chia seeds that will make you believe all the hype this popular superfood has received over the years.
1. Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
The reason chia seeds are so good is that they contain a compound called quercetin. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Plus, it has many other health benefits. If you use chia seeds in your diet often, they can help lower your cholesterol levels and blood pressure which prevents you from suffering from hardening of the arteries, a common problem in older age.
2. Promote weight loss (Chia seeds for weight loss)
Most people don’t realize how beneficial Chia seeds are for weight loss. They contain natural nutrients which can complement the diet of many people who are looking to lose weight. In addition to containing soluble fiber which helps keep you fuller for longer, Chia seeds also contain a form of omega-3 fatty acids which has been shown to have an impact on reducing heart disease risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol. For this reason, it is particularly effective at stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing abdominal fat – two factors that contribute to heart disease risk.
3. Benefit your bones
Chia seeds are packed with nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. These are necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Calcium helps keep the cells lining your walls healthy. Magnesium helps with energy production in your muscles and central nervous system. And phosphorus helps transport nutrients within cells, promotes muscle growth, and helps with digestion.
4. Reduce blood sugar
Chia seeds are a great way to get more fiber into your diet, which can improve your blood sugar levels. Insulin is made in your pancreas and movements against it signal your body that it needs to make more of this blood sugar-lowering substance.
Diabetics should particularly consider adding chia seeds to their diets because they are especially effective at lowering blood sugar levels when eaten regularly, rather than on a binge basis as some other breakfast foods are capable of doing.
5. Reduce free radicals
Chia seeds are an excellent source of nutrients and plant-based protein. They are loaded with antioxidants which can assist with preventing free radical damage to your cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules that attack and destroy DNA. Antioxidants can neutralize this effect and reverse damage caused by free radicals. In addition to their antioxidant properties, chia seeds contain protein which helps with proper digestion.
6. Helps with chronic inflammation
Chia seeds are a fantastic protein power food that can help with chronic inflammation, a condition that causes infections and pain in joints. Completing the process of getting rid of harmful bacteria in joints is important as it can reduce inflammation in arthritis sufferers. While there is not enough research yet to support a definite link between chia seeds and reducing joint pain, it is thought by some to help reduce joint inflammation.
Conclusion
Chia seeds look and taste like nothing else. The tiny seeds are chock-full of fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Eating chia seeds has numerous health benefits. You can increase your fiber intake, which is good for blood circulation, and you can get omega-3 fatty acids which are important for general health and immunity. And if you’re not a fan of eating nuts, seeds, or beans, then adding chia seeds into your diet could help lower your LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 13%. That means if you pop a handful of these seeds before bed each night, your levels of bad cholesterol could decrease by as much as 15%.
