Are Chia Seeds Really That Beneficial? These 5 Facts Say YES

Did you know that chia seeds are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet?

Yeah, me neither. In fact, I kept wondering why something as simple as these tiny seeds increased so much in popularity. My neighbors, my diet-obsessed colleague and even a registered dietitian I knew all recommend (and consume!) this food at least once a week.

Furthermore, a quick Google helped me find out that these seeds were actually considered to be very important by the Aztecs and Mayans. Turns out, ‘chia’ is the ancient Mayan word for ‘strength’ and those people valued the seeds for their quality of offering sustainable energy. This must mean something, right?

Still, my only question was…

What exactly makes something so tiny, THIS valuable?

That’s how I decided to start digging and find out whether chia seeds really are as miraculously as everyone says. Turns out, my friends were right – and if you’re still not convinced about this food, here are 5 reasons why you really should try them out starting today.

 

5 Reasons to Start Consuming Chia Seeds

 

1. Few calories, many nutrients

As I was saying earlier, chia seeds have had an insane increase in popularity for the past couple of years – but for good reason.

A single serving of one ounce (28 grams) provides you with the following nutrients:

• Fiber (11 grams)
• Protein (4 grams)
• Fat (9 grams)
• Manganese (30% of the RDI)
• Phosphorus (37% of the RDI)
• Calcium (18% of the RDI)
• Magnesium (30% of the RDI)

Additionally, chia seeds also pack valuable amounts of zinc, vitamin B2 and vitamin B3.

Doesn’t seem incredible? Let me put it differently: only two tablespoons of chia seeds provide you with a wide range of nutrients – and if you add them to your yogurt or overnight oats, you practically can’t even feel them!

What’s even better is that this food fits most diet plans out there, since it only gives you 137 calories per serving. They’re gluten-free and also 100% natural if you choose a non-GMO manufacturer.

 

2. A great source of antioxidants

Antioxidants are molecules inside your body that destroy toxic free radicals which enter the system. These tiny guys improve your immune system and keep disease at bay, especially when it comes to long-term illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.

The antioxidants found in chia seeds prevent the fats found inside from going rancid.

Although you can also get a good dosage of antioxidants from supplements, experts still agree that the most effective source are whole foods – and what better food than the ‘seeds of strength?’

Still don’t know a thing about antioxidants? My post called ‘What’s All the Fuss About Antioxidants?’ covers everything you need to know about this immensely important component of our system, so you can have a look right here.

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