Ch-ch-ch-chia
Chia seeds have recently hit grocery stores in full force and nutrition! I have been getting tons of questions about them: What do they do for me? What am I supposed to do with them? How many am I supposed to take? Hopefully this blog post will answer all your chia questions!
5 reasons Chia is a SUPERfood:
Chia is PACKED with nutrients: On a per serving basis they contain 5X more calcium than milk, 7X more vitamin C than oranges, 3X more iron than spinach, and twice the potassium content of bananas.
Chia provides you with healthy fat:
Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids. This is the type of fat that you want! It is important for brain health, mental health, skin health, weight loss, and more!
Chia is loaded with protein:
Chia seeds can be a great source of protein. In a 1-ounce serving of chia there is 4.4 grams of protein. This is especially great for vegetarians, since cholesterol free healthy protein options can be hard to find. For vegans, chia can be used as an egg substitute when baking. Add 1 tbsp. of chia to 3 tbsp of water. Mix until a gel is formed, that’s your egg substitute!
Chia is great for digestion:
Chia contains nearly 11 grams of fiber in just 1-ounce! This is about 40% of your recommended daily fiber intake. It is recommended to have 25-35g of fiber per day, yet the majority of the Western population has only 12-15g. This deficiency can cause digestive issues, weight gain, colon cancer, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes.
Chia has a stabilizing effect on blood sugar:
Chia helps to stabilize blood sugar. These seeds slow down the speed which complex carbs are digested and absorbed in the body. This results in more steady energy and less hunger pangs throughout the day.
So, how can you get your daily does of chia? I recommend consuming 2 tbsp of chia everyday. Since they are tasteless you can add them to pretty much anything, while they’re raw. Try it on top of your salads, smoothies, or cereal. You can also try this super simple chia pudding!
Chia Pudding:
2 tbsp chia
½ cup vanilla coconut milk (So Delicious is a good brand option)
Mix chia and coconut milk together, and then let it sit until the chia turns into a gel. That’s it! You can eat it just like this or add some toppings: mango slices, goji berries, cocoa nibs. Enjoy!
To learn more about our Marvellous Monday blogger Aly Shoom visit her personal blog