The Best 3 Amazing Benefits of Chia Seeds

What are the benefits of chia seeds?

Chia seeds have not always been as popular as they are today, but they have certainly always been very nutritious. Chia seeds come from the plant Salvia hispanica L., originating from Central America. For thousands of years, the Aztecs used these seeds not only in their diet but also in folk medicine.

They even used these black and white seeds for cosmetic purposes and for religious ceremonies. But how are they so healthy?

1. Chia Seeds Strengthen Bones

Chia seeds are unique in the fact that they are rich in various nutrients that are important for bone health and strength. In particular, these seeds contain calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. As you may know, calcium is particularly important for having strong bones.

As long as you have enough calcium and vitamin D from your diet (since vitamin D helps the body store calcium), you should end up with very strong bones. Some scientific studies that used rats as experiments have found that calcium, along with phosphorous and magnesium, seem to help improve the mineral density in bones when using chia seeds as the source of these minerals.

The alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) also found in chia seeds may also help contribute to improved bone density.

2. Chia Seeds Can Help You Lose Weight

Another unique fact about chia seeds is that they are 35% fiber by weight. Needless to say, this makes them a great source of dietary fiber. While you may know that fiber is important for digestive health, you may not know that fiber can also help prevent obesity and may aid weight loss.

Fiber, along with the protein found in chia seeds, seems to help reduce a person’s appetite. This makes people less likely to overeat. This, of course, leads to fewer calories consumed and makes it easier to lose weight and prevent obesity. But how many chia seeds do you need to eat to reap this health benefit?

Studies have found that people who mix half an ounce of chia seeds with yogurt or a similar food for breakfast feel less hungry throughout the day and are less likely to snack in-between meals. Of course, chia seeds aren’t some magical food that you can eat to lose weight immediately.

However, adding them to healthy foods may help you lose weight.

3. May Lower Heart Disease Risk

Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for heart and cardiovascular health. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish, shrimp, and other seafood varieties. However, what many people don’t know is that these acids also occur in chia seeds.

Due to the presence of these fatty acids, if you eat chia seeds every day, you may be able to reduce your risk of heart disease. Besides the presence of omega-3 fatty acids, the presence of fiber is also important because it helps reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood. This, in turn, also improves heart health.

Scientific studies involving the use of rats seem to show that chia seeds are also helpful for lowering high triglyceride levels along with high blood pressure.

Whatever the case, if you want to give your health an overall boost, then you should consider the health benefits of chia seeds by adding them to your diet.