Chia

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a plant whose seeds are widely marketed as a natural remedy for certain health conditions. For instance, many proponents claim that chia seeds can promote weight loss, keep blood sugar in check, protect against diabetes and heart disease, increase energy, improve athletic performance, enhance mood and preserve bone health.

Chia and Nutrition

Long consumed as food, chia seeds are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acid). In addition, chia seeds offer a number of essential minerals (including calcium, potassium and magnesium). Chia also contains antioxidants.

Per ounce, chia seeds provide 138 calories, 9.8 grams of fiber, 8.71 grams of fat and 4.69 grams of protein.

Little is known about the safety of the long-term intake of chia. However, there is some concern that consumption of chia may increase the effects of anti-diabetic medications and blood pressure medications. In addition, chia may reduce blood sugar levels and trigger changes in bleeding and clotting times.Due to safety concerns, it's important to talk to your doctor before using chia as a dietary supplement (especially if you are currently taking medications for diabetes or high blood pressure).

Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. And it has another advantage over flax: chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. And, unlike flax, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc.

• Diabetes : Published in Diabetes Care in 2007, a study involving 20 people with type 2 diabetes found that 12 weeks of treatment with chia helped reduce systolic blood pressure and inflammation. However, chia failed to produce changes in body weight.
• Cholesterol : Chia may help lower cholesterol levels, according to an animal-based study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2009. In tests on rats given a diet high in sugar, researchers found that adding chia seed to the diet helped prevent the onset of high cholesterol and insulin resistance. In addition, chia seed appeared to reduce abdominal fat.Since this research was conducted on animals, it's too early to tell whether chia may have the same benefits for humans.
• Chia and Weight Loss : There is currently a lack of research supporting the claim that chia can promote weight loss. In fact, the existing research indicates that chia may have no effect on body weight. For a 2009 study in Nutrition Research, researchers assigned 90 overweight or obese adults to 12 weeks of treatment with chia seed or a placebo. Looking at study results, the researchers found no differences in body mass, inflammation or blood pressure between the two treatment groups.
• Digestive and Energy Benefits of Chia: Chia seeds have a unique fiber coating that allows them to absorb 12 times their weight in water. After soaking in water or in your digestive system for 30 minutes, chia forms a highly viscous gel with superior digestive benefits, far greater than other fibers. Once inside your body, the gel can: Create and prolong hydration, Prolong the release of carbohydrates, Slow the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar
• The gel gives your body energy—an even, steady form of energy that's exactly what you need for everything from athletic endurance to mental alertness.
• Heart Health
• Increased Energy
• Relief From Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Wellbeing
• Anti-aging
• Healthy Blood Pressure
• Gastrointestinal Health
• Bone Health
• Mental Health
• Prenatal Health
• Breast Health
• Prostate Health
• In addition to protein, fiber, and an extensive list of vitamins and minerals, chia seeds contain 3 powerful antioxidants: quercetin, myristicin, and kaempferol. These naturally occurring antioxidants help stabilize tissues that otherwise would be affected by allergies.
  
• Chia seeds have a unique fiber coating that allows them to absorb 12 times their weight in water. After soaking in water or in your digestive system for 30 minutes, chia forms a highly viscous gel with superior digestive benefits, far greater than other fibers. Once inside your body, the gel can:
  • Create and prolong hydration
  • Prolong the release of carbohydrates
  • Slow the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar