In recent months I was introduced to Chia Seeds by one of my food gurus, Rachel Jones.
Today I finally tried them. I just added them to my smoothie because I wasn't entirely sure what to do with them. She said you can add them to salads, oatmeal, quinoa, smoothies - whatever. Anyway, so I thought a smoothie was the safest.
I read about the health properties first, because I wanted to see what the point was. Here is the point:
Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.
Okay, sounds good, right? This morning I had my usual Shakeology with spinach and frozen blueberries. I added a Tablespoon of the chia seeds and waited for the miracle to happen.
So what happened was this. Normally I am hungry at the 2 hour point after I have had Shakeology. So I typically have it at 7am after I do yoga, and then by 9am I am ready for food. Today, the hunger didn't start in until around 10:30am. So, for sure there was an appetite suppressant in there, because that never happens and I drink it daily. I am thinking I need to add them to my lunch or afternoon snack somehow because it's mid-afternoon that I start wanting to eat everything in the fridge. I love the omegas in them as well - they would be great to "hide" in muffins, pancakes, etc. for my kids to eat.
And yes, these are the same seeds that grow chia pets. Which make them all the more interesting.
Who are you and what have you done with my pizza and doughnut-loving daughter?
ReplyDeleteIf you rub them on your head, will they sprout hair?
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