7 Good Reasons To Start Eating Chia Seeds

Annaliese Keller

Dr. Oz from the Oprah show says, "They [chia seeds] just may be one of the healthiest things around."

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.

4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.

5. 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!

6. 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.

7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.

How to Eat Chia Seeds

Chia seeds make an incredibly healthy — and often unnoticeable — addition to many foods. Here are some great ways to enjoy chia seeds:

They can be eaten raw. (They have a nice "nutty" flavor.)
They can be soaked in fruit juice (in Mexico, they call this "chia fresca").
They're perfect in porridges and puddings.
They make an ideal addition to baked goods including breads, cakes and biscuits. (See links to energy bar recipes below.)

How Many Chia Seeds Should You Eat?

We recommend two daily doses of about 20 g each (1.5 ounces total).

SOURCE: Information from www.nutsonline.com and a great source for purchasing bulk fresh chia seed

RECIPES: Fruit Nut Energy Bars, Fruit Nut and Seed Bars