Chia seeds and weight loss
Until now you may have added chia seeds to your smoothies, because you’ve heard they’re a superfood. However, scientists have found that eating chia seeds (salvia hispanica) can really help in losing belly fat and successfully shedding extra pounds.
Because chia seeds swell up in liquids, they not only help with better digestion, but also help with hunger pangs and the desire for snacks in between meals. Here are some ways to include chia seeds into your life and successfully lose the excess weight, thus gain more energy:
- add chia seeds to your detox drink
- sprinkle them over the sweet potatoes (both very healthy and delicious)
- mix them in a bowl with the fruit cut into pieces and add a healthy yogurt topping
- stir them into fresh apple porridge
- add in a salad or fruit salad
- add chia seeds to salad dressings, it is best to make the dressing yourself
- sprinkle your avocado toast with chia seeds
- add them to pudding, yoghurt or smoothie, to homemade jams that you prepare for the winter or to home-made or purchased Greek yoghurt
- also great in home-baked bread, biscuits or cookies and don’t forget to add them in the morning bowl of muesli or mix them into the pancake batter
- sprinkle them over the soup or add into protein desserts
- use them to make energy bars
- when making breaded meat, add chia seeds to the breading mixture.
Chia seeds for successful weight loss
Why do chia seeds help you lose extra kilos and are perfect to boost your health? Chia seeds originate from South and Central America, and were used by the Mayans, the Incas and the Indians. We eat them in the form of grains, ground into flour or soaked in water. Many use them in the fight against weight gain. Eating chia seeds helps to lose weight, because they increase the feeling of satiety, speed up the absorption and breakdown of fats, plus have a low glycemic index. They are widely used by athletes, as they contribute to hydration and electrolyte balance, so are great for muscle regeneration after an exercise. Chia in the Mayan language means strong, and these seeds literally increase physical endurance and improve overall physical well-being.
They are considered as superfood because chia seeds have many positive effects on the body. They have an excellent effect on the skin, which is why extracts of these seeds are used in many skin care products, as they are rich in omega-3 and -9 fatty acids, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the body. You can include them into many dishes and use them many different ways. Chia seeds are also rich with minerals, protein and dietary fibre. At the same time, they are considered as one of the richest sources of antioxidants. This grey gluten-free grains are high in fibre and are easily digestible.
When soaked they absorb seven times their weight in water, creating a gel that forms a barrier in the body against digestive enzymes in the digestive tract. If you eat chia seeds, you will feel satisfied for a longer period of time, which helps easily losing weight. Chia seeds also increase energy and endurance, so they are recommended to athletes and anyone who works hard physically.
How to properly use chia seeds as a dietary supplement?
Soak chia seeds in water or other liquid for 10 minutes before consuming. Then you can add them in healthy drinks, add them to classic dishes, in morning cereals, pancakes, you can sprinkle them on salads, also you can bake them if you like the taste of nuts. Chia seeds are very tasty in soups, sandwiches as well as sauces. You can substitute eggs with these seeds, as one tablespoon of chia seeds in a cookie has the same effect as one egg.
Chia seeds are a superfood with a very high nutritional value and now you can buy them in a special offer at Nature’s Finest at bargain price. Not only are they a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, which our body needs, so we need to add them to our diet, but they contain twice as much protein as other seeds or grains, twice as much potassium as bananas, three times as many antioxidants as berries, five times more potassium than milk and three times more iron than spinach. They also contain minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, manganese and vitamins A, D, K, E and B.
In addition to the all those benefits of chia seeds, they also support better digestion, mainly due to their hydrophilic nature (they bind water), help regulate blood sugar levels, lower high blood pressure, reduce the risk of infections, strengthen hair, improve skin condition, lower cholesterol levels, help with menstrual cramps and relieve menopausal symptoms. Chia seeds can also be consumed by people who are sensitive to gluten, as they naturally do not contain it, and are also suitable for people with Diabetes.
