What is Chia?
Friday, May 18th, 2012There are many foods that can accurately be labelled a ‘super-food’. Under that banner you’ll find salmon, blue berries, citrus fruits and green-leafy vegetables. Though scientists aren’t fond of the term, it’s well-known that these foods are high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are very beneficial.
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In keeping with this elite group of nutritional powerhouses, chia is a flowering shrub native to South America with a long history of use among the Aztecs.
Just recently it’s received media coverage in North America in Oprah Magazine, The Globe and Mail and The Dr Oz Show.
Nutritional Breakdown
Chia’s extensive history as a staple food in South American hints to its high nutritional value. Chia is composed of 16% protein, 31% fat and 44% carbohydrate. And 38% of the carbs are fiber.
Chia has double the antioxidants found in blue berries, five times more calcium than milk and 100% more antioxidant content that salmon.
What is more, chia has 64% more potassium than a banana and six times the iron you’d get in spinach. Each seed is 16% complete vegetable protein.
Chia certainly boasts an impressive variety of nutrients, with more than 27 minerals, vitamins, fatty and amino acids in a tablespoon that costs the waistline just 41.25 calories.
But is it a true super-food?
By these numbers, most dieticians would say that it is just that. And with such high levels of essential vitamins and minerals, chia has many applications for the demands of today’s lifestyle.
Should I Eat Chia?
Chia seeds have a mild if not slightly nutty flavor. The seed blends into many lifestyles and can be consumed as a five minute snack or within a full course meal. Of chia’s different applications, you’ll note:
Healthy Weight Management – A source of soluble fiber, chia can absorb up to nine times its weight in water, which means it can help you feel full with few calories consumed.
Energy – In ancient times, Aztec messengers would consume chia for nourishment to run hundreds of miles across the mountains. Chia hydrates the body and provides energy for intense workouts.
Fill in Nutritional Gaps – As a rich source of nutrients, chia is often used to obtain nutrients that might otherwise be missed.
People With Digestion Problems – Chia is high in fiber and can reduces cases of diarrhea and constipation. In addition, the calcium, zinc and potassium in chia can reduce inflammation of the gastrointestinal system.
Workers Being a seed, chia is highly adaptable and can be added to most recipes. Or you can simply add chia to water for an instant and nutrient-packed energy boost. That may interest people who don’t have time to cook a balanced meal.
Conclusion
Though new to North American shores, chia has an ancient and proven track record in South American and offers an impressive nutritional break down that few foods can match.
Whether it catches on in the United States remains to be seen, but its adaptability and the many ways it blends into today’s hectic lifestyle makes chia an attractive option for the health conscious and those with specific health concerns.
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