The chia seeds are small seeds with healthy properties for health. They contain a lot of protein, quite a bit of calcium, and essential minerals for the body and the human organism.
The most common way to buy them is whole, meaning the complete seed in containers with hundreds of them, which can weigh from a few grams to several kilos. You can also buy chia in tablets, dietary supplements, and mixed with other ingredients.
Contents
Chia properties
Since they contain many beneficial substances for the body, growing this plant is very common and cheap. By eating them, you get all the plant-based proteins that are very good for humans.
They contain absorbable calcium, which means that you don’t get rid of it when you consume it, as happens with much of the calcium in milk, for example. It has potassium and magnesium, boron, copper, zinc, and vitamins. One of them is niacin, which is vitamin B3 and helps digestion, the stomach, the skin, and the nervous system. It also plays a role in converting food into energy. This is one of the reasons why it is commonly used in diets.
Potassium and magnesium are great for you. They help regulate cardiovascular function and promote muscle relaxation. So these are other benefits you add in addition to those already mentioned. Thanks to its great nutritional content and the minerals it provides, it is a good supplement for athletes.
The antioxidants it contains make chia’s properties beneficial for skin rejuvenation. These act against free radicals produced inside the body and oxidize molecules. They delay wrinkles and the worn appearance of the skin.
They contain multiple minerals and all essential amino acids. Chia seeds contain vitamins, fiber, and Omega 3.
Additionally, there are studies that support the idea that taking chia with diabetes improves blood glucose levels. This is possible due to the mechanism that slows down the assimilation and transformation of carbohydrates into sugars in the body.
A great source of omega 3. Chia seeds supply your body with linoleic acid, which helps in heart-related diseases, enhances brain function, and is believed to be good if you are pregnant. There are even indications showing how it reduces the risk of depression and relieves its symptoms. And the good thing is that by taking them, you avoid the dangers of ingesting heavy metals that have accumulated in fish. In this regard, they contain much more omega 3 than flaxseeds and even salmon, which is globally recognized for these qualities.
Here is the list of chia’s properties:
- Very mild taste.
- Promote good cholesterol.
- Improve blood glucose levels.
- Very low salt content.
- Fill you up when taken with liquid, satisfy and reduce hunger.
- Provide proteins to vegetarians.
- Contain multiple essential minerals.
- Rich in Omega3 fatty acids.
- Many antioxidants and amino acids.
- Various vitamins.
How to prepare it
You can prepare it in different ways. You can either leave it raw or cook it. Obtaining properties from chia seeds is easy, as is its preparation for different uses and ways to consume it.
- Mix it with water, smoothies, juices, or any liquid.
- Add 1 cup of seeds + 2 cups of water (if using a drink, keep the same proportion or more).
- Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- You can now drink your chia beverage.
In addition to drinking it with liquids, you can eat it solid. You can try grinding it and sprinkling it over your favorite dishes. You will get the properties of ground chia in many of your meals. Use it like any other spice or condiment. So now you know how to consume it.
Properties of Chia for the Skin
The dermal cellular tissue must replenish itself daily from environmental damage and harmful agents. In addition to this, the passage of time and years cause cells and molecules to suffer more damage due to oxidation. Thanks to the antioxidants it contains, the properties of chia for the skin help promote better repair. They stop free radicals and nourish the skin with beneficial substances. Also, if you’re interested, we have prepared a file with all the properties of chia seeds in PDF.
Nutrition Information and Chemical Analysis
Content made from a sample of 100 gr. of chia seeds. This is a detailed scientific study where the analysis was done by joining each seed to follow standard procedures. There may be slight variations between studies depending on the origin of the crop as well as the equipment used to extract the measurements. In any case, these should be so small that they shouldn’t be of concern.
Nutrition Information and Properties of Chia Seeds
- Calories 486
- Saturated fatty acid 3.3 g
- Polyunsaturated fatty acid 24 g
- Monounsaturated fatty acid 2.3 g
- Trans fatty acid 0.1 g
- Calcium 631 mg
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Dietary fiber 34 g
- Carbohydrates 42 g
- Iron 7.7 mg
- Magnesium 335 mg
- Potassium 407 mg
- Protein 17 g
- Sodium 16 mg
- Lipid 31 g
- Vitamin A 54 IU
- Vitamin C 1.6 mg
- Vitamin B12 0 µg
Proximal Chemical Analysis
- Calories 405.14%
- Calcium 1.01%
- Ashes (mineral salts) 4.26%
- Ether Extract 30.30%
- EN carbohydrates (sugars) 12.73%
- Crude fiber 25.21%
- Iron 0.052%
- Moisture 7.87%
- Proteins (Nx5.7) 19.63%
Fatty Acid Profile
- Stearic 2.5%
- Linoleic 20.7%
- Linolenic (omega 3) 63%
- Oleic 6.5%
- Palmitic 6.4%
If you remember, we already made a fairly complete summary of all the properties of chia seeds and their benefits in the article we mentioned. So we encourage you to try them. Surely they won’t leave you indifferent, and you might even consider them indispensable from now on.
