Are you looking for an innovative yet effective way to lose weight? There are many options but one of the most interesting ones is chia seeds weight loss.
As with other types of dieting methods, it’s important to have all the important info you need so you can use it as effectively as possible. Meanwhile, without such info, it can result in average or sub-par results, which is a situation you’ll definitely want to avoid.
What Is a Chia Seed?
You might have seen commercials for the Chia Pet and wondered what exactly what kinds of seeds are used to grow the green hair on the clay figurines. Before deciding whether to start diet using chia seeds it’s important to know the basics about the star of the products.
Chia seeds originate from the plant known as Salvia hispanica. It’s a desert plant and one of the members of the mint family. The seed is known by various trademarked names and the common name “Chia.” Experts believe that the plant originated in Central America and was a major food of the Aztecs. Meanwhile, a related plant known as Salvia columbaria ew as eaten by Native Americans living in the South-West region of the United States.
There are many legends about heroes who gained strength and bravery through chia seeds. It’s believed that ancient athletes and warriors carried small packs of the seeds with them. Another folklore is that they sometimes lived on just the seed’s nutrients for multiple weeks.
Chia seeds have been used by health experts and cooks throughout the world due to the high amount of vitamins and minerals they contain. They’re also used in various diet products including chia seeds weight loss.
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Today people rarely find themselves in the need to live off a single food source although the chia seed has become a popular food source for many people due to the high concentration of vitamins and minerals the seeds contain. In fact, the seed from the chia plant is often referred to as a “superfood” due to the many nutrients and health benefits it contains. Here are some of the main ones:
Another related benefit of the seeds is that they help to slow down the body’s process of turning carbs into sugar. It’s important to note that sugar turns into fat so a low-sugar diet is especially important if you’re on a weight loss program.
- Protein
Protein is the building block of muscle so it’s important to get enough of it in your diet. We usually think of meat as the best source of protein but there are actually several plant based sources like chia seeds that are also good options. Studies show that the seeds seem to help in building muscle so they’re a healthy option for people who do workouts and strength training.
- Iron
Iron is available in many foods but many people today don’t get enough of it. The main function of iron is to move oxygen throughout the body via the red blood cells’ hemoglobin. This provides people with energy. Iron also helps to reduce carbon dioxide in the body. Symptoms of low iron levels in blood include fatigue and weakness.
- Calcium
Milk products are one of the best sources of calcium but there are other good ones including chia seeds. In terms of your body’s bone health calcium is one of the most important nutrients. Bones are a type of living tissue so it’s important for your body to get enough of the mineral on a consistent basis.
It’s important to get enough calcium to prevent your bones from weakening and breaking. When your body doesn’t get enough calcium it starts taking it from your bones, which can cause various health issues. This is another reason you should consider chia seeds weight loss.
- Potassium
Potassium is one of the minerals your body needs. It provides many benefits including helping to regulate mineral balance and fluids in the body’s cells, contracting muscles, and keeping blood pressure normal.
Potassium can also help to lower the risk of bone loss and kidney stones in older people. These are some of the main benefits of potassium and explains why you should consider picking weight-loss products that include chia seeds.
- Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are “healthy” fats that researchers discovered in the 1970s when studying the Inuit diet in Greenland. They learned that a high-fat diet that included whales and seals was actually healthier than Western diets.
The researchers learned that the lower cholesterol levels were due to the omega-3 or polyunsaturated fats that are contained in seafood. Researchers have learned the omega-3 can be effective in helping with health issues related to:
- Regular heart rhythm
- Lower triglycerides
- Better blood vessel function
- Lower blood pressure
- Prevention of inflammation.
- Better cholesterol levels
- Regulated blood clotting
Scientists have also discovered that several types of omega-3 exist. That includes the ALA found in foods like vegetable oils, walnuts, and chia seeds. ALA is important in keeping body tissues healthy.
- Antioxidants
You’ve probably heard a lot about antioxidants in the news since it’s one of the most popular areas of research among scientists. All living things need oxygen in order to use dietary nutrients so they make enough energy to survive. So oxygen is definitely an important thing for all living beings. It’s needed to metabolize food in order to manufacture energy.
The “problem” with oxygen that chia seeds weight loss helps to deal with is it’s an atom that’s very reactive. It can become part of dangerous molecules that are often referred to as “free radicals.” Thy can attack your body’s healthy cells, which can result in damage, disorders, and diseases. Studies show that the damage resulting from free radicals seems to be a major factor in diseases and aging.
Antioxidants found in certain foods can help to battle free radicals naturally. When there are enough antioxidants they can offset the possible damage from free radicals. They basically weaken free radicals before they attack.
- Fiber
This helps people to feel full after eating the seeds. This is especially important when you’re on a weight-loss program because it will help to curb your appetite and prevent you from overeating and snacking. The seeds also expand when they enter the stomach, which is another way the chia seeds help dieters to feel full.
- Calories/Fat
Chia seeds are very low in calories and are fat-free. This is very important if you’re dieting because it’s important to reduce calories and fat if you want to reduce weight and fat. A key benefit of the seeds is that they’re very filling even though they’re low-calorie. As a result, you don’t have to eat tons of them to feel full so this is a key benefit of chia seeds weight loss.
Ways to Eat Chia Seeds
There are various ways you can add chia seeds to your diet. In fact, they’re quite versatile and can enhance any food they’re added to. Here are some of the various ways you can use the seeds for weight-loss:
- Raw
This is one of the healthiest and simplest ways you can eat chia seeds. You can eat them solo or mix them with various foods like salad, cereal, and pasta. The seeds are a little crunchy but can be chewed easily. The seeds also have a flavor that’s a little nutty.
- Roasted/Toasted
This is a popular way to prepare the seeds in order bring out the flavor of the chia seeds. Many cooks and chefs use this method because the seeds alone are quite bland. This also makes a tasty snack that is great when you want to eat a snack that’s hearty yet low-calorie. Seeds in general like pumpkin seeds are quite tasty when roasted or toasted then salted lightly. It’s also an excellent option because many of the food’s nutrients are preserved.
- Flour
Another way you can enjoy chia seeds is by grinding them up then adding them to various baked goods. This is an excellent way to add nutritional value to foods without requiring people to consciously “eat healthily.” Another plus is that since the flavor of the seeds is quite light you won’t have to worry about it overpowering the cupcakes, bread, cookies, etc. This is one of the key goals when cooking because you should try to avoid any single ingredient tasting much stronger than the others.
- Soaking
This is a method of chia seeds weight loss that’s popular in Latin America. One option is to soak the seeds in lemon or lime juice then sweetening the drink with sugar or syrup. Another option is “chia jelly.” You can make this by soaking the seeds for one night in either water or juice. This causes the seeds to break down and leave a gel-like substance. The jelly can be eaten by itself or used to improve foods like smoothies, bread, cereal, and others.
Chia Seeds for Dieting and Weight Loss
Chia seeds have become popular in many weight loss and diet products. The seeds are often called a “miracle” food for weight-loss.
The promise is often made that consuming the seeds will make people slim and trim. This is mostly due to the seed’s ability to retain water.
Another key benefit of the seeds is that when people eat them alone or blend them in other foods they frequently get full faster.
That causes them to eat less food. This can help to reduce people’s caloric intake and thus lose weight. It’s important to note that the seeds should be used with a good diet plan. It’s uncommon for them to result in big weight loss by themselves.
If you use chia seeds for weight loss should you be concerned about any possible health issues? Health experts usually consider it safe to eat chia seeds and their sprouts.
There’s some empirical evidence that eating chia seeds on a regular basis can help to improve people’s overall health. However, it’s important to note that there isn’t any strong evidence that the seeds can cure medical conditions.
If you’re going to use chia seeds as part of a weight loss program it’s important to consult your doctor first. That will provide you with any information or warnings you should have before using the seeds as a method for losing weight.
There are many products on the market that feature chia seeds. They include oil, milk, flour, and bars. This helps to provide more flexibility in how you use the seeds for your weight-loss program.
There are pros and cons of different types of products so it’s important to think about how you’ll be using the seeds. For example, if you have time for baking then flour would be a good product. Meanwhile, if you’re always on the go then chia bars might be a better option.
When you pick your products it’s generally better to pick a site that specializes in chia products. There are several benefits. For example, you can find more products at such sites and the seeds will generally be fresher compared to other sites that have several types of weight-loss products.
If you want the most versatility then you should consider raw chia seeds. This gives you several options. You can eat them raw as a snack. If you want a fully taste you could roast or toast them, which brings out the flavor of the food.
Another way to add the seeds to your everyday diet is to add them to salads, yogurts, cereal, etc. These are some of the many ways you can use the seeds in your weight-loss program.
This is all the information you need to know about chia seeds weight loss to get the best results for shedding pounds and burning fat. When picking weight-loss products it’s always best to pick ones that are as close to natural foods as possible. That’s why you should consider chia seeds since they’re 100% natural. Besides that, you can eat them several ways including raw, roasted, toasted, ground, and soaked.
