Remember the Chia Pet that was advertised on TV for decades?  Well chia seeds are one of the top superfoods and are now one of the Shakeology ingredients.  Long before it was used as a child’s toy it was considered a staple of the Aztec and Mayan diets where it was recognized as having miraculous nutritional value.  Before going off to battle, ancient soldiers would eat the Chia Seeds as they were considered almost magical for the extra vitality and strength they provided. The plant called Salvia Hispanica gives us the Chia seeds where it grows natively in South America.

Chia seeds have made a return to top superfood status and unlike other seeds, you don’t have to grind them to get the nutritional benefits which include calcium, antioxidants and protein, making them perfect as one of the Shakeology ingredients.

It’s easy to see why it has received so much attention – it provides more omega-3 fatty acid and fiber with very few calories.  It also has high amounts of omega-6 which together with omega-3 builds new cells and support hearth health and beautiful hair, skin and nails.

Add a mild taste and you can see why this top superfood is easy to add to oatmeal, yogurt, salads and other foods.  Even though it is already one of the Shakeology ingredients, you can add even more for an energy boost – try about one teaspoon.

But just as you did when you started using Shakeology, you need to adjust gradually to the extra fiber.  Top superfood Chia seeds are very high in fiber – only two tablespoon provides ¼ of your whole daily requirement.  So being slowly and work up progressively.  Fiber is especially important for weight loss and digestion and it helps slow digestion and makes you feel fuller by soaking up fluid and expanding in your digestive tract.

While Chia seed is very much like flaxseed, another top superfood, Chia seeds have a longer shelf life and are completely digestible as they are and don’t need to be ground up.  Chia also contains calcium – about 18% of your daily requirement and this is particularly important for vegetarians who do not use dairy.  Osteoporosis can result from lack of calcium and is a serious health problem.

When Chia seeds are added to water, it will form a gel in about half an hour.  When this happens, the stomach feels fuller which slows the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and changes them into sugar. This makes you feel full longer making chia seeds a great weight loss tool too!

Enjoy the healthy benefits of chia … a top superfood that is just one of the many great Shakeology ingredients!

Comments

comments