ORGANIC AND NATURAL PRODUCTS

Chia seeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet. They’re loaded with nutrients that can have important benefits for your body and brain. Chia seeds are tiny black seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica, which is related to the mint. Chia seeds were an important food for the Aztecs and Mayans back in the day. They prized them for their ability to provide sustainable energy. In fact, “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.” Despite their ancient history as a dietary staple, chia seeds became recognized as a modern-day superfood only recently. In the past few years, they have exploded in popularity and are now consumed by health conscious people all over the world. Don’t be fooled by the size — these tiny seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch.

Chia seeds contain a decent amount of protein.

By weight, they’re about 14% protein, which is very high compared to most plants.

They also have a good balance of essential amino acids, so your body should be able to make use of their protein content.

Protein has various health benefits and is by far the most weight loss friendly dietary nutrient.

A high protein intake lowers appetite and has been shown to reduce obsessive thoughts about food by 60% and the desire for night time snacking by 50%.

Chia seeds really are an excellent protein source — especially for people who eat little or no animal products.

Many health experts believe that chia seeds can aid weight loss.

Its soluble fiber absorbs large amounts of water and expands in your stomach, which should increase fullness and slow the absorption of food.

Several studies have examined the soluble fiber glucomannan, which works in a similar way, showing that it can lead to weight loss. Also, the protein in chia seeds could help reduce appetite and food intake.

In fact, one study found that eating chia seeds for breakfast increased satiety and reduced food intake in the short-term.

However, studies examining the effectiveness of chia seeds for weight loss have provided rather disappointing results.

In a study in 90 overweight people, 50 grams of chia seeds per day for 12 weeks had no effect on body weight or health markers.

In another 10-week study in 62 women, chia seeds had no effect on body weight but did increase the amount of omega-3 fat in the blood.

In contrast, a 6-month study in obese people with type 2 diabetes on a reduced-calorie diet found that eating chia seeds daily caused significantly greater weight loss than a placebo.

Though adding chia seeds to your diet is unlikely to cause weight loss on its own, many experts believe they can be a useful addition to a weight loss diet.

A weight loss diet is about more than just single foods. The entire diet counts, as well as other lifestyle behaviors like sleep and exercise.

When combined with a real-food based diet and a healthy lifestyle, chia seeds may definitely help promote weight loss.