Chia seed has recently become quite a topic of conversation among lovers of organic food. Small, but has very good benefits for the body, especially for those of you who want to lose weight. Chia seed is a type of small grain derived from the plant Salvia hispanica L, this plant grows in Mexico and South America. The taste of the chia seed itself tends to be tasteless. And to eat it, you need to soak it in water for a few minutes, and you can also mix it with other foods.
Chia seed is believed to have several health benefits, one of which is helping to lose weight. This small shape will expand after a while soaked in water. And it will expand even more after the chia seed is in the stomach, which is why the chia seed can make people who consume it feel full longer, and some believe it can help in losing weight.
The Chia seed itself actually contains very good omega-3 fatty acids and is needed by the body to reduce triglycerides. Besides containing omega-3 fatty acids, chia seed also contains enough fiber, which is at least 10 grams of fiber contained in 28 grams of chia seed. Not only that, but 28 grams of chia seed also contains quite a variety of other nutrients needed by the body. 18% of the amount of daily calcium needed, 30% of manganese, 27% of phosphorus, 5 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat, and 138 calories. Even chia seed also contains copper, potassium, and zinc.
What are the Benefits of Chia Seed?
For those of you who love organic food or are on a raw food diet, you may have heard some of the benefits of chia seed. However, more research is still needed on the benefits of the chia seed itself.
For those of you who are curious about the various benefits of chia seed, the following are various benefits that are expected to be contained in the chia seed.
Lose weight
The high amount of fiber in the chia seed and its low caloric content make it believed to be able to lose weight. Because foods that contain high fiber can generally help in making the stomach feel full longer.
Good for people with diverticulosis
For those of you who have diverticulosis (a bag that forms in the intestinal wall and protrudes out into the abdominal cavity), eating foods that are high in fiber can facilitate bowel movements and allow more water to be absorbed in the large intestine. In addition, fibrous foods can also reduce inflammation and pressure in the large intestine.
Acting as detox and digestion
Removing toxins from the body's metabolism through feces and bile is important. That is why defecating regularly is not less important than urinating. To maintain regularity of defecation, the body needs foods that contain fiber. With a high enough fiber content, chia seed is also one of the foods that are believed to help maintain healthy and smooth digestion.
Diabetes
Eating 1000 calories a day which also contains 14 grams of fiber is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. In addition, foods that contain high fiber can also keep blood sugar stable.
In addition, chia seed is also thought to be good for lowering LDL or bad cholesterol in the body and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias and thrombosis. In fact, with omega-3 in it which is also no less high, the chia seed is believed to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and sudden death from heart disease.
Pay attention to how to process it
To get the maximum benefit of the chia seed above, you need to process it properly. From one case in a sufferer of swallowing food, chia seed can cause blockages in the food channel (esophagus) because of it's easy to absorb water around it. Chia seed can expand up to 27 times compared to its initial weight. So it is recommended that chia seed be swallowed with other foods or liquids.
If you are interested in enjoying chia seed as a daily menu, you can process it in various ways. Starting from making it one of the ingredients to make a mixture of pudding, muffins or jam.
The content of various nutrients in the chia seed can indeed make someone fall in love. Even though it still needs more research on the benefits of chia seed for health, there is no harm in entering chia seed into your daily menu. But remember to process it correctly, so that the properties can be obtained to the fullest.
