We’ve seen the infamous Chia Pet for years now, but did you know that ingesting chia seeds might just be really good for you? Move over Creepy Chia Britney, you might be getting replaced. The chia seed has joined the superfood fad list in society as of late, so I thought it would be good to do a little more research. What is so great about the chia seed? Well, it turns out…a lot!
Chia seeds come from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. Salvia hispanica seed is often sold under its common name “chia” as well as several trademarked names. Its origin is believed to be in Central America where the seed was a staple in the ancient Aztec diet. The seeds of a related plant, Salvia columbariae (golden chia), were used primarily by Native Americans in the southwestern United States.
Chia seeds have recently gained attention as an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid. They are also an excellent source of fiber at 10 grams per ounce (about 2 tablespoons), and contain protein and minerals including as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. “O” the Oprah Magazine recently “crowned” the chia seed as the best bone builder superfood over flaxseeds, claiming that chia seeds happen to be a better source of calcium over flaxseed, with two tablespoons providing four and a half times the amount of calcium in the same quantity of ground flax. In addition, with nearly 150 percent more phosphorus and more than 100 percent more manganese than flaxseeds, chia seeds get the gold medal for helping to build and maintain strong bones.
Emerging research suggests that including chia seeds as part of a healthy diet may help improve cardiovascular risk factors such as lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. However, it is important to note that there are not many published studies on the health benefits of consuming chia seeds and much of the available information is based on animal studies or human studies with a small number of research participants. As with any health “fad” it is important to do a little research before fully advocating it’s use. In conclusion, I think that chia seeds might be a little more useful for health than for investing in creepy Britney.
Fun fact: Did you know that each single serving of Shakeology contains 500 mg of chia seed AND 200 mg of flaxseed?
*Facts and Information obtained from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website; August 2013 O magazine; www.myshakeology.com/coachcallee