Superfood Focus: Chia Seeds

Ch-ch-ch-chia! Here are 5 reasons you should include these tiny little super seeds in your diet.

1. Great for your skin
Chia seeds pack a powerful punch for their size. They’re high in essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron and niacin. They are also one of nature’s riches high-antioxidant foods. Antioxidants speed up the skin’s repair systems and prevent further damage. Adding chia seeds to your diet can prevent premature skin aging caused by inflammation and free radical damage.

2. Digestive Health
Chia seeds are extremely high in fibre, providing 34g per 100g. Fibre plays a key role in a healthy digestive system and many of us simply do not get enough in our diets. Adding chia seeds to your cereal, salads or water is an easy way to help you reach your fiber goals.

3. Plant Protein
Chia seeds rank among the top plant-based sources of protein making this tiny super seed a big go-to for those on a plant-based diet and those trying to put on lean muscle, burn fat and balance blood sugar levels.

4. Hydration & nutrient absorption
One of the characteristics that make chia seeds so unique is their ability to absorb up to 10 times their own weight in water. As a result, chia seeds can prolong hydration and improve nutrient absorption of electrolytes, slowing digestion, leaving you feeling fuller longer and reducing sugar cravings.

5. Energy Booster
In addition to slowing sugar absorption, chia seeds can slow down the process of converting sugars and carbohydrates into energy. This slow-burning process, in combination with the high protein content, leads to a sustained energy boost.