By Amanda Rodarte
With the constant struggle of making wise food decisions, students should add chia seeds to their diets.
The word chia may remind students of the famous, fuzzy plant the Chia Pet, but make no mistake, chia seeds are no funny matter.
These tiny seeds are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, which makes it a kind of superfood.
For the past few months, I’ve added chia seeds to my diet and I have noticed a difference in my diet and the way I feel.
Chia seeds are native to Mexico and South America and have been a staple in Mayan and Aztec diets for centuries.
People are obsessed with them today, chia seeds have become increasingly popular for health benefits and for cooking.
Chia seeds come in either white, dark brown and black and are quite small.
They are smaller than a grain of rice but don’t underestimate them. They have an excellent nutritioun resume.
Chia seeds are a fantastic source of fiber with a whopping five grams per tablespoons.
Fiber helps the digestive system by helping people get full faster. This is why fiber is highly recommended for dieting.
Most Americans are not getting their daily fiber intake.
According the the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010,” people should consume 14 grams of fiber for each 1,000-calorie diet.
Someone on a 2,000-calorie diet would need 28 grams of fiber daily.
With the help of chia seeds, people can easily increase their daily intake of fiber.
Because chia seeds slow down the rate our bodies normally convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, it is effective in regulating blood sugars.
High blood pressure is one of the factors that causes diabetes, which has become an immense epidemic in the United States.
Luckily, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure levels in diabetics.
Besides lowering blood pressure, it provides good cholesterol and reduces bad cholesterol as well.
Two tablespoons of chia seeds also contain 18 percent calcium, 35 percent phosphorus, 24 percent magnesium and about 50 percent manganese.
Some of these nutrients may sound like foreign words, but they can help you prevent hypertension and maintain a healthy weight.
This is because these nutrients are important for the metabolism and help speed it up.
They also are a good source of antioxidants, which protect the body from aging and cancer by optimizing the immune system.
For those people who do not eat fish, chia seeds offer the opportunity to get your daily dose of Omega-3.
Omega-3 contains the vital fats that protect against inflammation such as arthritis and heart disease.
Chia seeds actually contain double the amount of Omega-3 than salmon.
Another benefit is that they are natural. There are no chemicals in the seeds, since the seeds are eaten raw.
Since colleges students are always on the go, chia seeds are perfect to add quick nutrition to any meal.
Students can sprinkle two tablespoons of the seeds on any meal and can instantly make it healthier.
Even desserts such as ice cream can improve health with just two sprinkles.
Health may not concern some students, but we must remember that we are only given one body and we must protect it by providing the right nutrients it needs.
Remember, the only thing that never goes down is your age. Protect it, and give your body what it needs.Give your body chia seeds.