Chia seeds: useful properties and reviews

Even convinced skeptics resort to herbal medicine, which consider folk medicine the day before yesterday and grandmother's superstitions. Natural plant components are present in medicines of traditional medics. In principle, tea with a lemon for colds or a barren infusion taken by the kidneys - all these are widely used methods that can be safely attributed to znacharian ones. So why not pay more attention to other useful plants? For example, on chia seeds.

What is it and where does it live?

This herb is a close relative of our habitual sage (which, by the way, is widely and variously used in folk medicine). Even its second name is similar to ours - sage Spanish. But if the native plant is in demand mainly herbaceous "details", then in its foreign "brother" are valuable seeds. Chia gives the seeds a small size with a barely noticeable smell and taste resembling nuts.

In our latitudes the Spanish sage does not grow, the climate does not fit. His homeland - Guatemala and Mexico, and there he is cultivated until now.

The legacy of the Maya, the Incas and the Aztecs

Legendary Indian peoples, considered very civilized for their time, knew and valued the seeds of chia. The useful properties of these grains gave the soldiers of the tribes unprecedented endurance and almost inhuman strength. In campaigns and battles, they had enough of this miracle-money for a whole day, so as not to suffer from lack of water and exhaustion.

But even in everyday life, chia seeds were used very widely. In the third millennium BC. They were used as a food product as often as beans, corn or amaranth. At the same time, the gifts of Spanish sage carried on themselves a religious load. They sacrificed to the gods, they were willingly accepted as taxes, the capital of the Aztec empire received a huge amount of these grains as a tribute. Seeds of chia were part of the medicinal preparations, of which flour was grinded, oil was squeezed out, and makuha went to cosmetic products.

However, at the beginning of the 16th century conquistadors, trying to weaken the Indian tribes, completely destroyed the sage of Spanish sage. And for many five centuries it was almost forgotten.

Revival of former glory

Mention of miraculous properties, which are endowed with chia seeds, remained in many ancient manuscripts. In the second half of the 20th century, a whole program was founded, the purpose of which was to search for a mysterious plant. One of the expeditions that operated under this program, found small plant colonies in the remote mountains of Guatemala and Mexico. Argentines Mill brothers and other admirers of wonder-grass for 15 years chose the surviving specimens, and by 2006 the plant again entered the world stage. And in the 9th year of the current millennium, it was also recognized by the European Union as a food product. Now chia seeds on an equal footing can be officially used for baking (with a mass fraction of up to 5%).

Therapeutic and nutritional characteristics

The abundance of medicinal qualities inherent in this plant and its grains is simply amazing. So, the seeds of chia, the reviews about which are multiplying with each passing day (and only positive!), Are absorbed by the body without any difficulty, they do not contain gluten, they do not cause allergies and can be stored without loss of their properties for many years. And for storage, no conservation is needed.

In addition, the seeds of Spanish sage for a fifth of its weight consist of high class protein, which is simply indispensable for athletes, people of "heavy" professions and vegetarians. And if you consider that the protein component contains all the amino acids necessary for normal existence, you begin to appreciate chia even more. Reviews of people who abandoned animal food, just enthusiastic.

Those who know about the benefits of unsaturated fats and regularly use sea fish to obtain them, will also be pleased with chia seeds. In their oil, the content of omega (both 3 and 6) reaches 60%, whereas in the cod liver, considered a record holder, only 20%, and in the most saturated seaweed - 40%.

The Mexican sage is completely lacking cholesterol, and the plant itself is actively fighting it. As a result of the use of chia, the pressure becomes normal, the plaques in the vessels stop growing and begin to dissolve, the probability of heart attacks and strokes decreases. Simultaneously, the seeds are supplied to the body by calcium, and in quantities of five times that which milk can give. People with fragile bones can stop fearing osteoporosis.

And vitamin complexes do not!

Unbalanced nutrition has long led most of humanity to the need to restore the lack of trace elements with the help of tablets. And then chia can come to the rescue (photo in the article). It contains phosphorus (for the nervous system), potassium (for normal heart function), zinc (for immunity and the ability to multiply), magnesium and iron (for hematopoiesis) in doses needed by the body. But in the seeds there is also manganese, molybdenum and copper, without which the endocrine system, as they say, goes into raznos.

Microelements are not limited. Chia seeds are able to provide a person with vitamins of group B and A, which are responsible for the correct functioning of the heart, nerves, vessels and metabolism. Plus, these same grains are the strongest antioxidants that slow down the general aging of a person.

Natural gift to slimming

No less valuable are the seeds of chia for weight loss. This is explained by the unique property of grains to absorb water, the amount of which is a dozen times greater than their own weight. It is enough to pour a teaspoon of seeds into a glass of clean water and leave it for half an hour. As a result, you get a viscous liquid, similar to kissel. Drink it! Going to the stomach, this "gel" will create an intractable obstacle between food and enzymes. As a result, the process of assimilation of food will significantly slow down, the metabolism becomes constant in time, rather than convulsive and accelerated. The feeling of fullness lasts much longer, the person begins to eat less often and in smaller quantities, and his body gets used to new portions that are reduced or more spaced apart.

By the way, this property is equally useful for diabetics. The carbohydrates obtained from food are fermented much more gradually, which helps to keep sugar in the blood for a long time at a low level. To prevent and control "sugar sickness" is very important.

Both children and adults

As a replacement for chemical vitamins chia seeds have already been considered. However, they have one more indisputable advantage: they contribute to the rapid regeneration of damaged tissues and the overall growth and development of the body. This priceless property is equally useful to women after childbirth, and their children. Especially if you remember about their hypoallergenic! After all, the risk of allergies in newborns in recent decades is very high, and young moms limit themselves very much in order to avoid childhood diathesis. And so does the mother quickly recover, and the child receives the necessary trace elements and does not receive any allergic reactions.

The same qualities - to regenerate and restore - are readily enjoyed by athletes. Chia seeds excellently relieve fatigue and muscle pain (the so-called "krepature"), stimulate the restoration of bones and soft tissues after injuries and increase the physical data of those involved in sports.

Preventive use

If you are only interested in the healing side of chia, it is enough to eat a couple of teaspoons of seeds a day. Preliminary processing, they do not require, you can eat like sunflower seeds. And you can add to salads (both vegetable and fruit), in the first and second dishes, make with them cocktails based on juices, eat with muesli or yoghurts. If you wish, you can add chia seeds to the process of making porridge, but you risk losing some of the useful qualities. So it's better to choose as an "escort" something that does not undergo thermal exposure

Delicious recipes for those who are still little familiar with chia

Those who want both benefits and "yummies" can build the next cocktail. It's called Banana Smoothie. For 2 small spoons of chia seeds we take 2 mandarinchiki (you can substitute for mango or pear), a teaspoon of soaked berries of mulberry and half a glass of water. Beat in a blender and drink a delicious and healthy morning drink. If you add muesli there, you will get a full breakfast.

If you have great things to do, or you have experienced a great deal of physical or mental stress, do the energetics. Seeds, however, have to be soaked for the night to make jelly. There add a couple of spoonfuls of lime juice, as much honey and two glasses of water. Again, use a blender, and the invigorating mixture is ready for use.

It remains to understand the question, how much and where to buy chia. There are shops specializing in spices. In them recently these seeds are often. However, immediately get ready for spending, because the pleasure is not too cheap. The price depends on the volume of the package and the manufacturer, but less than 300 rubles you will not be able to pay. But it's worth it!