Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Mini Superfoods: Chia seeds


Sattvic Foods Chia Seeds

Chia seeds were amongst the important crops of the Aztec people. Maize, beans, grains, squash and varied fruits being others. Although very small, the Aztecs revered chia seeds for their applications in medicine and food. They were important to the Aztecs and were a part of annual offerings to the Mayan Gods, in addition to grains and beans. As a result, their use was suppressed under the Spanish occupation of Central America. They were a well-kept Mexican secret until recently when their popularity exploded in the health world.

Chia means strength in Mayan and rightly so. Small and gray in appearance, a single spoonful of the seeds provides tremendous energy and stamina. They help our body retain water, are loaded with nutrients and they don’t spoil or go rancid. Aztec warriors completely relied on them for their dietary needs, during wars and long journeys. They could go over 24 hours on just this mini superfood. Chia seeds were a staple for travellers and runners as they help balance body fluids and electrolytes.

They are full of…
Chia seeds are densely packed with nutrients, making them a superfood. 1 tablespoon (15 gram) of chia seeds has
       17% of your recommended daily (RDV) fibre intake
       2.8 gram of healthy omega-3 fatty acids
       8% of RDV of calcium and 12% of magnesium
Besides this, chia seeds are rich in vitamins, trace minerals and antioxidants.

Benefits
       Improve and boost heart function. Which means low LDL and lower risk of strokes and cardiac diseases.
       Boost digestion and improve gut health
       Helpful in chronic digestive issues like constipation, IBS
       The fibre in chia seeds helps relieve hypertension and decreases LDL cholesterol levels
       Help in regulating body fluids and electrolytes i.e. fight dehydration
       Help reduce joint pain and joint inflammation when consumed before workouts
       Healthier skin as antioxidants in chia seeds reduce free radicals
       Great for diabetics as they help balance blood sugar levels by reducing spikes
       Help fight cravings by keeping you full and keep your mind calm

How to use?
Chia seeds have a very mild flavour, which means they just render their fibre-rich texture to any dish without altering its taste. They need to soak for about 30 minutes before using.
       Use in smoothies, cereal and oatmeal
       Add to juices, soups and salads
       Use in baked goods as a flour to make cakes, breads or chapatis
       Chia seed oil is used in salad dressings.
       Mix with water to replace eggs in cakes

Who should take it?
       People looking to manage weight, control portion sizes or cravings
       Athletes and fitness enthusiasts
       People with obesity, heart diseases and digestive issues
       People diagnosed with hypertension, IBS and diabetes

Who cannot take it?
Chia seeds allergy is uncommon. Still, people with seed allergies should consume chia seeds in a very small quantity initially to be sure.

Sattvic Foods Basil Seeds

Have you heard of the Indian cousin of chia? The humble basil seed, from the sweet basil (meethi tulsi) plant, is the Indian chia. It is called sabja in Hindi and has been used in India for almost as long as chia has been used in Mexico. Besides being rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants, basil seeds are calorie free!

Benefits of basil seeds
       The most important property of basil seeds is that they are natural body coolants. They are added to juices and faloodas to reduce body heat. Have a falooda on a late night walk during summer.
       Consuming soaked (in water or milk) chia seeds before bedtime improves gut function, regulates bowel movements and detoxes your body.
       They help reduce acidity and heartburn. People looking for a cure for heartache, try basil seeds!
       They are rich sources of flavonoids. What do flavonoids do you ask? They boost your immunity and help your body through bouts of cough and cold.

How to use?
There really is not limit as to how you can use basil seeds, here are a few tips though.
       Now that summer is almost here, make falooda!
       Add them to all your summer juices - lemon, watermelon, orange.
       Our favourite summer noon lunch is curd rice. Add basil seeds to it.
Plus point for basil seeds: They swell up almost instantly when they touch water or any liquid.

Order Sattvic Foods Chia Seeds and Sattvic Foods Basil Seeds. Add these super-seeds to your diet today.

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