American culture has made some MEGA moves when it comes to our health.    A “clean” lifestyle has suddenly become the new aesthetic, especially on social media platforms.  Stores are full of supplements and health-boosting foods, calling customer’s names with their simplistic, trendy labels.  One such health boost that has claimed its place as a health booster is chia.  It comes in many different forms – chia seeds, ground chia, chia snacks, chia bars, and chia drinks.  Believe it or not, chia seeds help with weight loss!

So what is all the fuss about? Well, it boils down to our culture’s idolization of pretty, clear skin and losing weight.  This is why you are seeing chia everywhere.  You might say, “Hey, Melissa, I’m ready to hop on the chia bandwagon.  How much should I take per day to get these awesome benefits?” One ounce (2 T) a day is plenty for adults.

Highlights for 1 ounce of chia:

• 137 calories
• 11 grams of fiber
• 4 grams of protein
• 18% DV of Calcium
• 27% DV of Phosphorus
• 30% DV of Manganese
• 4,915 mg of omega-3

Translation: Chia can help give you pretty skin due to high amounts of omega-3 found in chia seeds.  Obviously, everyone’s skin is different and there is no guarantee that your skin will become clear overnight.  However, everyone can benefit from consuming more omega-3s in their diet!  Now, where does the weight loss benefit come in?  Since chia seeds are high in fiber (which is filling), faster fullness can lead to you consuming less food, resulting in weight loss.  It’s crazy that chia seeds can help with weight loss!  While current research does not prove that consuming chia seeds guarantees weight loss, the logic is sound.  Some research has found that chia seeds, in conjunction with a healthy diet, may help lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure – lots of good reasons to add chia to your diet!

Hopefully by now, you are ready to start chowing down on some chia!  I’ve found that the easiest way to incorporate them into your meals is to just throw them in yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, and pancake batter.  They are pretty bland and tasteless, so they won’t add any funky flavor to your food.  You can do a lot with chia seeds – check out Chia Seed Recipes for some ideas!

Let me know how you plan to incorporate chia seeds into your daily eating!