New to the EFA source family is chia seed. Yes, yes, yes, for god's sake yes it is the same stuff that is synonymous with tacky gift exchange presents. Sorry, I get asked that
a lot. Chia came into the supplement industry in a big way about 3
years ago, and has found itself a good little niche to hole up in.
Chia is a good source of fiber,
protein, omega 3, and omega 6. That is pretty cool, right? Getting
protein, good fats, and fiber in a whole food source that you can add
to a number of different recipes is always a good thing. But wait,
there's more! What if I told you that just one ounce, that's right, 1
ounce, also contains about 20 percent of the average adults calcium?
Almost 20% of my calcium you say? Isn't
that better than milk!?!
Yes, yes it is. Milk has roughly 38 mg
of calcium per ounce compared to 180 in chia! But wait, we are not
through yet! Chia is also a whole food source of phosphorus and
manganese, which are important for nerve function and bone support.
That's right folks, you get all that in just one ounce a day!
And if that's not enough for you, you
can eat it raw! Whole or ground, just sprinkle it onto a salad or
cereal. You can also put it into a smoothie to enhance the nutritious
goodness of your favorite drink. Keeping it raw prevents the oils to
oxidize in the cooking process and start to go rancid.
Act Now!
All that and no terracotta Scooby head
needed!
Keep in mind that the body still has to
convert the omega 3, alpha linolenic acid, into EPA and DHA and that
process is not efficient. The fiber that is in chia is mostly soluble and
can thicken the smoothie or soup you add it to. Chia is a great
choice to get your EFA's from a whole food source, as it will help
the body get many other things it needs.
Thank you Mr. Propeil!
ReplyDeleteDo I get a set of Ginsu knives too?
Dear VG,
ReplyDeleteSince I am allergic to fish and seafood I have been taking a flax seed oil supplement to get my omega 3's. Would I be correct in assuming that the Chia seeds would be a superior source of omegas than the oil jells?
I followed the link to Amazon and checked out the variety of Chia available (wow!). It seems there are both black and white Chia seeds. Is one better that the other?
In an earlier post I believe you mentioned some anti-inflammatory properties from chia. How much would be enough to gain some anti-inflammatory benefit?
Thanks!
Yes, for most people, chia can be a good option to flax. It is a whole food source for the EFAs and the minerals it provides which is always a great way to get them.
ReplyDeleteBlack or white, which is better? That's a great question! I asked one to the manufacturers if there what the benefits of one verses the other would be, she smiled and said there was no difference. Seems the supplier ran out and could only provide the white. The marketing department seized the idea and tried to create a new product and demand for same.
Gotta love marketing.
As to dosing, always start with the dose listed on the package. Especially on supplements that contain fiber! (That is definitely not a place for experimentation). You can gradually build to 2-3 ounces a day spread out, of course.
VG