Chia seeds for intestinal regularity
Chia seeds are very rich in fiber and they can represent a valid help for bowel regularity. Thanks to the high fiber content they are able to absorb a quantity of water equal to 10-12 times their weight, turning into a substance similar to a jelly.
If we soak a tablespoon of chia seeds in a glass of water at room temperature, after half an hour we will get a gel-like substance that can help bowel cleansing and promoting its regularization.
La gelatinous substance that is released from chia seeds, for this purpose, it should preferably be taken at morning, without food. We can, however, also use it in the kitchen, for example to thicken soups and creams, or as vegetable substitute for eggs, to prepare cakes and treats, such as chia seed muffins.
Even taking chia seeds without soaking them can facilitate bowel regularity. These, in fact, swell inside the stomach, favoring normal intestinal transit. When we consume chia seeds it is therefore important to drink plenty of water. Their beneficial effect on the intestine, however, does not end there. Like all foods rich in fiber, in fact, chia seeds promote the proliferation and health of intestinal bacterial flora, once more contributing to the well-being of the organ.
Chia seeds can be added to salads and soups, or used to decorate cakes, cookies, breads and muffins. They have a rather neutral flavor, which makes them suitable for many types of dishes.
Introduce chia seeds to your diet
But… what are chia seeds?
They are the seeds of Salvia hispanica, a floral plant native to Guatemala and Mexico, already cultivated by the Aztecs in pre-Columbian times.
These seeds were considered so precious that they were paid as a tribute by the population to the rulers, while in religious celebrations they were offered to the gods for propitiatory purposes. Magical properties were attributed to him and, according to mythology, the Aztecs they drew from them the strength to face and win battles.
In the country, but more generally in Europe, chia seeds are still poorly known. They have been admitted to the EU food market quite recently, in theOctober 2009. You can buy them in herbalists, in stores specializing in natural food and on the web. They have also recently entered large-scale distribution and can therefore even be found in some well-stocked supermarkets.
Properties and benefits of chia seeds
In addition to the high content of fibers, chia seeds are an excellent source of calcium: 100 grams of chia seeds contain 600 milligrams of calcium! 20% of their weight are omega 3 fatty acids.
They are also an excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium e iron and a good source of magnesium, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine.
Finally, chia seeds are naturally rich in amino acids and antioxidants. Thanks to their composition and their properties, chia seeds represent a precious help not only for the intestine, but also for other functions and other organs: they help to keep blood levels under control. cholesterol and blood sugar, contribute to the regulation of blood pressure, they help fight asthenia and fatigue.
4 ways to add chia seeds to your diet
