Benefits of Chia Seeds: Five Reasons to Incorporate them Into Your Diet

Chia seeds are a super food that can provide many benefits to those who consume them on a regular basis. In fact, the peoples of South America (where chia seeds originate) have known the benefits of consuming chia seeds for hundreds of years, and they were even a staple in Mayan and Aztec diets. Today, they draw the attention of many health food junkies due to the benefits they can provide, as well as the various ways in which they can be used in cooking. While there are numerous benefits of consuming chia seeds, here are the top five reasons to eat them.

1. Great Source of Fiber: Consuming the proper amount of fiber is vital to one’s health, as fiber is associated with lowering cholesterol and regulating bowel function. Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber, containing 10 grams in only 2 tablespoons, which is about one-third of the recommended daily fiber intake. Eating chia is thusly an easy way to incorporate more fiber into your diet.
2. Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Chia seeds are rich in unsaturated fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, chia seeds are one of the richest plant based sources of omega-3s. Why is consuming omega-3 fatty acids important? Consuming these unsaturated fats can help to reduce cholesterol and can even help to enhance cognitive function.
3. Chia Seeds are Filling: Eating chia seeds helps one to feel full and satisfied after a meal. This helps to cut down on cravings and snacking in between meals. This can help with weight management, and can help to improve one’s overall health as it helps to prevent overindulging in unnecessary food.
4. They are Full of Minerals and Nutrients: Two tablespoons of chia seeds contains roughly 18 percent of the daily recommended intake of calcium, 24 percent for magnesium, and roughly fifty percent of the daily recommended intake of manganese. These nutrients can help to prevent high blood pressure (hypertension), and can help you to maintain a healthy weight by improving your metabolism.
5. Chia Seeds Help with Blood Sugar Regulation: Chia seeds can help those with diabetes by helping to regulate the insulin levels in their body. They do this by helping to decrease abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood.

Chia seeds truly are a super food that can provide many benefits to those who incorporate them into their diet. Contact us to find out about more of the amazing benefits of consuming chia seeds, as well as to find out ways you can incorporate them into your diet.

The Keys to Healthy Vending Machine Snacking

Vending machines aren't the first thing that people think of when someone says health food, but just because you're headed to the breakroom for a mid-afternoon snack doesn't mean you can't beat the munchies and nourish your body at the same time.

The key to a healthy vending machine experience is forethought. Try to find something that is low (or moderate) in calorie count, but still filling.
Here are a few tips to keep your trip to the vending machine from being a diet disaster.

Fiber keeps you full, and can help to keep the glycemic index down to boot, so look for whole grain options.

Protein is another gut-pleaser. Like fiber, it will keep you full longer, so you can avoid additional trips to the vending machine, or worse, a quick stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home. Look for seeds and nuts for a quick protein boost in a low-cholesterol package.

Beware of empty calories. Sugar-laden candy and processed baked goods can leave you hungry for more even after you've consumed as much as 300 calories! No nutritional value here. Look for something that not only has some fiber to keep you full, but also a dose of the good stuff. How about our organic blue corn ships infused with chia? They're packed with omega-3, essential amino acits, and calcium. There's nothing empty about this snack!

Avoid sodium traps. Processed foods account for most o f our sodium consumption. Skip the salty potato chips and the leathery, sodium-riddled beef jerkey. Fortunately, the gourmet Hawaiian sea salt that we use on our chips is astonishingly low in sodium content.

Bottom line: take just a minute to consider your options when you're standing in front of the vending machine. With the right snack choice, the afternoon craving can be conquered!

Have a healthy vending machine story? Let us know all about it.

The Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are not just for chia pets anymore. This ancient Mayan seed is the new super food, and a key ingredient in our Blue Tor"chia" Chips. So what are the benefits of chia seeds? These tiny seeds pack a big nutritional punch. Here are some of the ways they work their health magic:

Add healthy Omega-3 oil to your diet

Chia seeds are the richest plant-source of this healthy oil. We love the ocean, and everything that lives in it. Chia seeds are a way to get this essential oil without harming any of the ocean's residents. In fact, chia seeds contain even more Omega-3 than salmon. This oil is important in maintaining heart and cholesterol health, and has even been targeted as a weight-loss helper.

Feel more energized all day long

Chia is also one of nature's highest plant-based sources of complete protein. Usually protein from other plant-based sources is incomplete, meaning you have to balance it with protein from other sources to get the full effect. But with chia seeds, it's protein is complete enough to give you steady energy all day long.

Get the calcium and fiber your body needs

Many Americans do not get enough calcium. Chia seeds deliver up to five times more calcium than milk! Snacking on a chip with chia seeds can actually contribute to keeping your bones strong and healthy. Bonus! Chia seeds also deliver 42% of your daily recommended dose of fiber per ounce. Fiber is vital for all aspects of health, and is especially key for weight loss and digestion. And it's another one of those things that we just don't get enough of. 

And do you know what's really incredible about chia seeds? You get all of these health benefits and great flavor. Chia seeds actually enhance the natural flavors of whatever item they are used in. So they give our organic blue chips an extra nutty and delicious flavor.

To find out more about how you can snack your way to health, please feel free to contact us.