Chia Seeds

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are conventional foods in Central and South America, providing good sources of omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acids (ALA), and dietary fiber.1,2 Phenolic acids and isoflavones are also contained in chia seeds.3

Health Benefits

Consumption of chia seeds may increase blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, ALA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), in postmenopausal women.3,4 Chia seeds may aid in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart health.1,3-7 Chia Seeds also show antioxidant activity.8 In a preclinical study, chia seeds improved insulin resistance and dyslipidemia as compared to corn oil.9

References

  1. Mohd Ali N, Yeap SK, Ho WY, Beh BK, Tan SW, Tan SG. The promising future of chia, Salvia hispanica L. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012;2012:171956. doi: 10.1155/2012/171956. Epub 2012 Nov 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 23251075; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3518271.
  2. Coorey R, Tjoe A, Jayasena V. Gelling properties of chia seed and flour. J Food Sci. 2014 May;79(5):E859-66. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.12444. Epub 2014 Apr 15. PubMed PMID: 24734892.
  3. Jin F, Nieman DC, Sha W, Xie G, Qiu Y, Jia W. Supplementation of milled chia seeds increases plasma ALA and EPA in postmenopausal women. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2012 Jun;67(2):105-10. doi: 10.1007/s11130-012-0286-0. PubMed PMID: 22538527.
  4. Nieman DC, Gillitt N, Jin F, Henson DA, Kennerly K, Shanely RA, Ore B, Su M, Schwartz S. Chia seed supplementation and disease risk factors in overweight women: a metabolomics investigation. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jul;18(7):700-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0443. PubMed PMID: 22830971.
  5. Ulbricht C, Chao W, Nummy K, Rusie E, Tanguay-Colucci S, Iannuzzi CM, Plammoottil JB, Varghese M, Weissner W. Chia (Salvia hispanica): a systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. Rev Recent Clin Trials. 2009 Sep;4(3):168-74. PubMed PMID: 20028328.
  6. Toscano LT, da Silva CS, Toscano LT, de Almeida AE, Santos Ada C, Silva AS. Chia flour supplementation reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2014 Dec;69(4):392-8. doi: 10.1007/s11130-014-0452-7. PubMed PMID: 25403867.
  7. Tavares Toscano L, Tavares Toscano L, Leite Tavares R, Oliveira Silva CS, Silva AS. Chia induces clinically discrete weight loss and improves lipid profile only in altered previous values. Nutr Hosp. 2014 Dec 14;31(3):1176-82. doi:3305/nh. 2015. 31.3. 8242. PubMed PMID: 25726210.
  8. Martínez-Cruz O, Paredes-López O. Phytochemical profile and nutraceutical potential of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr A. 2014 Jun 13;1346:43-8. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.04.007. Epub 2014 Apr 13. PubMed PMID: 24811150.
  9. Oliva ME, Ferreira MR, Chicco A, Lombardo YB. Dietary Salba (Salvia hispanica L) seed rich in α-linolenic acid improves adipose tissue dysfunction and the altered skeletal muscle glucose and lipid metabolism in dyslipidemic insulin-resistant rats. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2013 Oct;89(5):279-89. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa. 09.010. Epub 2013 Sep 25. PubMed PMID: 24120122.