Chia seeds for intestinal regularity
Chia seeds are very rich in fiber and can be a valid aid 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 spoonful of chia seeds in a glass of water at room temperature, after half an hour we will obtain a gelatinous substance that can help clean the intestine and favor regularization .
The gelatinous substance emanating from chia seeds, for this purpose, should preferably be taken in the morning, on an empty stomach. However, we can also use it in the kitchen, for example to thicken soups and creams, or as a vegetable substitute for eggs, to prepare cakes and sweets, such as chia seed muffins.
Even taking the chia seeds without soaking them can help the regularity of the intestine. These, in fact, swell inside the stomach, favoring normal intestinal transit. When consuming chia seeds it is therefore important to drink plenty of water. However, their beneficial effect on the intestine does not end there. In fact, like all foods rich in fiber, chia seeds promote the proliferation and health of intestinal bacterial flora, contributing, once again, to the well-being of the organ.
Chia seeds can be added to salads and soups, or used to decorate cakes, biscuits, bread and muffins. They have a rather neutral taste, which makes them suitable for many types of dishes.
Introduce the chia seeds in the 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 as to be paid as a tribute to the ruling population, while in religious celebrations they were offered to the gods for propitiatory purposes. They were given magical properties and, according to mythology, the Aztecs drew from them the strength to face and win battles.
In Italy, but more generally in Europe, chia seeds are still poorly known. They were admitted to the EU food market quite recently, in October 2009 . You can buy them in health food stores, in specialty food stores and on the web. Recently they have also entered large-scale distribution and can therefore be found even in some well-stocked supermarkets.
Properties and benefits of chia seeds
In addition to the high fiber content, chia seeds are an excellent source of calcium: 100 grams of chia seeds contain 600 milligrams of calcium! 20% of their weight is omega 3 fatty acids.
They also represent an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium and 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 valuable aid not only to the intestine, but also to other functions and other organs: they help to keep cholesterol and sugar levels in the blood under control, they contribute to regulation of blood pressure, help to fight asthenia and fatigue.
