Health Cracker Dont miss Clever Ways to Cut the Calories – Some You Won’t Even Notice!Posted 1 day ago Feeling Tense? Tips to Reduce Your Stress TodayPosted 1 day ago This 1 Weird Food Swap Lowers Blood Pressure Instantly!Posted 2 days ago 5 Tips for Staying Hydrated During Your WorkoutsPosted 4 days ago This Surprising Disease Could Make You DepressedPosted 6 hours ago Home > Diet & Fitness > Weight Loss > Chia Seeds for Weight Loss? The Diet Aztec Secret Doctor Oz Recommends Chia Seeds for Weight Loss? The Diet Aztec Secret Doctor Oz Recommends By Health Cracker+ on August 8, 2013 0 shutterstock_139448666 Most dietitians tell us eating a balanced diet and exercising daily is the key to a slimmer bod, but according to Doctor Oz, there’s a little known secret that could make dieting easier–called chia seeds. “The chia seeds are “super” because, like a superfruit, they deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with minimum calories,” says Lindsey Duncan, nutritionist and expert panelist for DoctorOz. “Chia absorbs up to 12 times its own weight and expands to curb your appetite, so adding just an ounce or so of chia seeds to your diet can reduce caloric intake and help lower the energy density (or calories) of foods, plus double the amount of fiber you receive.” And indeed, these seeds pack a wallop: With only 139 calories per ounce, you’ll also consume ample amounts of good carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and other helpful nutrients such as calcium, shown in previous studies to improve weight loss. But its biggest benefit is its fiber–which, studies note, can reduce a person’s appetite by filling up the stomach faster, despite being relatively low in calories. If you’re trying to lose weight, then chia seeds couldn’t be a sweeter deal. What are Chia Seeds? While chia seeds may be a new commodity in America, it hasn’t always been that way–and in Aztec Mexico, it’s been a prized food for centuries. “Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, grown in Mexico dating back to Mayan and Aztec cultures,” says Kathleen M. Zelman, M.P.H., R.D., L.D., a dietitian and WebMD expert. “Chia means strength, and folklore has it that these cultures used the tiny black and white seeds as an energy booster.” It turns out the Aztecs might have been onto something: Chia seeds are essentially the multivitamin of the American world, containing high amounts of helpful chemicals, such as omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants, calcium, and heart-healthy carbohydrates. And it turns out these little seeds have another effect: When consumed, it expands in the body, causing you to feel fuller faster, mostly thanks to its high fiber content. For the Aztecs, this could help keep hunger satiated during long, grueling hunts–but for the everyday American, this means better appetite suppression. “With nearly 11 grams of fiber per ounce, chia delivers 42% of your recommended daily value of fiber in a single serving,” says Duncan. “Fiber is vital for all aspects of health, and is especially key for weight loss and digestion. Fiber helps slow digestion and makes you feel fuller by soaking up fluid and expanding in your digestive tract.” However, recent evidence says it may not all be up to snuff. A recent study found that those who consumed chia seeds for 12 weeks did not show any changes in weight loss or appetite levels, suggesting that it may not actually be effective for appetite suppression. To make matters worse, another study also found similar results–while it’s packed full of fiber and other good nutrients, chia seeds do little for weight loss. Still, Duncan highly recommends it as a part of a healthy diet program–as well as many nutritionists. Readers: Would you eat chia seeds to help you lose weight? Source:
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 00:43:42 +0000
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