Even convinced skeptics who consider traditional medicine the day before yesterday and grandmother's superstitions resort to herbal treatment. Natural plant components are present in medicines of traditional physicians. In principle, tea with lemon for colds or rosehip infusions, taken by the kidneys, are all widely used methods that can be safely attributed to the healers. So why not pay closer attention to other beneficial plants? For example, on chia seeds.
What is it and where does it live
This herb is a close relative of our familiar sage (which, incidentally, is widely and variably used in folk medicine). Even its second name is similar to ours - Spanish sage. But if in the native plant grassy “details” are mainly demanded, then seeds are valuable in its foreign “brother”. Chia gives small grains with a faint smell and taste resembling nuts.
In our latitudes, Spanish sage does not grow, the climate is not suitable. His homeland is Guatemala and Mexico, and there he is still cultivated.
Legacy of the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs
The legendary Native American peoples, considered highly civilized for their time, knew and appreciated chia seeds. The beneficial properties of these grains gave tribal warriors unprecedented stamina and almost inhuman strength. In campaigns and battles, it was enough to shake this miracle cure for a whole day, so as not to suffer from a lack of water and exhaustion.
But in everyday life, chia seeds were used very widely. In the third millennium BC they were consumed as food as often as beans, corn, or amaranth. At the same time, the gifts of the Spanish sage carried a religious burden. They were sacrificed to the gods, they were willingly accepted as taxes, the capital of the Aztec empire received a huge amount of these grains as a tribute. Chia seeds were part of the medicinal preparations, of which they ground the flour, squeezed the oil, and the makukha went to cosmetics.
However, in the early 16th century, the conquistadors, trying to weaken the Indian tribes, destroyed the crops of Spanish sage almost completely. And for the long five centuries he was practically forgotten.
Revival of former glory
Mention of the miraculous properties endowed with chia seeds remained in many ancient manuscripts. In the second half of the 20th century, a whole program was founded, the aim of which was the search for a mysterious plant. One of the expeditions operating under this program found small plant colonies in the inaccessible mountains of Guatemala and Mexico. The Argentines, the brothers Mill and other fans of the miracle grass, have been selecting survivors for 15 years, and by 2006 the plant again entered the world stage. And in the 9th year of the current millennium, it was recognized by the European Union as a food product. Now chia seeds can be officially used on equal terms for baking (with a mass fraction of up to 5%).
Therapeutic and nutritional characteristics
The abundance of healing qualities inherent in this plant and its grains is simply amazing. So, chia seeds, reviews of which are multiplying every day (and only positive!), Are absorbed by the body without any difficulty, they do not contain gluten, they do not cause allergies and can be stored without losing their properties for many years. Moreover, no conservation is needed for storage.
In addition, the seeds of Spanish sage for a fifth of their weight consist of high-grade protein, which is simply indispensable for athletes, people of "heavy" professions and vegetarians. And when you consider that the protein component contains all the amino acids necessary for a normal existence, you begin to appreciate chia even more. Reviews of people who refused animal food are simply enthusiastic.
Those who are aware of the benefits of unsaturated fats and regularly consume marine fish in order to obtain them will also be delighted with chia seeds. In their oil, the content of omega (both 3 and 6) reaches 60%, while in the cod liver, which was considered the record holder, only 20%, and in the most saturated seaweed - 40%.
In Mexican sage, cholesterol is completely absent, and the plant itself is actively fighting it. As a result of drinking chia, the pressure becomes normal, plaques in the vessels stop growing and begin to dissolve, and the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes decreases. At the same time, the seeds supply calcium to the body, and in quantities five times higher than those that can give milk. People with brittle bones may no longer be afraid of osteoporosis.
And vitamin complexes are not necessary!
Unbalanced nutrition has long led most of humanity to the need to restore the deficiency of trace elements with the help of tablets. And then chia can come to the rescue (photo in the article). It contains phosphorus (for the nervous system), potassium (for the normal functioning of the heart), zinc (for immunity and the ability to multiply), magnesium and iron (for hematopoiesis) in doses needed by the body. But in the seeds there is also manganese, molybdenum and copper, without which the endocrine system, as they say, will be spread.
Trace is not limited to. Chia seeds are able to provide a person with B and A vitamins, which are responsible for the proper functioning of the heart, nerves, blood vessels and metabolism. Plus, these same grains are the strongest antioxidants that slow down the overall aging of a person.
Natural Gift for Losing Weight
No less valuable chia seeds for weight loss. This is explained by the unique property of grains to absorb water, the amount of which is a dozen times their own weight. It is enough to pour a teaspoon of seeds into a glass of clean water and leave there for half an hour. As a result, you get a viscous liquid similar to jelly. Drink it! Having reached the stomach, this "gel" will create an insurmountable obstacle between food and enzymes. As a result, the process of assimilation of food will slow down significantly, the metabolism becomes constant in time, and not convulsive and accelerated. At the same time, the feeling of satiety remains much longer, a person begins to eat less often and in smaller quantities, and his body gets used to new, reduced or more time-spaced portions.
By the way, this property is equally useful for diabetics. Carbohydrates obtained with food are fermented much more gradually, which helps to keep blood sugar at a low level for a long time. For the prevention and control of "sugar disease" this is very important.
Both children and adults
As a substitute for chemical vitamins, chia seeds have already been considered. However, they have one more indisputable advantage: they contribute to the rapid regeneration of damaged tissues and the overall growth and development of the body. This invaluable property is equally useful for women after childbirth and their children. Especially if you think about their hypoallergenicity! Indeed, the risk of allergies in newborns in recent decades is very high, and young mothers limit themselves very much in order to avoid childhood diathesis. And so, with mom everything is quickly restored, and the child receives the necessary trace elements and does not receive any allergic reactions.
Athletes willingly use these same qualities - to regenerate and restore. Chia seeds perfectly relieve fatigue and muscle pain (the so-called “krepatura”), stimulate the restoration of bones and soft tissues after injuries and increase the physical data of those involved in sports.
Preventive use
If you are only interested in the healing side of chia, just eat a couple teaspoons of seeds per day. They do not require pre-treatment, you can eat like sunflower seeds. And you can add to salads (both vegetable and fruit), in the first and second courses, make cocktails based on juices with them, eat with muesli or yoghurts. If desired, in the process of making porridge, you can add chia seeds to it, but you risk losing some of the useful qualities. So it’s better to choose what is not exposed to heat as a “support”
Delicious recipes for those who are not familiar with chia
Those who want both benefits and “snacks” can make the next cocktail. It is called a Banana Smoothie. For 2 small spoons of chia seeds we take 2 tangerines (can be replaced with mango or pear), a teaspoon of soaked mulberry and half a glass of water. Beat in a blender and drink a delicious and healthy morning drink. If you add muesli there, you get a full breakfast.
If you have great things to do, or you have experienced great physical or mental stress, make an energy specialist. Seeds, however, will have to be soaked overnight to make jelly. Add a couple of tablespoons of lime juice, the same amount of honey and two glasses of water. We put the blender in motion again and the invigorating mixture is ready for use.
It remains to understand the question, how much and where to buy chia. There are shops specializing in spices. Recently, these seeds have been in them frequently. However, immediately prepare for the costs, because the pleasure is not too cheap. The price depends on the volume of packaging and the manufacturer, but you will not be able to pay less than 300 rubles. However, it's worth it!