Chia Seeds Bone Health, Calcium, and Antioxidants

Strong bones should be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. As people grow older, the skeletal system becomes more prone to progressive weakening and bone related diseases. Staying healthy requires that we get a lot of exercise coupled with a diet rich in healthy food. However, keeping our bones healthy and strong requires making some particularly smart choices with regard to the foods we eat. A diet with a lot of calcium and vitamin D is a good start, but to really maintain good bone health, some additional nutrients are required.

This is where the super food that is the chia seed comes in. They are harvested from the salvia hispanica plant that is native to Central and South America and have been used by natives for thousands of years. The chia seed is one of the most nutrient dense functional foods on the planet, being rich in calcium, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and a whole host of other vitamins and minerals. It is 100% all natural, with no dangerous chemicals or artificial substances added to it whatsoever.

Chia seeds are especially good in providing our bones with high levels of nutrition. When compared with milk, the chia seed contains six times the amount of calcium for every gram consumed. Calcium is known primarily as the element that helps build bones, but it also has other health benefits. Calcium has been shown to help prevent the development of some cancers, and its regular consumption has been linked to greater weight loss among dieters.

Yet for really good bone health, Calcium content on its own is just not enough. Without additional minerals, all that calcium can simply pass through the body unabsorbed. Luckily, chia seeds also contain the element boron, which allows the bones to absorb calcium much more quickly and efficiently. The omega-3 fatty acids that chia seeds are rich in also help promote bone health. These essential fatty acids make it easier for the body to absorb and process fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, & K. Vitamin D in particular is an essential component in maintaining bone health. Omega-3 also has another benefit for the skeletal system: it eases the symptoms and the pain of joint related diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis. Once inside the body, the omega-3 fatty acids convert into various molecules with anti-inflammatory characteristics. Yet maintaining strong and healthy bones is just one of the chia seeds’ many benefits.

Chia seeds are also rich in antioxidants, containing approximately triple the amount that can normally be found in blueberries. Oxidation is a process by which the oxygen molecules in our blood cause the creation free radicals. These free radicals cause damage to the body’s cells, and enough of them can make the body prone to various illnesses and conditions such as heart disease or cancer. Antioxidants are molecules that combat these free radicals, preserving good health at the cellular level. They are even being studied as possible treatments for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. They also have the added advantage of decreasing the physical signs of aging, allowing you outwardly radiate the good health that you enjoy.

The large amounts of nutrition found in chia seeds are also very easy to mix into any diet. They can be eaten on their own, either in their raw, dry form or with water. They can be ground up into flour and baked into various recipes. They can even be turned into a gel and simply added on to any meal or drink. The chia seed’s high level of nutritional value, along with the ease with which it can be integrated into any lifestyle, make it one of nature’s true superfoods.

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