Chia Seeds for Athletes, Energy, and Survival

Athletes are expected to meet the highest levels of performance, often pushing the human body to the very limit of its endurance. In order to meet these demands, they train their minds and bodies to be in the best shape they can possibly be. A well thought out and balanced diet is part of any serious athlete’s training or fitness regimen. A diet such as this should be crammed with as much nutrition as possible. This means employing nature’s superfoods to their fullest extent. And no other super food is as densely packed with nutrients and essential fatty acids as the chia seed.

Taken from the salvia hispanica plants that originated in Central and South America, chia seeds have been used to improve endurance, enhance stamina, and prolong hydration since the days of ancient Aztec and Mayan civilization. Its unique water absorption qualities cause it to form a gel when mixed with water either before consumption or once inside the digestive system. This gel, composed mainly of dietary fiber, has many special properties. First of all, it holds large quantities of water, up to 10 times the dry weight of the seeds consumed. Keeping the water in gel form allows more of it to be stored by the body and used more efficiently. And water isn’t the only thing that gelled chia seeds regulate more efficiently.

The fiber component of the gel effectively creates a barrier between any consumed carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that turn them into sugar. This effectively regulates the body’s metabolism, with the steady flow of sugar into the blood stream allowing for a more efficient and prolonged source of energy. Not only can athletes benefit from this long and steady stream of energy, but diabetics can take advantage of this ability to help maintain blood sugar levels.

Energy, stamina and hydration are only a small part of what chia seeds have to offer to athletes and fitness buffs. The seeds are rich in protein, which helps heal injuries and build muscle mass at a faster rate. The calcium content of chia seeds surpasses that of milk 6 times to 1 gram for gram. It also contains boron, which facilitates the faster absorption of all that calcium.

Super food that it is, the chia seed’s benefits do not stop with its significant muscle and bone building capabilities. They are also a prime source of essential fatty acids in the form of omega-3. These fatty acids not only speed up the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, they protect the body’s organs as well. Omega-3’s cardiovascular and circulatory benefits are well documented by the scientific community. These essential fatty acids also have the added advantage of maintaining the health of the brain, going as far as to protect it from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Given all of the chia seed’s remarkable health benefits, it should come as no surprise that it also makes an excellent survival food. The seeds themselves are very lightweight in their dry, raw form, and they are so full of nutrients that as little as a single spoonful of chia seeds is enough to sustain a person for an entire day. In fact, ancient Aztec and Mayan warriors carried nothing but chia seeds with them for sustenance, and would trek through jungles for days without needing any additional supplies. The warriors were also sure to consume the seeds with water just before going off into battle, confident that the chia seeds would help power them on to victory.

Just as ancient warriors depended on chia seeds for improving their stamina, endurance, and overall performance, so do modern athletes take advantage of these same benefits for their victories in peaceful contests. It should be kept in mind that all the health benefits of the chia seed are available not just to athletes but for anyone who is hoping to adapt a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

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