It is an ancient seed once prized by Aztec warriors who would never entertain a conquest without it and considered it a Superfood for endurance. It is a whole food source of pure Omega3, and just recently Dr. Oz featured this dynamic little seed on Oprah recommending it for dietary fiber and omega-3’s.
And you thought chia was only used to sprout “hair” on terra cotta likenesses of sheep, Uncle Charley and Homer Simpson.
Chia, known formally as salvia hispanica, is a remarkably nutritious seed that is power packed with omega-3’s, omega-6 and loaded with high-ORAC antioxidants, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and many trace minerals.
While it is a staple among hikers and mountain climbers, chia seed taken everyday can easily become a dietary essential for anyone who suffers from PCOS by enhancing your energy, stamina and endurance.
Pound for pound, this tiny little seed – about 1 mm in diameter – is chocked full of proteins, oils and dietary fiber. About 34 percent of chia is oil, and 64 percent of that is omega-3, an essential fatty acid.
It’s important to know that our bodies do not produce omega-3. We can only ingest it by eating cold water fish like herring, salmon and sardines or spirulina, pumpkin or chia seeds.
The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of an omega-3 source weekly.
More importantly, chia absorbs more than 12 times its weight in water, prolonging hydration and helping the body regulate body fluids and the absorbtion of nutrients and also maintaining electrolyte balance.
Researchers also believe the gel that forms when chia begins to absorb moisture creates a barrier of sorts between carbohydrates and digestive enzymes, slowing the conversion of carbs to sugar. The decreased conversion rate is the primary factor in increased endurance without the highs and lows, peaks and valleys, normally associated with the process.
PCOS symptoms range broadly, and rarely will one find one “magic pill” for the condition. So it is vitally important to start at the beginning, where the rubber meets the road, with a well balanced, healthy diet.
Incorporating chia, with its abundance of protein, fiber and essential oils, is sound addition to anyone’s diet, no less for those that suffer from PCOS.
Now, go water Uncle Charley’s head.
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