Chia seeds might be tiny but they certainly pack a powerful punch. These magic seeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet and are jam packed with nutrients that benefit your body and your brain.
So here’s the deal…
The chia seed is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia Hispanica. It’s a member of the mint plant and it grows abundantly in Southern Mexico. For centuries the tiny seeds were used as a staple food by Native Indians of South West as well as the Mayans and Aztecs.
In fact, Chia is the ancient Mayan word for strength.
And another thing, Chia seeds provide a huge amount of nutrients with very few calories.
Just one ounce (28g) serving (roughly 2 tablespoons) contains:
- 11 grams fibre
- 9 grams of fat (5 of which are Omega-3’s)
- 4 grams protein
- 30% RDA Magnesium
- 30% RDA Manganese
- 27% RDA Phosphorus
- 18% RDA Calcium
- They also contain good amounts of Vitamin B3, Potassium, Vitamin B1, zinc and Vitamin B2.
Here are just 5 reasons (and there are many more) why you should start to include chia seeds on to your diet.
1.Chia seeds are loaded with Antioxidants.
The best way to fuel your body with antioxidants is to get them straight from a food rather than supplements. Antioxidants fight against free radicals, these free radicals damage molecules in cells and contribute to ageing and diseases like cancer.
2.Chia seeds can help you with weight loss.
Many health experts believe that chia seeds can help with weight loss. Because they contain so much fibre, all the fibre absorbs large amounts of water and expands in the stomach. This can increase fullness and slow down the absorption of food. As they are very high in protein they help to reduce your appetite, food intake and cravings. They also digest slowly which in turn will make you feel fuller for longer.
What’s more, chia seeds will help you to eat less but also increase your activity level. Research shows that these mighty seeds when eaten regularly can increase your metabolism and help you burn fat faster. It’s a win win.
3. Chia seeds can seriously help diabetes:
This is how… taking chia seeds can help your body regulate carbohydrates and the sugars they turn into. When ingested, they form a type of barrier inside the stomach. This barrier helps to slow down ingestion of sugar into your bloodstream. Naturally if you have diabetes this can help regulate your sugar levels.
4. Chia seeds will increases your energy levels
A recent study concluded that consuming chia seeds enhanced exercise performance during workouts that lasted 90 minutes, the same way a sports drink would. Of course the sports drink is full of sugar (and usually chemicals).
What’s more…in the book Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall, he talks about the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico and their incredible ability to run long distances of more than 100 miles on nothing more than chia seeds in water, as fuel.
5. Chia seeds are easy to digest.
So remember how I mentioned that chia seeds were high in fibre and that meant they can absorb a lot of water… well because of this, chia seeds can prolong hydration and improve your nutrient absorption of electrolytes.
Also when you consume chia seeds they create a gelatin-like substance in your stomach. This gel-forming action is due to the soluble fibre in them and it can work as a prebiotic supporting the growth of probiotics in your gut.
Here’s another thing, studies have shown that ground chia seeds provide the most digestible protein content. Soaked and raw chia seeds are easily digested too but ground is the best way.
One more thing… It’s important.
Chia seeds are rich in a type of phytoestrogens called lignans. This means that people that have hormonal imbalances may want to limit their intake of chia seeds. If you have any concerns about your chia seed intake, please consult your natural health provider.
having said that, there’s no clinical evidence that healthy people are at risk of developing hormonal imbalances from consuming chia seeds in normal amounts.
Here’s how you start… one of the easiest ways to start including chia seeds into your diet is to add them into a smoothie and there are a couple of ways to go about this.
Either you can soak the seeds for about 10-15 minutes right before you blend them. The soaked seeds becomes very gelatinous and blend up well in a high speed blender.
Another way is for you to put them in a coffee grinder and make powder. You could even grind enough up for the whole week. If you decide to use them this way just make sure to add a little water to your blender and make sure to drink your smoothie right away. If you let your smoothie sit then the fiber in the chia seeds might absorb the water in your smoothie turning it into a gelatinous blob.
Why not try now by adding Chia Seed to this delicious green smoothie:
Green Goddess smoothie:
- 1/2 cup of water.
- ½ cup almond milk
- Juice of ½ lime.
- 2 tbs of mint
- 2 cups of fresh chopped pineapple
- 1 banana frozen or fresh
- 1 cup of spinach or kale
I’ll leave you with this little tip – blend the greens and the liquid together first until all the greens are well blended. Then add the fruit.
1. Conditioner
Coconut oil is totally entirely free of those frightening compounds that predominate in commercial hair goods, also is an superb conditioner, for all sorts of hair. As per a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Medicine, coconut oil outside modulates eucalyptus oil and mineral oil, also is the sole oil which reduces protein reduction. (1) Prevent all beauty products which include mineral oil, particularly for kids.
It’s the protein reduction in hair that contributes to breakage and dryness. The malic acid contains a low molecular weight, and can really penetrate the hair shaft, so nourishing the hair using vitamins, minerals as well as also the medium-chain fatty acids.
Coconut oil will help to avoid harm from cleaning and combing, and it’s safe to use in your kids. It may be utilized as a septic purifier, or utilized within an intensive conditioner to get a few hours, or even overnight. The real trick to utilizing all pure coconut oil since a hair thinning hair , is locating the proper amount to your hairloss. A bit goes a very long way.
TO CONDITION:
For short hair, then begin with only a 1/4 tsp, heated on your hands. For more, thicker hair, then you might need as much as some 1/2 tbsp. You wish to use on slimmer hair, since it may weigh down hair if too much is used. Pay special attention to endings and the rotating shaft of the hairfollicles. Smooth through hairand move to fashion as normal.
For example an additional osmosis to revive hair, following washing with a mild all-natural shampoo, then use 1 tsp (for short hair), two tsp (for shoulder length hair) plus one tbsp (for long hair) after heating from the hands of your palms. Apply to hair ends and shaft, then rub into the scalp. Cover with a shower cap, and leave for 1-2 hoursor even overnight. Wash with mild shampoo, and style as normal.
For dry or damaged hair, then add a few drops of sandalwood essential oil or geranium essential oil to both leave-in and consuming coconut oil to hair removal therapies. These crucial oils encourage moisture retention, also operate to raise the cleansing and moisturizing impacts of the coconut oil to the hair.
2. Hair Development
Coconut oil is a very secure, powerful, and reasonably inexpensive alternative for those who have thinning hairloss. It may really help increase hair, thicker and longer. The vital nutrients such as the thyroid gland, disrupts the hair shaft enhancing the total health of the hairfollicles.
The wellness of baldness is frequently due to inner problems, and integrating natural baldness remedies can help. Foods packed with Omega-3 carbohydrates, pumpkinseeds, chia, and flax seeds, and green tea, along with all help encourage wholesome hair growth, from the interior. Before attempting prescription hair development preparations which just work for 50 percent of people (two ) and just works with continuing use, alter your diet plan, also use coconut oil for hair styling and conditioning. The harsh substances can lead to scalp irritation and even hair development where hair isn’t desirable.
HAIR GROWTH TREATMENT:
When massaged into your scalp, coconut oil will help improve blood flow, encouraging hair development. It’s necessary to massage the coconut oil to your scalp with mild pressure for 10 minutes, three or four times each week. If you would like to just concentrate on hair elimination and hair development, you may just need 1 tsp.
But if you would like the advantages of a deep conditioning, then follow the steps below. Rather than using sandalwood essential oil, then add 4 drops of lavender essential oil, that is proven to improve fresh hair growth around 20%. Rosemary oil also can help increase blood circulation in the scalp, and if combined with coconut oil may create excellent results.
Once massaging the oils to your scalp for 10 minutes, then put a shower cap , and make it possible for the warmth of the human body to operate together with all the oils to improve skin health. Follow using a mild cleaner such as my Homemade Rosemary Mint Shampoo. It smells fantastic, and so it is mild on all hair styles.
Loaded with vitamin K and vitamin E, coconut oil will help reduce dandruffand create hair follicles wholesome. These remedies aren’t simply for thinning hairif you’re having baldness whilst washing, cleaning, or fashion, these remedies with essential oils might provide help.
3. Dandruff
Individuals have used coconut oil to skin for centuries to fight dandruff. This unpleasant, and frequently itchy, illness may be brought on by dry skin ailments and sensitivity into the harsh substances in hair care products, and generally yeast-like fungal (Malassezia) infections. (3)
Coconut oil medium-chain fatty acids such as ellagic acid and capric acid, possess powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antifungal properties that goal the uterus and help kill it as well as germs and bacteria which could be lurking on your own scalp.
Several over-the-counter and prescription dandruff shampoos may in fact make dandruff worse, and do not resolve the main cause of this flakiness. In the event the issue is fungal, or in the event the issue is dry skin, topical programs of coconut oil is likely to create a difference.
Many industrial shampoos contain chemicals which are dangerous. Included in these are parabens, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and several more. Dandruff shampoos are much worse, and comprise ammonium laureth sulfate, magnesium aluminium silicate, and selenium sulfide.
And nearly all the moment, these trainings just don’t get the job done. The target is to earn the scalp fitter, free of alopecia, and sterile, to put a stop to dandruff. Fixing using coconut oil won’t earn dandruff go away immediately, but a lot of them can view results in only a week or so.
TO TREAT DANDRUFF:
Essential oils such as lavender, wintergreen, thyme, and tea tree oil, helps to resist yeast and parasite. For an intensive dandruff therapy, after washing , combine 2 tsp of coconut oil using 5 drops of a few of these oils mentioned previously, or a mix, and massage to scalp.
Make sure you actually work the mixture to your scalp, from forehead, and behind the ears. Cover with a shower cap, and when at all possible sit in sunlight to get 20-30 minutes to grow the warmth, or just use a hair dryer on a low setting to warm the cap.
Remove cap, and then wash with a mild all-natural shampoo. Repeat this two to three times each week, or more frequently, as wanted. Like using all the elimination or hair growth therapy, you can make it overnight. Just make sure you use the bathtub cap to prevent staining mattress linens.
4. Styling
Yes, even coconut oil is a fantastic styling representative, also free of the harmful chemicals in traditional hair care products! This is among the most overlooked coconut oil for hair applications. Hair dryers, flat irons, hot rollers, and curling irons waive the moisture from their hair shaft causing it to become brittle and more prone to glow.
Coconut oil will help prevent this kind of thermal damage, especially if used in the appropriate amount to the hair length and texture, tames fly aways, frizz, and much more. Individuals with thick curled hair frequently struggle frizz in humid environments. Coconut oil will help tame the frizz, by entering the curls. It may be implemented throughout the day to get touch-ups, just make sure you use it .
TO TAME FRIZZ:
Begin with a very small amount (1/4 tsp — 1 tsp ) based on heat, hair in hands. Smooth from origin to suggestions, and blow dry and style as desired. It’ll take a little more time to wash your hair, but it’s going to be soft, shiny, and manageable.
Disguise split ends, and nourish them in precisely exactly the exact identical time using a very small little coconut oil onto just the endings.
TO PROTECT FROM THE SUN:
Hair, for example skin, is more prone to sun damage. Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer, using an SPF of 8. (4) if you’re arranging a day outside in sunlight, use it like a osmosis purifier for all day protection. And, as you’re at it, then utilize it on exposed skin too. Coconut oil is a very safe and effective sunscreen for kids and grownups alike.
TO DETANGLE:
Detangling hair really is a job; also may frequently bring about breakage. Coconut oil enhances hair break anxiety by penetrating the hair shaft. (5) Additionally, it surrounds your hair, also makes it a lot simpler to eliminate knots after washingor in the evenings. Smooth a small amount through the hair, paying special attention to tangled locations and damaged ends. Utilize a wide-tooth comb, beginning from the bottom, and then gradually work your way upward.
Using coconut oil to hair frequently will enhance the total wellness of the hairfollicles, also help prevent tangles. If tangled hair really is a continuous issue, trimming the harm finishes will provide help.
Be aware: If you’ve got fine or thin hair, then use coconut oil to hair . In addition, do not use it to the scalp since this may weigh the hair down.
5. Lice Prevention & Lice Treatment
Among the greatest applications of coconut oil to hair would be in the prevention and treatment of lice! As per a study published in the Western Journal of Pediatrics, mix of coconut oil and anise spray is much better, compared to widely used pharmaceutical lice therapy permethrin. (6)
In reality, from the controlled research, the coconut oil based spray had been 82% effective and also the permethrin was just 42% effective, and 33 of the 50 participants reported baldness when after the traditional therapy.
Still another study published in the Israel Medical Association Journal found higher achievement, though they included ylang ylang oil into the olive oil along with anise oil mix. The therapy was effective in 92.3percent of kids and caused no severe side effects. (7)
Since coconut oil hydrates the hair shaft, and the scalp, also it is helpful to repel fleas and will continue to keep their own eggs from attaching to your own hair. With the inclusion of essential oils such as ylang ylang, tea tree, along with anise, lice do not have a opportunity.
LICE TREATMENT:
To maintain lice , use coconut oil as stated previously as a leave-in hair purifier, or even to detangle and fashion hair. When there’s an invasion of lice, combine 3 tbsp of coconut oil 1 tsp of every ylang ylang, anise, and tea tree oils. Double the recipe to get more hairthis ought to be sufficient for shoulder-length hairloss.
Put on the solution all around the entire scalp, massage , and pulling the endings. Comb through the hair with a fine toothcomb. Cover at a shower cap, and let them sit for two hours. If at all you can, sit in sunlight or use a hair drier to occasionally warm the cap up. Gently remove shower cap, and then seal zip lock bag for refuge.
In the end of two hourscomb hair once more, before washing and rinsing completely, double. While hair is still moist, mix 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and one cup water in a little spray bottle. Saturate your hair, spraying 1/2 the jar on the hair and scalp. Lean over the sink and then pour the rest of the mixture over your entire scalp, massaging gently.
Rinse completely and comb hair again using a fine toothcomb. Follow with a light use of coconut oil, then cover with a shower cap, or design as desirable, and let them remain on your hair before washing.
Just like the majority of lice remedies, the procedure has to be repeated every 5-10 days for a few weeks. This will help to make sure that all mammals, along with their eggs have been eradicated. Between remedies, comb hair and night using a fine toothcomb, also use coconut oil as a osmosis purifier.
As coconut oil repels and kills warts, in the very first telling of a lice epidemic, begin using coconut oil as a osmosis purifier.
Coconut Oil Shampoo
This is just one of my preferred coconut oil shampoo recipes, so which can leave your hair feeling soft and healthy. As every individual’s hair differs, don’t hesitate to correct the coconut oil amount to fit your hair requirements. For good hair you will lessen the coconut oil level as required to 1/4 cupand for thick wavy or dry hair, then you might have to grow this quantity or add a couple drops of coconut acrylic too.
Coconut shampoo
1 cup liquid castile soap
1/3 cup canned coconut milk
1/3 cup coconut oil
50-60 drops of favourite essential oils
Melt olive oil and coconut milk together over very low heat, so as not to harm any of those nutrients. Pour into a jar with a secure lid, and shirt with all the castile soap. Shake well. And , shake more. Insert 50 drops of your favourite essential oils, and then shake .
Excellent basic oils for hair contain lavender, wild strawberry, orange, lemongrass, lavender, clary sage, and lavender.
This shampoo won’t be too thick as firm shampoos; squeeze hair straight from the bottle. Wash, and wash well.
CoconutOil Conditioner
2/3 cup coconut oil
1 tbsp vitamin E oil
1 tbsp Jojoba oil
10 drops of your chosen essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a bowl using a hand mixer till well blended. This might take several moments. You need a smooth and creamy osmosis. From the showerafter washing with Coconut Oil Shampoo, use a two or 2 and smooth . Let me penetrate hair for the rest of your own bathtub, and then rinse really well.
Be aware: If you colour your hair, particularly red, coconut oil can fade the colour. For many hair styles and colours, it won’t.
BONUS: Coconut oil is a fantastic foundation for natural hair colours as it disrupts the hair shaft. For darker hair, combine 2 tbsp of coconut oil 1 cup of coffee, using 1 tbsp of grounds that are spent, and apply to your the hair. Let me sit for 45 — 60 seconds, the longer you leave it, the darker the outcomes. Rinse well and style as desired.
For blond hairor to add subtle highlights, then combine 1/2 cup of chamomile tea, then 1/4 cup fresh lemon juiceand 1/4 cup coconut oil in a blender . Apply to roots and hair and cover with a shower cap. Sit in sunlight, or use a hair drier to maintain the cap warm for about 45 minutes to 75 minutes. Drink well.
Shopping to Coconut Oil
Using coconut oil to hair is just one of the greatest things that you can do in order to steer clear of harmful chemicals which are in several business hair care solutions. Protect hair from all the elements, keep it powerful, shinier, shiny, and manageable using coconut oil for styling, conditioning, hair development, to eliminate dandruff, and cure warts.
Start looking for additional virgin organic coconut oil when you open the jar, then the odor must remind one of fresh coconuts.
