Superfoods / Seeds

Seeds - Superfoods

Chia - flax- hemp heart

Some foods have high nutritional value, while being low in calories. They promote health by increasing immune function and helping reduce the chance of certain diseases.  They are called Superfoods.

These foods are high in one or more of the following health-promoting nutrients:

• Antioxidants - protect cells from damage that causes certain diseases

• Vitamins and Minerals - help your body perform at its best

• Fiber - promotes gastrointestinal health, helps decrease cholesterol, keeps blood sugar levels low, promotes a healthy weight, decreases the risk of heart disease and certain cancers

• Healthy fats - like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, along with MCT(medium chain triglycerides), like lauric acid aid in heart disease prevention, brain health, lowers cholesterol

• Flavonoids - have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties

• Protein - strong immune function, healthy weight, bone health

Some superfood categories are:

• Berries

• Seeds

• Leafy, green vegetables

• Beets

• Garlic

• lentils

• Yogurt and kefir - plain, unsweetened, from pasture raised cows

Seeds are one category that are easy to add to your meals, snacks to make it more nutrient dense. 

Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp hearts are my favorites They are a great addition to your breakfast cereal, to your salads, to your yogurt , to your oatmeal* 

(* made of organic, unprocessed or minimally processed one like steel cut oats - not quick or instant oat that don’t have the slow digesting fiber content necessary to keep your blood sugar levels balanced)

Let's  compare the nutritional value of these 3 seeds:

• Flax seeds have the highest amount of omega 3 polyunsaturated fats and the highest amount of monounsaturated fats - MUFA

• Chia seeds have the highest amount of fiber

• Hemp seeds are the highest in protein

• All of them have a good amount of healthy fats, fiber and protein

Nutrient values in seeds

Note: 15 g is the  portion size of these seeds, except the hemp hearts - their portion size is 30 g, making it a champion, if comparing them by portion sizes.

My cereal always has one or more of these seeds to top its nutritional value and to make it tastier.

What superfood are you going to add to your next meal to make it healthier for your body?