Chia seeds have been very popular the past few years and have been touted the superfoods of modern days. A lot of health conscious people and athletes have been buying them from supermarkets. Athletes swear by them and say that chia seeds give them more nutrients and help them perform better. So, for runners, can chia seeds help you run longer and faster?
What Exactly Is Chia?
Chia seeds are edible seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica, it is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to South America. Chia seeds are sometimes referred to as ‘the running food’ because of how they supposedly give you more stamina and hydration during runs.
Do you remember the Tarahumara people in this book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall which I reviewed a few weeks back? You can click here to read a review if you missed it. The Tarahumara people are said to run from settlements to settlements with this drink of water mixed with chia seeds. This drink was thought to be the main energy source of why they can run such a long distance without tiring.
Nutrients Of Chia Seeds
Chia Seeds contain a huge amount of nutrients with very few calories, which explains why it is so popular for modern people who are more health conscious.
Chia seeds are a whole-grain food that can be absorbed by the body as seeds. One ounce (about 2 tablespoons) contains 139 calories, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams fat (some are omega-3), 12 grams carbohydrates and 11 grams of fiber, not forgetting zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin), potassium, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2.
Wow, that is a mouthful of nutrients for something so small, fascinating isn’t it?
How To Eat Chia Seeds?
Chia Seeds are almost tasteless, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular because it can be easily added to other food and you probably won’t even notice them. Many people like to mix chia seeds into part of their breakfast because it is very simple. In fact, there are many recipes online that you can find if you are interested to add chia seeds into your diet.
Below are some easy recipes for you to try.
Oatmeals - Adding chia seeds to oatmeal is one very easy way of eating them. Simply add in a two tablespoon of chia seeds, stir and you are ready to go.
Yoghurt - Chia seeds can make a great yoghurt topping. Adding in some chia seeds can give your yoghurt a bit of texture.
Milkshake - One of my favourite recipes! Chia seeds in milkshakes can give them a smooth, rich texture that you can be tempted to add them to all milkshakes you make.
Conclusion
Chia seeds can offer runners a healthy dose of stamina and endurance. Furthermore, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of exercise-induced muscle damage that is very common among runners.
Can chia seeds help you run longer and faster? Give these chia seeds recipes a go and see if they really work. Share with us your experiences with chia seeds and comment below if you have any awesome recipes to share with us!
Cheers and Start Running Today
Will
