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Posted on Apr 24, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
A seed thought to have been used by Aztecs and Native Americans as a staple part of their diet is growing in popularity as a nutritional supplement.
A seed thought to have been used by Aztecs and Native Americans as a staple part of their diet is growing in popularity as a nutritional supplement.
Chia is a superfood that contains Omega 3, fibre, antioxidants, calcium and iron, among other things and now research has suggested it has numerous health benefits.
A study led by Vladimir Vuksan, associate director at Toronto's St Michael's Hospital's Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre found that chia could help people with diabetes.
Patients with type 2 diabetes consuming the food as a dietary supplement were found to have lowered blood pressure, clotting factors reduced by 20 per cent and a 30 per cent reduction in C-reactive protein.
"You add this to any food, even bad food, and it will improve your health," Dr Vuksan suggested.
Chia helps to reduce the rate at which carbohydrates are converted into sugar. It can be consumed mixed into beverages or made into a gel to be added to food as a nutritional supplement.
