Ch-Ch-Chia... A Superfood That Fuels Your Fitness Plan!

08/08/2012

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Lace up your sneakers! This seed is a tasty treat that give you the nutrients you need to make it through your workout.

The chia seed is a fantastic functional food to consume before and after exercise because they keep you hydrated. The seeds can absorb 10 times their weight in liquid, and they slowly release this liquid back into your body as you run. The best way to consume chia seeds for this purpose is to make a gel out of them. Mix 1/3 cup of chia seeds with two cups of cool water in a jar, screw on the lid tightly and let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for several hours. When you’re preparing for your workout, take several tablespoons of the chia gel. You can mix the gel into juice or water, add it to yogurt or just swallow it down as-is.
  1. Increases energy and stamina
  2. Aids digestion and elimination
  3. Balances blood sugar
  4. Complete sustainable food
  5. High nutritional content
  6. Weight management
Mum's Aztec Chia is an ancient high-nutrient whole food. From the genus Salvia in the mint family and nutty in flavor, its name means ‘oily’, as it is rich in short chain Omega-3 fatty acids. The higher elevations and cooler growing conditions produce optimal crops with higher ALA content. Aztec Chia’s well-earned reputation comes from its dense nutritional profile, which includes an average of 20% protein, 34% oil and 25% both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. Rich in antioxidants: Vitamin E, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and flavinoids:
miricetin, quercetin and kaempferolExcellent source of minerals
including phosphorous, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and copper.
  • Extremely rich in Essential Fatty
    Acids, especially Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.

  • Terrific ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6
    (3:1).

    • Power to this itty bitty seed!



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    The Other F Word as a Matter of FAT!

    10/02/2011

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    Fat is your friend not the enemy. Again, let's get back to the fat phobia epidemic. Here an all-too familiar scenario: My client is venting her frustration about not being able to lose weight. I know she's been working hard, is dedicated to her workouts and extremely aware of her diet. She's eating what appear to be all the right foods--plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain products,  and the occasional grilled chicken breast. Still, she just can't seem to make any noticeable progress. What could be the problem? You may be surprised to learn this client may be too concerned about her diet, especially her fat intake. That's right...Fat. Viewed as "bad" and to be avoided at all cost, fat has become the pariah of the food pyramid in the last several years. The myth abounds that eating fat will directly and immediately result in fat deposits on the hips and thighs and around the middle. Eating fat has even taken on a moral value as many people have begun to equate the amount of fat they consume each day with how little willpower they have. What has been lost in the equation, however, is that eating too little fat can cause serious health problems and lead to an unhealthy obsession with food.
     Why We Need Fat
     Fat is as critical a component of the diet as carbohydrate, protein or water. Fat supplies our bodies with essential fatty acids that can be found only in food. These essential fatty acids help manufacture hormones and nerve cells and are important for carrying and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fat also helps maintain healthy skin and hair; two of the telltale signs of a lack of fat in the diet are dry, brittle hair and scaly skin.
    The simple rule for rating fats is: fats that are liquid at room temperature are more unsaturated than fats that are solid at room temperature. The lower the temperature that a fat becomes solid, the less saturated it is. Wanna know more...Chapter 6 in my book tells all!
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