When was the last time you had a seed? No, i'm not talking about the seed from an apple you just ate, nor am I talking about those delicious pumpkin seeds. I'm also not talking about nuts, you'd be surprised how many people still believe a seed is a nut. I'm talking about 3 health boosting seeds that you need to start incorporating into your diet. Have you ever heard the term " Great things come in small packages " ? Well that's the best way I can explain the significance of seeds. They may be tiny, but they pack more in that tiny frame than you can ever imagine! 1. Chia Seeds 60 calories, 3 grams protein, 3 grams fat, and 5 grams carbs per tablespoon. If you're reading this thinking "Is this the same chia seed that I used to make Chia Pets?" the answer is yes! It is in fact, the same seed that sprouts the "hair" on those loveable creepy little Chia pets. But did you know that It's the fiber heavyweight of seeds? Consuming only a tablespoon delivers 5 grams of fiber! When the fiber in chia dances with those digestive liquids of your gut, it's thought that it swells and begins to form a gel. This gel aids in improving blood-sugar control and promotes satiety to help keep your junk-food temptations controlled! 2. Hemp Seeds 57 calories, 3 grams protein, 4 grams fat, and 1 gram carbs per tablespoon. Hemp seeds are highly regarded as the most nutritious seed in the world! Hemp provides a broad source of health benefits including increased energy, weight loss, rapid recovery of disease, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced inflammation and natural blood sugar control. You can see why this seed is so highly regarded in the health community. In general, Hemp seeds are easier to digest than other high protein foods such as eggs, beef, cheese, and whole milk to name a few. They are an excellent source of essential fatty acids such as Omega 3, 6, and GLA(Gamma Linolenic Acid). If you are unable to eat nuts, gluten, lactose or sugar, than Hemp is an excellent alternative as there are no known allergies to Hemp products. 3. Sunflower Seeds 51 calories, 2 grams protein, 4.5 grams fat, and 2 grams carbs per tablespoon. Sunflower seeds are not just for ball players! No, this delicious nutritional snack is filled with cancer preventing properties, and cardiovascular benefits. This seed is an excellent source of Vitamin E, unsaturated fats, and minerals such as magnesium, copper, and manganese. The claim to fame of this seed however is the levels of Vitamin E. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and may improve exercise recovery by reducing oxidative stress in the body. As it has a great source of Selenium, evidence has shown that sunflower seeds induce DNA synthesis in damaged cells of the body; making it a cancer preventing powerhouse!
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