Chia Seeds or Flax Seeds: Which Seed is a Fiber Champion for Digestion?

Chia seeds are derived from a flowering plant in the mint family found in the Mexico and the southwestern United States. Flax, or linseed comes from a cultivated plant that was domesticated in the middle east and dates back to the paleolithic area. It was used extensively in ancient Egypt. When it comes to their respective nutrient breakdowns, the two seed types have similarities and differences. 

If you are health enthusiast, you may have heard of chia seeds and flax seeds and their endless health benefits. Adding them to you smoothies, oat meals, salads rice dishes and yoghurts. You can combine both chia and flax seeds together to give yourself a nutritious boost. Both of these are full of nutrients and are exceptionally high in fiber, omega-3s, fat and proteins.

Chia Seeds:

Chia seeds are small round seeds, they are black, white and brown in color. It is native to parts of Guatemala and Mexico. They are harvested from a flowering plant in the mint family known as Salivia Hispanic. Edible chia seeds are closely related to the chia plants made popular by chia pets, but they are not the same seed.

A gel form around the chia seed when mixed with the liquid, which gives chia beverages their distinctive texture. Chia seeds can absorb up to 12 times their weight in liquid, which makes them useful in keeping baked goods moist. Chia seeds have many nutritional benefits. They are high in omega-3 fatty acid and fiber. Chia provides a similar amount of omega-3 fatty acids as ground flaxseed in the form of alpha linolenic acid, or ALA. They can help with weigh loss. They are an excellent source of fiber, which improve heart health, reduce cholesterol levels an promote intestinal health.

2 Tablespoons Of Chia Seeds Contain :

០ Fiber: 11 grams

០ Unsaturated Fat: 7 grams

០ Calories: 140

០ Omega 3s

០ Calcium: 18% of recommended daily value

០ Proteins: 4.4 grams

០ Trace minerals including zinc, copper, potassium and magnesium.

Some Ideas For Chia Seed Consumption:

០ Bake into baked goods like muffins, zucchini bread and desserts.

០ Add to oatmeal, cereal, smoothies or top yoghurt or salads with the sprinkle of chia seeds.

០ Make a chia gel that you can use in smoothies or as a vegan egg replacement in recipes.

០ Chia seeds are high in antioxidants. These compounds help protect the seed's delicate fats while  also offering health benefits to humans.

Flax Seeds:

Flax seeds are small edible seeds from the North American flax plant. Not only do these seeds add a nutty flavor to dishes. They are bursting with nutrients like heart-healthy fats, key vitamins, minerals, fiber and plant protein.

Flax seeds pack a nutritious punch thanks to their ability to reduce blood pressure, prevent certain types of cancer, and improve digestion. They are also quite versatile, as they can be incorporated into both sweet, savory, cold and hot dishes.

Most nutrition expert recommend ground over whole flaxseed because the ground form is easier to digest. Whole flaxseed may pass through your intestine undigested, which means you won't get all the benefits. Anyone who is considering using flaxseed should first speak to a doctor, to ensure that it is safe them to use or not.

2 Tablespoon Of Falx Seeds Contain:

០ Fiber: 4.2 grams

០ Fat: 6.3 grams

០ Calories: 78

០ Protein: 2.76 grams

០ Minerals including calcium, folate, magnesium, zinc and calcium.

Some Ideas For Flax Seed Consumption:

០ Bake into pancakes, muffins and bread.

០ Blend into smoothies.

០ Make a flax egg replacement and use as a vegan egg substitute in recipes.

០ Mix into oatmeal, smoothies yogurt and cereal

០ Flaxseeds can also help rid your body of estrogen, Too much estrogen is linked to PMS symptoms.

The Bottom Line:

Both chia seeds and flax seeds are referred to as healthy whole foods. They share a similar nutrition profile and are both rich in protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 acids and a number of other nutrients. Both of these seeds are equally nutritious and recently have become widely popular.