{"id":35218,"date":"2023-07-14T13:41:54","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T11:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/?p=35218"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:29:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T16:29:26","slug":"chia-benefits-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/chia-benefits-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Chia in an Athlete\u2019s Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chia has become fashionable in the shopping baskets of increasingly <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">health-conscious people<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Is it as miraculous as claimed? Is it among the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/foods-highest-in-fibre\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">highest-fibre foods<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">? Will it change your life? Read on to discover the <\/span><b>benefits of chia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Are Chia Seeds?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These <\/span><b>chia seeds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> come from the plant <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Salvia hispanica<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , in the same family as mint and thyme. Originating in South America, it has been praised since ancient times and is now used worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chia seeds are now <\/span><b>easy to find<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&nbsp;in supermarkets, health-food shops and other stores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chia provides omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/calcium-rich-foods\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">calcium<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Another strength is its high <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/fibre-sporting-performance\/\"><b>fibre content<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, associated with better life expectancy and quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29762\" src=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-salud.webp\" alt=\"chia seed benefits\" width=\"1001\" height=\"501\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-salud.webp 1001w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-salud-300x150.webp 300w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-salud-768x384.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Do You Eat Chia and What Is It For?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the <\/span><b>benefits of chia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is its <\/span><b>omega-3 fatty acids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, whose bioavailability increases when the seeds are ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whole chia also offers benefits. Its <\/span><b>high nutrient content<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , including protein, B vitamins and fibre, and versatility can enrich many dishes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Include it in <\/span><b>desserts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> such as yoghurt with fruit, porridge and puddings, or <\/span><b>main dishes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> such as salads and pasta.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You will love this recipe for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/recetas\/pudding-de-chia-te-verde-y-frambuesas\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">chia, green tea and raspberry pudding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another way is <\/span><b>soaked chia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: soak whole seeds in water for half an hour at approximately <\/span><b>1:9 chia to water<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This creates a pudding-like gel and also supports intestinal absorption.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This form is mainly used as an emulsifier in <\/span><b>baking recipes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, particularly vegan recipes, where it performs a similar technical role to egg.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29763\" src=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia.webp\" alt=\"chia seed benefits\" width=\"1001\" height=\"501\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia.webp 1001w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-300x150.webp 300w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-768x384.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6 Benefits of Chia Seeds<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why is chia good for health? Let us see!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Possible Weight-Loss Support<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One study found greater <\/span><b>satiety from chia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> added to breakfast yoghurt than an equal-calorie control. This cannot be attributed solely to chia because it contains <\/span><b>plenty of fibre<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Another randomised controlled study tested two tablespoons of ground chia for long-term weight loss against a control containing the <\/span><b>same amount of fibre<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from oat bran. Weight loss was significantly greater in the ground-chia group, suggesting a possible additional benefit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Possible Anti-Inflammatory Effects<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some studies observed significant differences in <\/span><b>C-reactive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> protein, a systemic inflammation marker. However, effects cannot be attributed solely to chia because chance may explain the difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Possible Blood-Pressure-Lowering Effects<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Evidence is limited. Some trials show significant improvements in <\/span><b>blood pressure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> compared with baseline but not the control group. More trials are needed to establish this benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29765\" src=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-deporte.webp\" alt=\"benefits of chia seeds\" width=\"1001\" height=\"501\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-deporte.webp 1001w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-deporte-300x150.webp 300w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-chia-deporte-768x384.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>High Omega-3 Content<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Essential fatty acids are necessary because the body cannot synthesise them. Chia has a <\/span><b>high omega-3 concentration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , as do seeds such as flaxseed. Grinding or soaking is particularly important for absorbing these nutrients and benefiting from their health effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Antioxidants and Phytonutrients<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These seeds contain abundant <\/span><b>antioxidants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&nbsp;helping counter cellular oxidative stress, plus phytonutrients such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lignano\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lignans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, secondary metabolites in some plant foods. Lignans have been studied for possible <\/span><b>blood-pressure-related and anticancer effects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, although chia contains less than seeds such as flaxseed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><br \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>B Vitamins and Minerals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like many <\/span><b>plant foods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, chia has high nutrient density, or nutrients per calorie. Unlike fruit and vegetables, it is <\/span><b>more energy-dense <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">because of its low water content. Nevertheless, nutrients per calorie are notable, including substantial <\/span><b>calcium, iron and magnesium<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29764\" src=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-semillas-chia.webp\" alt=\"benefits of chia seeds\" width=\"1001\" height=\"501\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-semillas-chia.webp 1001w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-semillas-chia-300x150.webp 300w, https:\/\/getindya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/beneficios-semillas-chia-768x384.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Can Chia Benefit Sports Performance?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being rich in <\/span><b>omega-3 fatty acids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, chia can be useful in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/post-workout-what-to-eat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">post-workout meals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. These fats may reduce inflammation and potentially help prevent sports injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Does every athlete have to include it? Absolutely not!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No food is a magical superfood, however beneficial. To eat healthily and support sport, ensure a <\/span><b>varied diet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&nbsp;with macronutrients matched to individual needs and goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You are unique, and your diet should be too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We can help. Explore our subscription options and work with one of our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getindya.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sports nutritionists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. You will notice the difference!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><br \/><br \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Written by Jose Revert. Reviewed by Marta Aguilar. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><br style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><br style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are the benefits of chia? Is it as good as claimed? We explore this so-called superfood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":23049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[213],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35218"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35804,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35218\/revisions\/35804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}