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Chia seeds
Expectations: fat burning, weight loss, fighting off hunger, lowering cholesterol, normalizing blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of blood clots.
Fact: Compared to most cereals, chia seeds contain a large amount of fibre, vitamins A, C, E, most B vitamins, minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc), unsaturated omega acids and protein.
Chia seeds are actually no different from flax and sesame seeds in these respects. Experiments have shown that, like flaxseeds, chia seeds swell well in water, and therefore fill and coat the stomach well, inducing a feeling of fullness. This is the only basis for their 'slimming' effect. Otherwise, according to research, chia seeds have no particular health effects. They are unable to meet the body's need for any vitamin or mineral. In addition, allergy sufferers should be careful with chia seeds.
Chia, like most superfoods, can only be considered an interesting option to diversify the diet if one is willing to overpay for exotics in tens and sometimes hundreds of multiples compared to the real price of "superfoods" in their homeland. After all, all these overseas miracle fruits easily find an equivalent among local and well-known products. So chia is completely substitutable with flaxseed or sesame. Much more effective than goji berries are amino acid-rich rosehips or barberry. Exotic and fashionable sprout juices for 200 rubles per 50 ml are a perfect substitute for a bowl of fresh green salad or a handful of any sprouted grains or seeds in the home.
Superfoods from our gardens
Phytotherapy expert Irina Golubeva says: "In fact, any local seasonal product, harvested on time, properly processed and stored or, on the contrary, just "from the garden" becomes a superfood - an amazing product full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids." Parsley is a superfood. The common Russian apple in summer and autumn is also a superfood in terms of pectin, fibre and vitamins C, B12, P and H. Carrots and pumpkin in season are a treasure trove of carotene, i.e. vitamin A. Fresh fish or "country" eggs - ideal sources of protein and essential amino acids.
By the way, honey is really a superfood! "Just remember that local honey from boring honeycombs, crucifers or lime trees will give way to "magic" honey collected from flowering orange trees, if only because this orange honey may have been heated or overcooled during the long transport," adds Irina Golubeva. - In general, however, apart from the taste, the two types of honey are not fundamentally different and are equally beneficial'.
It's always like that! No miracles, except the placebo effect (whose colossal importance, however, should not be underestimated) and a varied diet. We can only hope not for a bar of chocolate and a handful of "special Cambodian bark", but for a varied diet. Advertisement will always assure us otherwise, but let's try to take it critically.
(Telegram/USA)
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