As recent as ten years ago, seeds would be considered ‘bird food’ in most part of the world. But research has proven that many of these seeds are miraculous little pockets of goodness, having benefits far beyond what the human mind can imagine. We at Instep have recently incorporated these magical little beads with benefits into our diets and are already seeing the results in one way or the other.
Two super seeds – chia and basil – are at the top of our list and here’s what you need to know about them
Telling them apart
In this part of the world, chia seeds are often mistaken for basil seeds, better known here as tukh malanga. Chia seeds are native to south America and don’t have a desi name.
Tukh malanga seeds have a mild flavour of basil and have been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines for centuries. So their origin is different. Also,
basil seeds are a similar size as chia seeds but the difference is that basil seeds are completely black and tear-shaped, whereas chia seeds are typically mottled shades of grey with brown and have a more rounded shape.
Benefits of chia seeds
Chia seeds are full of important nutrients. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, and they provide fiber, iron, and calcium.
Omega-3 fatty acids help raise HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke. They also aid in weight loss and prevent digestive disorders.
