Hemp, flax and chia seeds pack nutritious punch
Seeds are a simple way to add some extra nutrition to everyday meals.
Heather Grant is a nutritionist with Fired-Up Fitness, a local boot-camp business. She says everyone should eat seeds as part of their daily diet, but they become especially important in vegetarian and vegan diets.
“Including seeds in your diet is for essential fats, mainly as a source of omega-3,” Grant says.
“Fat in the diet is very important and low fat diets can result in problems such as hormone or immune system dysfunction and skin problems. Fats are responsible for cell integrity and strength.”
There are many seeds that can be included in an everyday diet and these seeds can be added to things like yogurt or salad.
Grant says it is important to have the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6.
Adding seeds such as flax, chia, and hemp to salads, breakfast or snacks can add nutritional value to everyday meals.
Photo by Shannon Galley She explains that flax and chia seeds are excellent sources of omega-3 and seeds such as hemp, pumpkin, or sesame contain both omega-6 and omega-3.
Recent Canadian School of Natural Nutrition graduate, Rachel Whiteside says she incorporates seeds into meals, specifically for fibre.
“I add chia seeds by soaking them in water first. This makes them soft and have more of a jelly texture. Once they are in this state you can add them to a number of things such as oatmeal, yogurt and smoothies.”
She says flax seeds need special attention before adding them to food.
“You should keep the full seeds (flax) on hand and grind them only just before use as their oils are fragile and can easily go rancid,” she says.
“I add flax to basically anything — salads, and breakfast foods.”
Whiteside says hemp seeds can be added to anything just the way they are.
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Chia, flax and hemp seed nutritional information: Chia Seeds:
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Hemp Seeds:
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Information from www.whfoods.com |
Beth Smith, 22, uses a lot of hemp seeds. She is a young, busy professional who is trying to maintain a healthy diet and lose a few pounds. She says she simply throws them into her everyday cooking.
“I want to do something good for my health and seeds are easy to incorporate into your diet,” she says.
Grant says that getting seeds in the raw form is better than in oil form.
“A benefit of seeds versus seed oils is that when seeds are in their natural form, they contain all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to metabolize them.”
Most seeds can be found at grocery stores with organic sections around the city and at health food stores. After opening, the seeds should be refrigerated.
Here is a simple recipe to incorporate chia seeds:
Cinnamon Chia Seed Granola
(Makes four 1/4 cup servings)
Ingredients:
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. canola oil
Directions:
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• Combine oats through nutmeg in a small bowl and stir.
• Slowing stir honey and canola oil into oat mixture until oats are adequately coated.
• Spread granola onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Let cool until oats become crunchy and enjoy!
Recipe Courtesy of: pbfingers.com
How do you incorporate seeds into your food?