Chia seeds and barefoot running are connected in an unusual way.
Firstly, both of these have got health benefits that were identified and taken advantage of by original peoples in ancient times and in the present day.
What’s more, the two may be linked. Barefoot runners just about everywhere count on chia seeds’ health benefits to give them the energy, stamina, and vitality they need.
Author and barefoot runner Christopher McDougall examines this topic in his book Born to Run.
According to McDougall, people of the Tarahumara tribe enhance their capacity to run by consuming chia seeds consistently.
Did you ever think to yourself, “I’m positive I’d be a great athlete if I only had better shoes?”
It’s hard to keep thinking that when you know about the Tarahumara.
The home of the Tarahumara tribe is Copper Canyons, a remote area deep in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. These tribal people are able to run incredible distances without exhibiting symptoms of low energy or overtiredness.
And they do it without training agendas, running coaches, elaborate running shoes, heart monitors, or any of the gadgets that runners in industrialized countries take for granted.
Thanks to McDougall’s book, the Tarahumara have gained celebrity as super-athletes.
But their athletic superpowers are not fully innate, nor are they out of reach for regular folks like you and me. The Tarahumara consume chia seeds, a fantastic superfood that you can conveniently enjoy in the comfort of your home.
You can consume chia seeds raw, bake with them, or stir them into soups and stews. There’s pretty much nothing you can’t add chia to. Its neutral, mild flavor means you don’t even notice it most of the time.
Why is chia so marvelous for runners and other athletes? Here are just a few of the chia seeds’ health benefits:
Omega 3 (ALA)
Chia contains the highest levels of omega 3 of any plant-based food. Omega 3 is specially crucial for a strong heart, and can decrease cholesterol. Chia seeds yield 25-30% extractable oil, mainly ?-linolenic acid (ALA).
Dietary Fiber
Chia is made up of 36% fiber. Taking soluble fiber can decrease cholesterol in the body. The dietary fiber in chia is mostly soluble with high molecular weight.
Antioxidants
Chia contains high levels of antioxidants. A diet rich in antioxidants helps to neutralise free radicals in the body, which supports heart health.
Protein
Chia seeds contain about 20% protein.
Gluten-Free
Chia seeds contain no gluten, so they’re a great choice for people with gluten allergies.
Chia has many more health benefits, but these are the main ones. You can have an understanding of why runners and other athletes could like to ingest chia! In ancient times, Mayans and Aztecs could run extensive distances through mountainous landscape with only a few spoonfuls of chia as provisions.
Try consuming chia next time you go for a run or do any exercise. You will be impressed at the amount of energy and vitality you have!