Researchers have shown that daily consumption of chia seeds reduces the number 1 cardiovascular risk factor.
We forget it too often, but high blood pressure is one of the main cardiovascular risk factorsthat is to say, blood pressure that is too high considerably increases the risk ofStroke, myocardial infarctionkidney failure… Good news: Brazilian researchers have shown thatdaily consumption chia seeds could lower blood pressure and thus prevent heart attack.
Blood pressure lowered in 3 months
In a randomized clinical trial, these researchers followed 26 adults, including 17 hypertensives under treatment and 9 hypertensives without treatment. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. During 3 months, the first group had to consume 35 g of chia seeds per day in the form of flour (the seeds were reduced to powder) and the others a placebo. At the end of the follow-up, the researchers measured blood pressure, level of inflammation, oxidative stress and markers of nitric oxide (a chemical compound that can improve vasodilation vessels and cardiovascular function) of each participant. According to their results published in the journal Plant Foods Humanity Nutrition :
► Hypertensives under treatment who consumed chia seeds saw their overall blood pressure drop by 1.5mmHg and saw an improvement in their nitric oxide levels.
► Untreated hypertensives who consumed chia seeds saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number when measuring blood pressure, which corresponds to the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts or beats) drop by 3.1 mmHg and saw an improvement in their nitric oxide levels.
► Hypertensives on placebo have not seen no change in their blood pressure and nitric oxide levels.
Effective with or without medication
“Chia seeds are a rich source of proteinpolyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber andantioxidants who have benefits on improving muscle lipid content, cardiovascular healthtotal cholesterol level and triglyceride content“, confirm other researchers who analyzed the genome of chia seeds and who commented on the results of Brazilian scientists, in a study more recent. Also, these seeds would naturally contain in their proteins many amino acids having the same properties as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, a class of medications used to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disease. So, according to researchers, consume 35 g of chia seeds per day (about 2 tablespoons) “may have the ability to reduce blood pressure in treated and untreated hypertensive people“. For example, in the form of flour to integrate in its cakes or cakes, in seeds mixed in smoothiessprinkled in cottage cheese, porridge, compote or salads.