nutritious living – Stylishly Zen

Hi Everyone!

There are a handful of foods and spices that I consider staples in my diet. They support my health and nutritional goals and keep me looking and feeling great. One food that I have loved from the first time that I tried it was chia seeds. These little tiny seeds deliver many health and beauty benefits, so I am often surprised how few people actually eat them on a regular basis.

Native to Mexico, chia seeds was commonly eaten by the Aztecs and the Mayans to help support them through long journeys and during battles. This tiny little seed is a food powerhouse that provides many vitamins and minerals along with energy, which is much needed to power through long and challenging days. Here are my top four favourite reasons why you should regularly include chia seeds in your diet:

It’s no secret that I love foods that help me to look good and chia seeds is one of my beautifying favourites. Chia seeds are incredibly high in antioxidants which helps to repair free radical damage from the inside out along with helping to prevent premature aging of the skin.
Bowel movements are not the pleasant topics to discuss but let’s face it – it is important and completely necessary to good health. Chia seeds are high in dietary fibre (2 tbsp = 11g of fibre), which helps to promote regularity and a healthy stool.
Chia seeds help to support dietary and weight loss goals as they are filling without a lot of calories. This will keep you from overindulging later on and avoid any post binge guilt that you may feel.
Chia seeds are a good source of Omega-3 which helps to tame any inflammation that you may have in your body. The western diet is filled with many pro-inflammatory so any food that can help to combat this is something that you want to include in your diet.

Please note that chia seeds should not be consumed dry as it can be hazardous and potentially cause choking. When mixed with a liquid it expands and becomes a gel similar to tapioca. It makes a great binder as a replacement for eggs in baking and it is a wonderful addition to smoothies. For a refreshing energy boost I like to stir a tablespoon of chia seeds into a glass of coconut water and drink it (once the seeds have gelled).

What is your favourite way to include chia seeds in your diet?

I hope that you have a fabulous day! XXS

There is something about black rice that makes me happy. I think that it is the rich purple-black colour and how it makes any dish that it is a part of a gorgeous work of art. For thousands of years black rice was reserved for Chinese royalty and was often referred to as “forbidden rice”.

Rich in powerful disease fighting antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and dietary fibre some studies have shown that black rice can potentially to stop the development of heart disease, diabetes and cancer in the body.

The deep purple-black colour is an indication of black rice’s high antioxidant properties similar to those found in blueberries. Black rice is the only grain that contains the antioxidant Anthocyanin. This particular antioxidant has been shown to help reduce inflammation, improve brain function and prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer caused by free radical damage. Nutrients are generally lost from grains when the outer layers including the hull and the bran are removed. Only whole grains that include all of their naturally occurring parts are able to retain their vitamin, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. Therefore, black rice is a a wholegrain nutritional superpower.

Black rice is high in Vitamin E which is often promoted to slow aging, reduce scarring, protect against air pollution and assist with infertility issues. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin though so ensure to include some healthy fats when using black rice in a dish to help with absorption.

So what does all of this mean for you?

Black rice is a superpower in the world of whole grains and deserves a place on your plate. It is a beautiful and tasty addition to many meals. Black rice is filled with both health and beauty benefits that will help you to look and feel your best and keep you on the road to good health.

One Serving of black rice contains (1/2 cup cooked)

160 Calories 2g of Fibre

1.5g of Fat 5g of Protein

34g of Carbohydrates 4% DV of Iron

Prior to cooking, I recommend soaking black rice for a minimum of 8 hours to help to release any phytic acid within the rice (grains, rice and legumes are all high phytic foods which raise the risk of zinc and iron deficiency. Soaking helps to resolve this issue by releasing the phytic acid within the food).

Do you regularly include black rice in your diet? What is your favourite meal to include it in? Let me know in the comments below

I hope that you have a great day!

XXS

Tag: nutritious living

4 Reasons Why Chia Seeds Should Be A Staple In Your Diet

Beautiful Black Rice