If you are interested in your own nutrition, chances are you’ve come across chia seeds in some sort of smoothie. Touted as a super-food, Chia,also known as Salvia Hispanica, packs a whole lot of punch in those small seeds!
Not only beneficial to us humans, but chia can be a beneficial supplement for our canine friends.
What is Chia?
The word Chia is an adaptation of theSpanish word “chian” or “chien.” Originating from Nahuati, it means oily. This gives you a good way of remembering the benefits of the herbaceous plant; the seeds have a particularly high fat content.
Grown worldwide, it tends to favour mountainous regions in Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, Mexico and Australia. It is also grown in Europe,but in greenhouses.
Nutritional Composition
Chia seeds are high in nutritional value, and seemingly across the board!
Their high fibre content, gram for gram, exceeds that of nuts, cereals and other seeds. They pack a whopping 35g of fibre per 100g, flaxseed coming in a close second with 27-28g per 100g. Corn and rice come in around 6-8g of fibre per 100g!
Findings here
High consumption of fibre has been linked with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and a range of cancers. Not only that, but dietary fibre contributes to feelings of satiety so it’s helpful in weight management.
Findings here
Protein content comes in around 24g per 100g, but what is impressive is the range of amino acids contained!
Chia seeds contain arginine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine and lysine. They also contain endogenous amino acids, mainly glutamic and aspartic acids,alanine, serine and glycine.
Your dog’s body utilises amino acids to make proteins which help him break down food, grow and develop, repair body tissue and perform a range of other body functions. They can also be used as a source of energy. There are 9 amino acids which cannot be made by the body and as such need to come from food. These are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
As you compare, Chia seeds contain many of the essential amino acids needed in the body. You then have non-essential amino acids which the body can produce by itself; these include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine. There are also certain acids that are deemed conditional, so if you are particularly interested, you can research this further.
If we return to the content of chia seeds, arginine is involved in protecting the intestine and in nervous system function. It also has a role in blood pressure regulation. Glycine has a role in most bodily functions. It is a precursor in intestine proliferation, energy generation in skeletal muscle, immune system function, nervous system function and cardiovascular protection.
Findings here
Chia seeds are also high in a range of minerals.
Phosphorus 860-919mg/100g
Essential for bone and teeth formation.
Findings here
Calcium 456-631mg/100
Calcium is essential in bone and teeth health, blood clotting, nerve impulse, regulating heart rate and maintaining general homeostasis in cells.
Findings here
Potassium 407-726mg/100g
Necessary for the normal functioning of cells, nerves and muscles.
Findings here
Magnesium 335-449mg/100g
Essential in bone and teeth formation and for normal nerve and muscle function.
Findings here
Their vitamin content is as follows:
Vitamin B1 0.6mg/100g
Vitamin B2 0.2mg/100g
Niacin 8.8mg/100g
It’s not surprising that with the mineral content of chia seeds, studies have shown that long term dietary intake of chia is associated with increased bone density.
Findings here
Chia seeds are also particularly high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Studies show around 65% of the oil content is Omega 3! No other food to date has even come close to the same content.
Omega 3 has a range of benefits in the body. It promotes healthy cells, immune system, eyes, brain, joints, skin and coats.
When discussing the nutritional benefits of Chia specifically, studies have shown the following:
- They are cardio protective
- They may help to control diabetes
- Potential to decrease LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol
- Control blood pressure
- Stabilise blood glucose levels
- Vision support
- Supports cognitive function and brain development
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-viral
Findings here
Their anti-inflammatory properties have been found of benefit in cases of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis.
Findings here
Studies have also shown chia seeds have been supportive when used as a complementary treatment for chronic kidney disease.
Findings here
It’s easy to see why chia are touted as a super-food.
They do pack a whole lot of nutritional punch, for both you and your dog. They are easy to store, and they don’t taste of much, which makes them easy to slip in with even the fussiest of eaters. Chia is non-allergenic, so suitable for most dogs. Of course, check with a health care professional before feeding them.
Be mindful, chia can absorb multiple time sits own weight in water, so if you aren’t feeding in a gel form (seeds soaked in water before feeding), ensure your dog has access to fresh water.
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Team MPN x
