Friday, May 1, 2020

Benefits of Sabja/Basil Seeds & How to include it into your Diet


A lot of you have seen me on my Instagram regularly consuming Sabja/Basil Seeds for over a year now. Some people asked me why I take it, what are the benefits and some people asked me for recipes that could help them to consume it. So today I thought, a blog post would be the perfect way to spell it all out. And this also spells the beginning of my May 2020 Blogging Challenge which I am super excited about.😊

Firstly let me tell you what Sabja seeds are. They are Basil Seeds (and not Chia seeds like what a lot of people think), and are black in colour. They are from India but different from Tulsi which is known as the Holy Basil. Sabja seeds are nutrient dense but very very low on calories. This is what they look like:


I started taking Sabja for the following reasons and it worked for all 4 of my problems:
  1. It helps reduce bloating which I suffered from a lot. Intake of Sabja really helped reduce my bloating and now it's negligible.
  2. It helps lose weight and since I do not get time to hit the gym but only do home workouts or walking, I thought this would be a good aid to weight loss. I lost 3-4 kgs within 2 months of starting this.
  3. It promotes growth of healthy skin and hair, and I wanted to have natural anti-ageing ingredients in my diet as well which is why Sabja was perfect.
  4. Sabja brings down the body heat and also cools the stomach alleviating acidity, and thus helps people like me who suffer from migraines as the frequency reduces, and thus so does the dependency on medication.
Now these were my issues that it solved, but here are the overall benefits of Sabja:
  1. Helps in weight loss - Sabja is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) due to the high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in the seeds. These acids boost the fat burning metabolism in the body. Sabja is also full of fibre, and so your stomach stays fuller for longer and prevents hunger pangs at short gaps. 
  2. Helps relieve constipation and regulate motion - Sabja seeds detox the body and regulate smooth bowel movements as it acts as a stomach cleanser due to the fiber quotient, and the seeds contain volatile oils that help to relieve gas from the gastrointestinal tract and aids in digestion. Thus you are relieved from the bloating that happens due to constipation.
  3. Controls blood sugar levels - Sabja seeds perfect for type 2 diabetics as it keeps a check on blood sugar levels. It controls the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose. It's best taken after a meal.
  4. Great source of minerals - It contains calcium, magnesium which are essential for bone health and muscle function, and iron which is essential for red blood cell production.
  5. Promotes healthy skin and hair - It contains Vitamin K, iron, and protein which facilitates hair growth, and helps secrete collagen which helps in forming new skin cells.
  6. Aids Oral Health - Sabja has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties and thus can protect us from a wide array of dental problems such as bad breath, cavities, and plague.
  7. Vegan source of Omega 3 - Omega 3 has various benefits like improving eye health, promoting brain health, fighting anxiety and depression, and reducing the risk of suffering from heart diseases. For vegetarians, this also becomes a great vegan source of Omega 3. In fact I have moved from my Fish Oil Omega 3 capsules to just Sabja since a year after I realized this benefit.
  8. Brings down body heat - Sabja is a natural coolant and thus helps to keep our body cool. It neutralizes the acidic effect of HCL in the body, which brings relief from acidity and heartburn.
  9. Increases immunity - Sabja contains a lot of anti-oxidants which curb the growth of free radicals in your body and thus increase the immunity of the body. Flavonoids like vicenin, orientin and beta carotene fortify the body’s defense system and help it to fight against various infections and diseases.
  10. Improves gut health and reduces cholesterol levels - Pectin in Sabja has prebiotic benefits, as it nourishes and thus helps increase beneficial gut bacteria. This includes anti-inflammatory bacteria that support gut health. Pectin also inhibits cholesterol absorption in the gut thus reducing people's cholesterol levels.
  11. Prevents cough and flu - Sabja has antispasmodic and antipyretic property, and so they soothe the spasmatic muscles and relax them. This way they help in controlling whooping cough and the flu.
How to prepare Sabja/Basil Seeds:
  1. Take 2 tablespoons of Sabja
  2. Soak it in warm water (drinking water) for 30 minutes
  3. Then you can strain it and use or use it with the water depending on how you are going to consume it
You can introduce Sabja into your diet by adding it to the following:
  1. Lemon and Honey Water
  2. Chaas/Butter Milk
  3. Lassi
  4. Juices
  5. Smoothies
  6. Desserts
  7. As a thickener to gravies after making a puree in the mixer
Well I hope this helps everyone in making Sabja a beneficial part of your diet. It has really helped me, and I would recommend it to everyone! 💗

I am super excited that this is the first post of my May 2020 Blogging Challenge. Now it's your turn to submit your blog post. Looking forward to reading your posts! 😍😍😍






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10 comments:

  1. Such a useful post.. Will definitely try this.. Where do u get sabja from? Is it available easily?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! Sabja is available at any grocery store as well as on Amazon or other grocery e-commerce stores. Will add some links to the blog post.

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  2. A very nice blogging challenge younuave taken up. All the best!

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  3. Thanks for sharing.good luck!!

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  4. Is sabja good for people suffering from sinus??

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  5. Did not know that there are so many benefits of sabja. Just added it to my mid-afternoon Kokum Sherbet today. Great post Ritcha.

    Inspired by you, I've blogged yesterday as well. Hope to be regular. (Fingers crossed)
    Here's the link: http://www.missalpao.com/2020/05/12-smart-hacks-to-help-you-lose-weight.html

    Can you share the link submission widget?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Gauri :) And thanks for your entry.

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