These 6 benefits of sabja seeds will make you forget all about chia

Known as basil seeds, these are rich in fibre, good fats, and calcium. The benefits of sabja seeds are so good you won't ever look back!
sabja seeds for weight loss
Trust basil seeds to meet your nutritional needs. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Payal Kothari Updated: 22 Dec 2020, 20:47 pm IST
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Going gaga over the many benefits of chia seeds? Well, before you give into this trend, let us introduce you to sabja seeds. Also known as basil seeds or tukmaria–they are often touted as the Indian alternative to chia seeds. 

Sabja seeds have been around since forever. But ghar ki murgi is daal barabar right? This desi superfood only got its time in the sun after chia seeds became all the rage. This despite the fact that sabja seeds have more protein content and less calories than most other seeds. Not to mention, they are inexpensive and easily available in India. 

Ayurvedic texts swear by the many benefits of sabja seeds, including their metabolism-boosting properties and their ability to lower risk of a heart attack. 

The best part? They are not new to the Indian cuisine or palate. Eaten with like falooda, ice cream, milkshakes, and even buttermilk–they have been around for a while.  

Also read: 5 seeds with the power to boost your immunity that you must eat every morning

Still not sold? Well then, let us reveal the six health benefits that a daily dose of tukmaria can offer you.

1. Sabja seeds are a rich source of fibre
Just one tablespoon of these seeds can give you seven grams of fibre. So on the days you eat less fibrous meals, add them to your water bottle, let them bloom, and gulp them down–bit by bit–through the course of the day.

2. They help control blood sugar
Sabja seeds carry a lot of benefits for diabetics. You see, consuming them after a meal can lower your blood sugar level. This is the reason why they’re added to desserts like faloodas in India and to smoothies the world over.

Sabja seeds in falooda
You know also know basil seeds are falooda seeds. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. They might also improve your cholesterol
Basil seeds have pectins, which are known to lower cholesterol by inhibiting absorption from your diet into your gut.

4. Sabja also has gut-healing properties
Pectins are prebiotics that help the good bacteria (or microbiome) in your gut to flourish. When the good bacteria multiply, you get better digestion and absorption of nutrients.

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Eating sabja seeds will also keep your gut happy. Image Courtesy; Shutterstock.

5. They are full of minerals
Minerals are not often spoken about. But they are essential for energy, metabolism, and sleep. Tukmaria are rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium–all of which are very important for your bone health, red blood cell production, and muscle repair.

Plus they are a great source of these minerals for vegetarians and vegans.

6. Sabja seeds are a plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids
Good fats are the fuel for our brain. Moreover, they also help our gut heal faster. Sabja seeds have alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat which has anti-inflammatory benefits. Just one tablespoon of basil seeds could meet your daily requirement of ALA.

Now that you’re over your chia seeds hangover, relish sabja seeds well. They’ll do you a world of good.

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About the Author

Payal Kothari is an integrative nutritionist and gut health coach who believes all fad diets fail, but when a holistic approach is taken a transformation lasts a lifetime. ...Read More

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