Salba, commonly known as chia, is a flowering plant belonging to the mint family. The seeds of the plant are ground and used as a nutritional drink in places like Guatemala and Mexico. Scientific studies reveal that salba may have health-protective qualities. Consult your doctor, however, before trying to prevent, treat or cure any condition with salba.
Heart Protection
Salba may help protect heart health in those with Type 2 diabetes. A study published in November 2007 in "Diabetes Care" found that roughly 37 g of salba per day for 12 weeks reduced some of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. For example, salba provided a blood pressure-lowering effect while keeping blood sugar and cholesterol levels stable.
Hyperglycemia
Supplementation with salba may help manage diabetes. One of the outcomes of diabetes is hyperglycemia, which is the inability of the body to regulate blood sugar. A July 2009 study from the University of Toronto found that salba effectively reduced postprandial glycemia, or post-meal glucose levels.
Dyslipidaemia
Dyslipidaemia is a condition in which the body is unable to regulate the levels of fats, such as cholesterols. Salba may help improve this condition. A study published in 2009 in the "British Journal of Nutrition" found that salba prevented the onset of dyslipidaemia in rats fed a high sugar diet. It also reduced the amount of visceral adiposity, or fat within the organs.
Tumors
Salba shows evidence as a cancer-fighting herb. A study published in July 2007 in "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids" found that salba reduced tumors in rats with cancer of the mammary tissue. Specifically, salba supplementation appeared to decrease tumor weighs and metastasis, or the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. More studies are needed to support this possible benefit.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Supplementation of Conventional Therapy with the Novel Grain Salba Improves Major and Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes; Vladimir Vuksan, Ph.D., et al.; November 2007
- "T-Space"; The Effects of Salvia hispanica L. (Salba) on Postprandial Glycemia and Subjective Appetite; Amy Lee; July 2009
- "Cambridge Journals"; Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) Rich in α-Linolenic Acid Improves Adiposity and Normalises Hypertriacylglycerolaemia and Insulin Resistance in Dyslipaemic Rats; Adriana G. Chicco; et al.; 2009
- "PLEFA"; Effect of Chia Oil Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Eicosanoid Release, Apoptosis and T-lymphocyte Tumor Infiltration in a Murine Mammary Gland Adenocarcinoma; C.E. Espada, M.A.; et al.; July 2007
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