Obesity is a major contributor to heart problems such as heart failure and coronary artery disease. A new animal study highlights how chia seeds tiny powerhouses loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds might help counteract these risks.
Researchers explored the effects of chia seed supplementation on rats fed a high-fat diet, mimicking the impact of obesity on heart health. Over ten weeks, rats consuming the high-fat diet showed increased body weight, insulin resistance, elevated cholesterol, and higher levels of cardiac stress markers like CRP and troponin I. Echocardiographic scans revealed enlarged heart chambers, and microscopic examination showed tissue damage and collagen accumulation hallmarks of heart strain.
Remarkably, rats receiving chia seeds alongside the high-fat diet showed considerable improvement. Their blood sugar, lipid levels, and cardiac enzymes moved closer to normal, heart function improved, and microscopic signs of damage were reduced. Key molecular markers suggested that chia seeds helped cells resist programmed death, a direct sign of protective cardiac activity.
This research supports the idea that regular chia seed intake may help safeguard the heart against diet-induced obesity damage. While human studies are needed to confirm these findings, the results strengthen chia seeds’ reputation as a functional food that promotes both metabolic and cardiovascular health.
