The Power of the Omegas: Chia & Hemp Seeds

Balance. Easier said than found.

Certain seeds may come in handy when it comes to achieving a healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Chia and hemp seeds are gaining increasing popularity as legitimate sources of PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids).^1,2

The human body needs these essential fatty acids, but we don’t make them. Totally messed up right? That’s why it’s important to find healthy dietary sources. Chia and hemp seeds help us to consume omega-3 and omega-6, and—bonus!—they tend to come with additional health benefits.³

Chia Seeds

Not all fat is bad. Chia seeds are approximately 40 percent oil. Of this 40 percent, around 60 percent is the plant-based omega-3 fat, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

ALAs can help support healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range.²

Food preparation

With little to no preparation, chia seeds can easily be incorporated into your diet.^2,3 Use them as salad toppings or additions to soups, pudding, or pasta. They add a mild nutty flavor to oatmeal, yogurt, and smoothies.

Heads up! If you’ve ever experienced swallowing difficulties, you may want to add the seeds to a liquid base first, since they expand in size and could block your throat if swallowed whole. Or, reap the benefits by adding to pancakes or other baked goods.

Hemp Seeds

Like chia, hemp seeds contain ALA, the plant-based omega-3. Dietary hempseed also contains linoleic acid (LA) which is an omega-6.⁷

Since 30 percent of hemp seeps are healthy fats, they’re a healthy, plant-based fatty acid addition to our diets.¹

Protective factors

Because dietary hempseed is high in PUFAs, it tends to provide protection to the heart.¹ And, the ratio of omega-6: omega-3 is also believed to provide relief from some skin conditions. If we are deficient in essential fatty acids, we may notice an increase in dry skin, eczema, and cracked heels.⁴

Essential Omegas

The human body is a well-oiled machine. Essential fatty acids provide much of this natural oil, but our bodies don’t make all of the essentials on its own. Everything from supporting brain health and stress management can be affected by omega-3s.^5,6

Seeds like chia and hemp offer high proportions of the plant-based version of these essential fatty acids.

> Learn about “The Complete Omega Product”: MegaX®

> Share your recipes featuring Chia Seeds on Facebook!

References

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17122327

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518271/

3 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000727.htm

4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931201/

5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2826215/

6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2174995/

7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4189990/

7 REASONS YOU CANNOT LOSE WEIGHT! *SPOILER*

It is not just about diet and exercise! The top 7 reasons and the Plexus products that can help you!

1) #SLEEP - If you are not sleeping you will not lose weight. (Probio5 and MegaX)

2) #DIGESTION - constipation, bloating, feeling full all the time, a swollen stomach. ( Probio5 and Biocleanse)

3) #ENERGY LEVEL- thyroid and iron anemia (X-Factor and Slim)

4) #MENSTRUALCYCLE - if it is off you will have a hard time losing weight because estrogen makes fat. If there is excess estrogen it interferes with the thyroid and increases fat production. (Slim and Biocleanse)

5) #CRAVINGS - one way to know you are burning fat is that you will crave NOTHING. If you crave sweets it means your body only burns sugar and not FAT. (Slim/probio5 and Accelerator+)

6) #Inflammation- means the adrenals are not strong enough. It sucks the energy from the body and slows metabolism. (Mega X, EASE and NERVE)

7) #STRESS - if the body is stuck in stress mode and it cannot relax the adrenals are overloaded and you have too much body stress. (X Factor, Slim and BioCleanse)

10 Techniques for Stress Management

So, you’ve have a bad day.

Your boss challenged you with a seemingly impossible goal. Your kids forgot to tell you about their science fair—tomorrow. Your hubby left his socks on the floor. Again.

Stress is a normal part of life for even the happiest person. It’s a totally normal physiological response to tough situations. To keep stress from becoming our default state of mind, we need time and techniques to recover from stressors and stressful events.

Learning to manage and relieve stress can be a life-long process. We’re making stress management a priority with these ten stress management strategies to help you live with less stress.

1. Determine why you’re stressed
Sure, there’s lots of ways to manage stress. But, wouldn’t it be more helpful if you could avoid some of the stress altogether?

When you start to feel your temperature rise and your heart race, ask yourself honestly: What’s the root cause of this reaction?

Is it temporary, like an imminent deadline? Or are you taking on responsibilities that someone else could—and maybe should—handle? Once you understand what’s causing the stress in your life, you’ll be better equipped to manage it.

2. Consider your coping strategies
How do you relax?

Coping strategies that are healthy will rejuvenate and leave you better prepared to manage the next stressor. Unhealthy coping strategies—like smoking or overindulging in alcohol—offer temporary reprieve but don’t actually help in the long run. Eliminate your unhealthy coping strategies and replace them with healthier options!

3. Breathe intentionally
We breathe without thinking all the time—literally. When we take the time to slow down and focus on breathing deeply and easily, we increase the oxygen levels in our blood and encourage physical relaxation.¹

The best parts about using breathing to reduce stress? You can do it anywhere. And, it’s free!

4. Practice mindfulness
Meditation and other mindfulness practices can help you mentally re-center and refresh. Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques can be helpful in lowering stress.²

5. Move it
Physical activity produces endorphin’s—chemicals in the brain that lead to feelings of euphoria. It’s difficult to experience the negative side effects of stress while also feeling euphoric.³ If you’re new to exercise—or maybe picking it up after some time off—keep it simple.

6. Sleep tight
The amount of sleep you get can affect your stress levels. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.⁴ The impact of sleep is so profound that even a single night of poor sleep can cause increased stress.⁵

7. Smile
Seems too simple, right?

Yes, we smile when we’re feeling good. But, did you know that works the other way around too? Smiling can actually make you feel good. Smiling triggers the release of endorphin’s, serotonin, and dopamine in your brain which can lift your mood.⁶

8. Embrace the no
Many of us have a hard time saying no. After all, being the person everyone can rely on is a good thing, right? Not if everyone relies on us for every small detail all the time. Set limits—at work and at home—and stand by them.

9. Eat healthy
Food fuels our bodies and our minds. When we’re stressed, it can be tempting to indulge in unhealthy comfort food—did someone say ice cream? When your brain lacks good, quality nutrients, it can affect everything from cognition and mood to stress levels.⁷

10. Supplement
Eating a diet rich in all the nutrients we need to fuel our brains and bodies can be a full-time job. A dietary supplement, such as Plexus MegaX^®, can help fill in the gaps in our diet. MegaX contains a full spectrum of Omega-3 fatty acids and can help with stress management.^*

It’s probably not realistic to think you’ll live a stress-free life. It’s super important to remember that even small actions can make a big difference. What’s your favorite rejuvenating activity?

References

¹ http://www.nmha.org/conditions/coping-stress-checklist
² https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15256293
³ https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st
⁴ http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need
⁵ http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/sleep.aspx
⁶ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile).
⁷ http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.