5 Things you Didn’t Know About Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have been popular for a few years now, but they continue to surprise us with all of their potent powers for our health as well as our horse’s. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about them:

1. They help with hydration

   The slimy film around chia seeds allows them to retain water, helping to slow the absorption of water in your horse’s gut, therefore making more water available.

2. They have lots of essential amino acids

   Proteins are made up of amino acids, of which there are two types, essential and nonessential. essential amino acids must be consumed from the diet, while nonessential can be manufactured by the body. Chia seeds are rich in essential amino acids that our horses need for skin, coat, hair, and hoof formation, as well as muscle recovery.

3. That slimy substance can be good for detoxing

   In addition to helping with water absorption, the slime on chia seeds can help to collect toxins in your horse’s gut and help move them along to excretion.

4. They have more omega 3’s than a serving of flax

   While flax is a super popular omega 3 supplement, chia is also rich in omega 3’s in a highly bioavailable form, plus they are significantly more shelf stable than flax seeds.

5. They can be helpful for seasonal allergies

   All of those omega 3’s can be helpful, not only for creating a shiny coat and luscious mane and tail, can help battle seasonal allergies and boost the immune system.