You may remembered first hearing about these tiny seeds in the 90′s, as part of a novel trend in home decorating (Chia Pet, anyone?), but I assure you that chia seeds are no joke! This little guy packs a major punch of nutrition and makes a versatile addition to both food and drinks.
Chia seeds are tiny black seeds grown natively in South America from the plant Salvia Hispanica, which is related to the mint. Chia seeds were an important food for the Aztecs and Mayans back in the day, used They prized them for their ability to provide sustainable energy… in fact, “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.”
Despite their ancient history as a dietary staple, only recently did chia seeds become recognized as a modern day superfood.
In the past few years, they have exploded in popularity and are now consumed by health conscious people all over the world.
They are packed with:
- Fiber
- Protein
- Antioxidants
- Essential fatty acids
- Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium
If that wasn’t enough, Chia seeds slows the digestion of carbs. They also help the body to maintain hydrated state for hours on end, and are also the highest plant source of Omega 3s.
How do you eat chia seeds? Well, I put them in my smoothie, pudding, and juice. You can really add them to anything including, oatmeal. Or, use them as a thickening agent/egg replacement in cooking — once you put them in water, they start to gel up.
Getting excited about chia? Get your chia on here:
Recipe for Chia Fresca, used by the Tarahumara Indians:
photo credit: bio-predaj.sk
Chia Fresca
1 tbsp chia seeds
10 oz water
juice of one lime/lemon
1 tsp raw honey
Stir ingredients together and let chia seeds gel up .
Have you ever tried chia seeds?
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