I think everyone can remember all of the Chia Pet commercials that were all over TV in the 90's. Did you know that those silly little things grow their "hair" from a superfood called Chia seeds? It's true and although Chia Pets lost popularity Chia seeds are making a comeback...from the ancient Incan, Mayan and Aztec days. They were very valuable to these ancient cultures because a small amount of these tiny seeds can provide a great amount of energy, endurance and other health benefits. It has even been said that one tablespoon of Chia seeds can sustain the body for 24 hours...I'm a little too in love with food to try that though.
Chia seeds are so wonderful because they have:
2 times the protein of any other seed or grain
5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones
2 times the amount of potassium as bananas
3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries
3 times more iron than spinach
copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids
They are hydrophilic meaning the seeds absorb water and create a gel. They can hold 9-12 times their weight in water and they absorb it in under 10 minutes.
Read more at Raw Reform
How do you eat Chia seeds?
You can consume Chia seeds in many ways since they are pretty flavorless. You can add them to almost any baking recipe, grind them into a gluten free flour, sprinkle the dry seeds on anything or make a Chia gel, which is my favorite.
I mix 1/3 cup dry Chia seeds with 2 cups water.
I put the ingredients in a sealed container and give it a good shake. Within a few minutes they more than double in size from absorbing the water or whatever other liquid you want to soak them in. Just a few minutes after this picture all of the water was absorbed by the seeds.
I then add a couple tablespoons of this Chia gel to my morning smoothie and end up getting much more protein and calcium than the average person that loads up on meat and milk does. Chia seeds are a super easy way to get all kinds of nutrients on the go.
Until next time,
-Shanny
