The Chia Seed. Yes, you may have heard of this from the familiar Chia Pet, (clay animals with sprouted Chia seeds covering their bodies). For centuries this tiny little seed was used as a staple food by the Indians of the south west and Mexico. Known as the running food, it is known as a high energy endurance food during times of conquest and also long days of hunting. These are an amazing phenomenon. We are all familular with Omega 3’s and Flaxseed but what if I told you Chia seed has a high oil content, and the richest vegetables source for the essential omega-3 fatty acid. It has approximately three to ten times the oil concentrations of most grains and one and a half to two times the protein concentrations of other grains. These oils, unsaturated fatty acids, are the essential oils your body needs to help emulsify and absorb the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E, & K. Chia seeds are rich in the unsaturated fatty acid, linoleic, which the body cannot manufacture. I want to share with you 10 reasons we need to look further into using these in our everyday diets!
10 Health Benefits and Reasons people use Chia Seeds:
-1 ounce of Chia uses 2.8% of the calories in a 2000 calorie diet. The full daily servings only add up to 139 calories and 1 ounce of Chia Seeds has a Glycemic Index of 1.
-Chia seeds have many benefits for vegetarians Chia seeds are great for vegetarians because unlike flaxseed, chia can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid and don’t require grinding. The oil they contain does not go rancid because of the high level of antioxidants.
-Chia Seeds fill you up – When they come in contact with water, pudding, juice, yogurt etc. they grow to 9x their size and they slow down the absorption of carbs to control the appetite.
-Gluten free Chia Seeds are high in protein, calcium, omega 3 and 6 and don’t need to be cooked. Unlike Flax Seed, you do not have to ground up Chia Seeds when you use them in your cooking or raw dishes.
-Chia Seeds are great for workouts. Prior to a run or athletic event which you need to hydrate, Chia Seeds in a bottle of water will help you hydrate. They will also help with protein to do the event without cramping up. Chia is good for the digestive system because it is a hydrophillic colloid.
-Chia Seeds are high in Omega 3 – 1 oz of Chia Seeds has 4915mg of Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are loaded with protein which is great for healthy skin, hair, and nails Chia Seeds are high in calcium and naturally have Boron in them which transfers the calcium into your bones.
-Chia Seeds are good for a Diabetic – 1 oz of Chia Seeds has a Glycemic Index of 1. Chia seed supplies fiber in 2 forms: insoluble (won’t dissolve in water) from its outer coat and soluble fiber (will dissolve in water) from its inner shell. Soluble fiber has been found helpful in lowering cholesterol and diabetes
-Chia Seeds are high in fiber and help digestion.
-Chia Seeds are good for your Thyroid – They are known to help deal with thyroid medication symptoms like lack of energy, dry skin and hair, thyroid weight problems, and colon issues.
-Chia Seeds are good for lowering cholesterol – Chia seed supplies fiber in 2 forms: insoluble (won’t dissolve in water) from its outer coat and soluble fiber (will dissolve in water) from its inner shell. Soluble fiber has been found helpful in lowering cholesterol and diabetes. Also the omega 3 and 6 has been shown to help.
HOW TO USE CHIA:
Place a spoonful of Chia in a glass of water and leaving it for approximately 30 minutes or so, when you return the glass will appear to contain not seeds or water, but an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the Chia.
**The optimum ratio of water to seed, for most recipes, is 9 part water to 1 part seed.
–CHECK THE RECIPE SECTION/VIDEO SECTION (COMING SOON) FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO PREPARE AND USE THIS AMAZING SEED!