Chia Seeds--Chock-full of Benefits!

Ch-ch-ch-chia! When you hear the word "chia," chances are, most of you naturally conjure up a mental picture of those funny little Chia Pets you may or may not have received as a gift at some point in your life.  Well, the little seeds that create those little novelties are actually quite the little powerhouses!  I, personally, have been reaping the benefits from chia seeds for about 5 years now, quite awhile before they went mainstream.

The chia plant from which the seeds originate is tall with purple flowers. It actually belongs to the mint family, although it does not taste minty at all!  The Aztecs and the Mayans used to carry around little pouches of these seeds and eat them throughout the day to keep up their strength, stamina, vitality, and energy.

To break it down nutritionally, chia seeds contain:

* 70% more protein than soy
*30% more antioxidants than blueberries
*25% more fiber than flax seeds ( Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds do not need to be ground up to receive the full spectrum of nutrients!)
*6 times more calcium than milk
*15 times more magnesium than broccoli
*2 times more potassium than bananas
*5 times more folate than spinach
*8 times more omega-3s than salmon (for all you Vegans out there!)

In addition, these little powerhouses help to keep our colons clean by facilitating proper digestion.  They also tend to create a feeling of fullness, so you end up eating less. Studies have also shown that chia seeds are natural carbohydrate and sugar blockers; they help to keep the blood sugar levels more steady. .I especially like taking chia seeds in capsule form when I am eating something high-carb, like pizza, dessert, or nachos :)  They also have naturally occurring electrolytes and keep our bodies hydrated.
 
Luckily, we are more fortunate than the Mayans and Aztecs because there are now more ways to eat these seeds to receive their multitude of benefits:

*Add some chia seeds to plain water or juice and sip it throughout the day.  The chia seeds turn gelatinous and expand up to 12 times their original size when they become immersed in liquid. Some people say they taste like broken pieces of jello, tapioca, or mini bobas when they drink them!
*Add chia seeds to yogurt or smoothies for a fun texture
*Use as an egg substitute in recipes. Combine 1 part chia seeds with 3 parts water. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes until it becomes a gel-like consistency.
 *Raw foodies make chia crackers by mixing them with a variety of veggies and seasonings and dehydrating the mixture. 

Those are just a few of the many ways you can incorporate chia seeds into your diet.  Have fun and be creative!

So have any of you tried chia seeds?  If so, what do you think of them?  Feel free to write about your experiences or comment on this entry :)