Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are from the Salvia hispanica plant and are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which support cardiovascular health, aid in proper digestion, boost the immune system and nourish skin, hair and nails.
Three Cheers for Chia!
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
• Good source of fiber and aids in weight loss
• Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids (more than flax seeds), which stabilizes cardiovascular and mental health, restores energy and decreases inflammation
• Omega-3 inhibits the production of androgen, hormones that affect the production of sebum that can cause acne when overproduced by the body
• Unlike flax seeds, they do not need to be ground to make nutrients available to body
High in antioxidants, magnesium, calcium, proteins, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc
• Chia seed absorbs more than 12x its weight in water aiding in digestive health and hydration
• Long shelf life (up to 3 years)
• 3 Tbsp of Chia Seeds will give you approximately 1 Tsp of omega 3 oils
• No fishy flavor like fish oils
• Gluten-free and raw
Children who had increased amounts of omega-3 fatty acids performed better in school, in reading and in spelling and had fewer behavioral problems
-ScienceDaily (July 9, 2008)
According to recent studies from Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina, chia seeds full of the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) omega-3 may increase long chain omega-3 EPA (which have the highest health benefits) by 30% in the blood of postmenopausal women.
This whole grain once used by Aztecs as a main energy source, are great to sprinkle on salads, cereals, yogurt, soups, pasta, casseroles, oatmeal, eggs, smoothies or any foods to add nutritional benefits. If you want to disguise it cook it in your oatmeal. The seeds can be ground up to make flour usable in any recipe or can be used like cornstarch as a thickening agent. Sneak the mild tasting seeds into any foods for your fussy eaters.
Recommended serving size = 5 tsp daily (based on the daily amount of omega-3 fatty acid recommend by a number of nutrition organizations)
