You read that right...you can actually eat chia seeds of chia pet fame! (Note: No you can't eat the seeds that come with your chia pet and yes they do still make and sell chia pets). Sounds weird right? Well, after you read this post, I promise you'll at least want to give them a try!
So, what's so great about this tiny black seed? Where do I even begin. A vegan source of: Omega 3 fatty acids (good for your heart, brains, skin, you name it), Calcium (1/4 cup of chia seeds has double the amount of calcium than milk ), Protein (18 grams per 1/4 cup), Complex Carbohydrates (full of fiber) and many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, although tiny chia is simply a super food!
If that hasn't got you hooked, check this out! In terms of weight loss chia seeds are a wonderful all natural tool. At 70 calories per tablespoon sure they are low in calories but here is the kicker. Chia seeds can actually hold up to 14 times their weight in water. So basically, eat these little seeds and they will expand in your belly, keeping you full for a longer period of time, preventing blood sugar crashes and providing you with prolonged energy (now who can't use a little bit of that?). How does one little seed wear so many different hats? Thanks to it's soluble fiber content! Not only does soluble fiber keep you full resulting in possible weight loss, it also removes cholesterol and other toxins from your body! Need I say more!
So now that I've told you all about the health benefits of Chia, how exactly can you incorporate them into your diet?
This is how I started. First I added it to my greek yogurt, a wonderful combination which provided about 200 calories and kept me full for a solid 3 hours! This morning, I tossed a tablespoon into my cereal with unsweetened soy milk instead of my usual ground flax seed (Note: chia seeds contain more omega 3s than flax seed and can be consumed whole whereas flax seeds must be ground in order for them to be digested by your body), and tomorrow I plan on adding Chia to my oatmeal, I'll let you know how that goes.
Other ideas for adding chia to your diet include, sprinkling them on top of salads or even adding them to home-made smoothies and baked goods. Do you have a favorite chia recipe? If so, send it my way, I'm always looking for new things to try!
In good health,
Amy
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