ch ch ch CHIA!!!!

Chia Seeds!!! They are becoming more and more popular and customers have been asking me about them at the store! I put them on my salads, in my smoothies, on my oatmeal, and love to sprinkle them on my steamed veggies!!

Chia seeds are an ancient seed which was a major part of the diet of the Aztecs and the Mayans. The Chia seed is a whole grain so you are getting the goodness of the whole seed. They come in black and white and there is no difference in smell and taste, only a very small difference in the nutrition. It is more a personal choice as to what you find more appealing.

Chia seeds are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. And it has another advantage over flax: chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. And, unlike flax, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc.

Another advantage: when added to water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, chia forms a gel. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar.

Because of its nutritional value and stability, chia is already being added to a range of foods. Research has shown that adding it to chicken feed makes for eggs rich in omega-3s. Feeding chia to chickens enriches their meat with omega-3s; fed to cattle chia enriches milk with omega-3s.