Featured SuperFood : Chia Seeds with Recipes

Chia Seeds

A plant of the mint family, native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, having mostly basal, oblong leaves and small blue flowers; the seeds are primarily used as food. 

Benefits of Chia

• Regulates blood sugar levels.
• Rich in antioxidants.
• Boosts energy levels.
• Anti-inflammatory properties.
• Helps reduce blood pressure.
• Helps improve brain function.

The humble ancient chia seed is a powerhouse of nutrition all packed into one tiny little shell. If you are looking to boost your nutritional intake, then these are one amazing superfood to add to your diet. Not only are they a wonderful source of protein to help build beautiful hair, skin, nails and vitally important muscles and red blood cells; they also have a large range of essential and non essential amino acids and fiber that help promote healthy heart and circulation.

Oprah Magazine Features Chia Seeds

4 Exotic Grains That Can Improve Your Health. These ancient superfoods from all corners of the world are worth rediscovering

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Aztec Seed of Strength

A long, long time ago -- the chia seed was cultivated and eaten by the ancient Aztecs, Incans, and Mayans and was considered a staple food alongside corn and beans. “Chia” is the Mayan word for “strength”.  Full of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals (especially calcium and iron) with the distinct advantage that its natural antioxidants make its delicate healthy fats more nutritionally stable.

The Power of Chia

Chia seeds are an excellent source of dense nutrition with their healthy omega oils, easily digestible protein, and antioxidants. In fact, chia is so high in essential fatty acids that it contains eight times more omega-3s than salmon, gram for gram. Also full of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals (especially calcium and iron), chia has much in common with flaxseed, with the distinct advantage that its natural antioxidants make it’s delicate healthy fats more nutritionally stable. Research has linked this valuable food as a being beneficial for many health issues, including diabetes, hypoglycemia, celiac disease, and lowering cholesterol.

7 Good Reasons to Start Eating Chia Seeds

1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.

2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.

3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.

4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.

5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!

6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.

7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up. Nutrition expert Dr. Weil said, "A healthful and interesting addition to my diet. My prediction? You will begin to see chia being added to more and more commercial products, such as prepared baby foods, nutrition bars, and baked goods."

Have a Chia Boost by adding it to your daily routine ..

Below are some raw food recipes, try some of them to use as a 'spring-board' for creating and enjoying your own. Note that Chia is highly hydrophilic – meaning the seeds have a unique ability to absorb liquid and form a gel. This makes it especially good to use as a thickening agent in recipes like soup, smoothies, or enjoyed as a pudding with a touch of sweetener.

Chia Chocolate Truffles (Gluten Free)

1 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup coconut water
4 Tbs. raw carob
1/2 Tbs. Chia Seeds

Blend the walnuts and dates in a food processor until reaching a smooth texture. Mix in the carob, coconut water and chia seeds. Form dough into small balls and chill before serving



Chocolate Chia Pudding

2 tsp Chia Seeds 1 tsp Maca Powder and cacao powder
1 tbsp Almond Butter
2 ounces almond milk
dehydrated coconut shavings (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree. Garnish with coconut shavings and serve. You can control the thickness of the pudding by adding more or less almond milk.

Chia Cacao Squares 
 
1/4 cup chia seeds soaked in 1/2 cup buko juice
1/2 cup coco nectar
1 cup organic almonds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or pepitas
1/2 cup shredded coconut meat
1/4 cup cacao beans

Using a food processor grind nuts, cacao and seeds. Place in a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.Press into lightly greased with coconut oil a 9x13 glass cake pan. Chill for several hours, then cut into squares. Serve...enjoy :)


Pineapple Vanilla Chia Pudding

This pudding is frosty, light, and totally delicious. I find that the vanilla really kicks up a simple fruit blend. I sprinkled dried or dehydraed, chopped pineapple on mine.
2 tablespoons white chia seeds
1 cup water
1 cup diced, frozen pineapple
1 small frozen banana
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Coco Sugar, to taste

Shake the chia seeds and water in a tightly sealed jar or container. Make sure the seeds aren't clumping at all. If they are, break them up with a spoon. Allow the chia to soak in the water for at least 10 minutes, or as long as 12 hours (overnight). Add all ingredients to the blender and mix until smooth and creamy, adding coco sugar to taste.

Mango-Sago/Chia

4-5 tbsp chia seeds 1-2 mango
1tsp maca
1 tsp cinnamon
handful of goji berries
handful of pumpkin seeds

Blend the mango. Pour out the mixture into a bowl. Stir in the chia seeds, maca, cinnamon, gojis and pumpkin seeds. Leave the chia to soak for at least 10 minutes before consuming.

Chia pudding

This pudding is my favorite way to eat the SUPER nutritious chia seed, which is a complete protein, and an excellent source of calcium. The Aztec messengers, running from place to place constantly, could subsist on just a handful a day!
4 tablespoon chia seeds
1 banana
1 teaspoon mixed cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice
1 1/2 cups water
2 piece dates



Blend banana with the spices with 1 cup water to make a thin smoothie. Pour the mixture over the chia seeds. Stir a couple of times so it won't clump. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes inside the fridge.

To serve, top it with your favorite fruits and nuts.

Blueberry Chia Pudding

1/2 cup chia seed gel 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 teaspoons lucuma powder
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
Vanilla creme stevia, to taste

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
*5 tablespoons chia seed mixed with 2 cups water

This is a delicious superfood shake. You can serve it in a martini glass rimmed with agave and cacao powder. It adds an extra special kick for ever sip you take!

Banana-nut Bread

2 cups vegetable juice pulp (preferably at least half carrot) 8 tbsp ground chia
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup raisins
5 bananas

Mix together the veggie juice pulp and bananas in a food processor. Add in the ground chia and let the food processor run until the seeds are completely mixed in. Transfer the mixture to a bowl with the walnuts and raisins and mix them in thoroughly by hand. Shape into a loaf. For major yumminess, top with 'Cream Cheese' (see below).

Cream Cheese

Flesh of three avocadoes 9 dates
juice of 1 or 2 lemons
big handful of dulse seaweed

Blend.

Chia Green Tea

2 cups Green Tea
6 tablespoons hemp seeds or Pili nuts
1/4 cup Coco Nectar
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 vanilla bean
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of sea salt
6 tablespoons chia seed
1/4 cup dried cranberries or goji berries

In a blender, combine green tea, hemp, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Blend to make a smooth cream. Pour into a medium sized bowl. Add chia seeds to the bowl and whisk to combine. Let the pudding sit for 20-30 minutes allowing the chia to absorb the liquid. Stir a couple of times to avoid lumps. Pour into glasses and sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg. Garnish with dried cranberries or goji.

Wild Rice Chia Salad
 
2 cups sprouted Wild Rice
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp calamansi juice
1/2 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of dried rosemary, oregano and cayenne pepper

1/4 cup Chia Seeds (soaked in 1/2 cup water)
1 zucchini thinly sliced
1 tomato chopped
2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

In a large bowl. Combine oil, chia, lemon, garlic, salt, herbs in jar, and shake well to mix. Pour over rice and lightly toss. Cover and let cool. Stir in vegetables and sprinkle on Nutritional Yeast. 
Enjoy !

Featured SuperFood : Maca with Recipes

SuperFood Maca

Superfood enthusiasts know all about the incredible nutritional powers of maca. This superfood, grown in the high Andes mountains in Peru, is packed with vitamins, minerals, proteins, tannins, complex alkaloids and other phytochemicals. It's one of the favorite powders to add to any smoothie, and it's used by virtually all the raw foodies and superfood advocates.

If you visit Macchu Picchu and hiked there over a 7-day walk, clambering up and down steep mountain sides your lungs heaving in the thin air. Spending one entire day climbing UP through a pass at 14,000 feet. It was called "Dead Woman's Pass".. The climb was grueling.

It was soon followed by another entire day spent climbing DOWN, which turns out to be just as brutal on the legs. Imagine walking down a flight of stairs that goes on and on for eight hours... that's what this was like.

After seven days of hiking and climbing, you'll arrived at a crest overlooking Macchu Picchu, the "city in the sky" that was built by the Incas. And there, your jaw just about dropped to the ground when you looked at the scene below and saw the 20-ton boulders that had been dragged up the mountain side by the thousands in order to build this ancient city.


You would stood there, marveling at the magnificent scene below, you thought to yourself "I just barely dragged myself up the mountain! How on earth could these Incas -- using virtually no technology -- lift 20-ton rocks up steep mountains and drop them into place as temple walls?"

Clearly, these folks weren't surviving on Big Macs and Diet Pepsi. They were eating quinoa, spirulina and maca root powder. They lived on superfoods.

What is maca?

Maca is the powdered root of the Lepidium Meyenii plant. Known for its ability to support healthy energy levels, maca has been used by the Incas as a kind of "Incan superfood" for thousands of years.

It was a central part of the Incan diet when they built Macchu Picchu, in fact.

As we all know today, you can't build a city in the sky when you're living on processed junk foods. And the metaphor is true in your own life: Whatever mountain you are attempting to climb right now, superfood nutrition can help you get there! Whether it's maca, or chlorella, or hemp protein, these superfoods can help give your body (and your mind) the level of nutritional support you need to accomplish great things.

Try something new in your life!

Maca is one of those life-changing superfoods. If you've never tried it before, pick up a bag right now and blend a teaspoon of maca powder into your morning smoothie. It goes great with chocolate smoothies, avocado smoothies, and even strawberry and banana smoothies!

Maca tastes a little like roasted chicory root, which tastes a little bit like coffee. But it's not a caffeine stimulant like coffee. Rather, it's considered an "adaptogenic" herb that supports healthy energy without blasting your nervous system with chemical stimulants.

If you're new to maca, try just 1 teaspoon at a time. Then notice the difference in your awareness or energy levels. It's a subtle but very real effect, and I believe maca is one of the superfoods that gave ancient Incas the nutritional support to achieve great things in their own lives -- things we continue to marvel at today.

The active constituents of maca

Dried maca is approximately 60% carbohydrates (starches and sugars), 9% fiber, and slightly more than 10% protein. It has a higher lipid (fat) content than other root crops (2.2%), of which linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid are the primary fatty acids, respectively.

Maca is also a rich source of plant sterols, including sitosterol, campestrol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. From a mineral standpoint, maca exceeds both potatoes and carrots in value, and is a source of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iodine.
 Find yourself depending on coffee for a boost in the morning? Why not try maca instead? Maca is a root from Peru; it's a tuber, like a potato, and offers an amazing energy boost for those with low energy. Maca however, unlike coffee, offers energy in a non-caffeinated way that supports the body.

Maca is a nutritionally dense super-food that contains high amounts of minerals, vitamins, enzymes and all of the essential amino acids. Maca root is rich in B-vitamins, which are the energy vitamins, and maca is a vegetarian source of B-12. To boot, maca has high levels of bioavailable calcium and magnesium and is great for remineralization.

Maca root helps balance our hormones and due to an over abundance of environmental estrogens, most people's hormones are a bit out of whack. Maca stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and pituitary glands which are the "master glands" of the body. These glands actually regulate the other glands, so when in balance they can bring balance to the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, ovarian and testicular glands.

Instead of providing hormones to the body, maca works as an adaptogen which means that it responds to different bodies' needs individually. If you're producing too much of a particular hormone, maca will regulate the production downward. However, if you're producing too little, it'll regulate the production upward.

Hormones regulate many things including mood, growth, sexual development, and tissue function. Hormones also play a role in many diseases, like cancer and depression.

Maca root has been shown to be beneficial for all sorts of hormonal problems including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes. Maca's also a fertility enhancer and is best known for improving libido and sexual function, especially in men. For this reason, it's earned the nickname "nature's Viagra."

Enjoy the Benefits of Maca as Food

Maca has a light, nutty flavor and some easy, delicious ways to consume maca powder as a food are to: Stir a teaspoon of maca in a bowl of vegetable and lentil soup before serving; sea salt and maca root are a wonderful soup flavoring. Add a teaspoon to any herbal tea. Pour maca powder over organic, non-microwaved popcorn and flavor with coconut oil and sea salt. If you're not watching your sugar intake, mix a bit of maca powder with enough grade B maple syrup or honey to produce a wet paste, and enjoy with a spoon. It's a delicious dessert-like treat, and it's great on bananas too. If you're one who "needs" a sweet fix, this is delicious and healthy way to do it.

It's recommended to start with a 1/2 teaspoon a day, and work up to a teaspoon or two a day over the course of a few weeks. If you're taking it daily, it's best to take a day off each week.

Maca is a food staple in Peru and there are no known effects of toxicity. However, occasionally some people experience adverse effects when they start taking maca, and these symptoms may actually be detoxification. This is because when a body more accustomed to consuming processed and cooked foods starts taking in such a nutritionally dense supplement, the body will absorb the superior nutrients it needs and "throw off" the old junk it doesn't need for elimination. If this happens, you might feel badly but it generally lasts just a few days. You may also want to consider doing colon and liver cleansing before or while taking maca to quickly remove some of the waste your body is trying to eliminate. Doing so will help with many adverse symptoms.
High up in the Andes mountains grows a plant called lepidium peruvianum. The roots of this plant, also called maca, are prized by the local farmers and villagers for their utility as food and as a medicinal herb. For over two thousand years, the special qualities of the maca plant’s roots have been sought out, all the way to the time of the ancient Incan civilization. So prized was maca for its energy and libido enhancing abilities that its use was reserved for only the members of the royal court. After the Spanish conquistadores took over the area, maca was exported back to Spain and used by the Spanish royalty for the same purposes. As the years went on, maca and its special qualities was forgotten by all but the indigenous people of the Andes, who still grew the plant and enjoyed its benefits.

This all changed in the 1960’s and 80’s, when teams of scientists from Germany and America rediscovered this unique functional food and its unique properties. Under scientific analysis, maca’s roots have been shown to contain large amounts of protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and essential fatty acids. They also contain abundant quantities of vitamins B1, B12, and C. It is rich in the minerals iron, calcium, selenium, and magnesium, containing almost 60 different phyto-nutrients. Maca also contains significant amounts of p-methoxybenzyl, a known aphrodisiac. Maca has been classified by scientists into what they call an adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural foods or plant products that were beneficial to a person’s overall health without having any negative side-effects. Maca’s status as an adaptogen is reputed to be one of the things that help the indigenous people of the Andes Mountains survive in high altitudes with minimal oxygen.

The health benefits of maca are well documented. Its high nutrient content and its unique ability to stabilize and regulate the endocrine system have been validated repeatedly by scientific research. The endocrine system is what control of our body’s hormonal levels, making it responsible for many aspects of our health. Maca has been shown to boost the energy levels of people suffering from deficiencies of their adrenal glands, a component of the endocrine system. In boosting the body’s endocrine functions, maca also works to enhance the immune system, and may be used to help treat a whole host of conditions and diseases. It is recognized as a natural method of relieving the symptoms of menopause, including mood swings, night sweating, and hot flashes. By normalizing the body’s chemistry, maca has also been shown to help people deal with stress better, and relieving the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Maca’s endocrine system regulation also helps people afflicted with ailments of the thyroid and thymus glands, and has been shown to have the capability of reducing enlarged prostates.

What maca is mainly known and prized for is as an aphrodisiac. Its chemical composition and its unique regulation of the endocrine system have been shown to improve sexual desire and fertility in people, regardless of their gender. Clinical trials have shown that a diet with maca can boost a man’s libido, along with his semen quality and sperm count. Women who take maca also experienced an increased libido, along with decreased incidences of vaginal dryness, menstrual cramps and other reproductive problems. It has been shown to help in cases of sexual dysfunction. Maca achieves all these effects without directly affecting the amount of hormones in the body. It simply makes the endocrine system more efficient in how it uses the hormones we already have. Because of this, maca is considered a safe, all natural alternative to controversial hormone replacement therapy.

Maca may be eaten raw, but in most cases it is cooked, as it is easy to integrate into meals. Dried maca roots may be ground up into powder, which can then be mixed with flour for use in baking any number of breads or treats. Maca’s complex fibrous structure also lends itself to gelatinization. Maca consumed with water will turn to gel in the digestive system, where its fiber-rich structure will work to clean the intestines, promoting better nutrient absorption.

Because of its sheer nutrient content and medicinal benefits, maca has been hailed as a super food. It is all natural, and its use has no known negative side effects. Our maca powder is of the highest quality, derived only from plants grown organically high up in Peru’s Altiplano. 

My personal experience with Maca

by David Hidalgo

This stuff is awesome!!

We've been carrying maca for years and for so long i have believed in what it can do because of what our customers have been saying. But the truth is, it was only 2 months ago that i started using maca. I know... how hypocritical of me. But let me tell you why today i can't let a weekday go by without taking maca.

The first time i tried it, i took a teaspoon of it and gulped it down with water. It was hard. But i noticed the effects kicking in immediately - i had more drive at work and i couldn't believe how high my energy level went up!

To me, having the motivation, the gusto, bravado - or whatever you wanna call it - to take on the challenges at work with so much "GRRR" is more than enough reason to take Maca everyday.

But there's another effect that fascinate me... It's effect on Endurance. While chia seeds has this endurance enhancing effect, the difference is like this:

Chia is great for overall nutrition. When you work out, chia is definitely a better partner than maca, no doubt about that. When you're running or performing any cardio workout, what chia does is it allows you to get what athletes call "second wind" faster and it lasts longer. 

Maca on the other hand, doesn't do as much in terms of nutrition, but you will definitely feel the surge in overall power right away. And what i noticed was that when i run, i don't need to get a second wind because i DO NOT get tired. 

What happened was this: 

For months, i made it a point to go to the gym to lift weights and then run in place at home, on hard floor, wearing nothing but socks. Doing this for the first time forces you to strike with the ball of your feet, thereby activating muscles in your calves you never knew existed before. They will hurt.

I run as fast as i can to make sure that i'm out of breath within 30 minutes. But when i'm on Maca, while my body gradually heats up like normal,  i noticed that my breathing remains long and deep and my heart rate is just a little faster than when i'm relaxed!! I was blown away the first time i did it when i'd been running for 2 hours and my lungs and heart are still the same and my muscles aren't getting sore!!

Everytime i do it it's the same thing over and over again. I'm trying to figure out a way to have a clinical trial done on this that doesn't involve me plunking a lot of my own money. Because i think that if we can prove that maca has this kind of powerful regulating effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, we can help a lot of people.

I add 2 teaspoons of maca to my instant coffee powder and mix it BEFORE adding water. Doing this prevents clumping. I only take maca Monday-Friday because i work out on those days. If i take maca and i don't use up the energy at the gym, i end up wanting to expend elsewhere (if you know what i mean) ... and i have to be good on Sundays.

Anyway, that's my story. If you've got a story to share on what Maca does for you, let's hear it! If you want to write a long one like this, go ahead and we may publish it in our weekly newsletter :)  

To get your Organic Maca Powder, Text (0919) 2127190

We also sell it in bulk for those interested in
reselling it or using it as an ingredient in their products

Raw Choco-Chia "Munchkins" You can make this in 5 minutes !  1 tablespoon Virgin Coconut Oil (or plain butter) 1/4 cup Coco Sugar 1 cup Rolled Oats 2 tablespoon Raw Cocoa Powder 2 tablespoon Maca Powder 1/4 cup whole Chia Seeds 2 tsp Vanilla Extract 1/4 cup Water   Anyway, this treat is very easy to make, very surprisingly good. It's chocolatey, crumbly, and very fun to chew on. And it's very filling too! Three pieces and you're full. But that only means your guests are going to take some home with them =) Try it and tell us how it goes! We'd love to hear from you. Got questions? Comments? Suggestions? Give us a call or shoot us an email. 890-9161  (0919) 2127190 healthspringph@yahoo.com  We especially love it when you leave product reviews and testimonials :)

Boost your immune system the fun way! Bee Pollen is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial super foods ever. It's both very healthy and fun to eat! Mix it in ice-cold yogurt... It's awesome! Cacao Nibs for Nibbling! Our Organic Cacao Nibs are fresh, delicious and the best priced online! It's the natural healthy fix for your dark chocolate craving!