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.
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."
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 !
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 !
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