Saturday, January 16, 2010

CH-ch-ch Chia: The New Health Super Food



Chia seeds are widely considered a superfood, although not too much has been written about them to date. They provide a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids (even better than flax seeds, according to certain circles), and contain high concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid, calcium, antioxidants, fibre and various minerals.
The seeds have a very mild, nutty taste and unlike flax seeds, they can be eaten whole without too much difficulty for people with a fairly robust digestive system, otherwise they should be eaten ground. Like Flax seeds, Chia seeds contain mucilage which is a gummy substance obtained from certain plants that acts as an adhesive. This is what gives them the sticky consistency when they are added to liquids, as they increase their volume, which helps improve digestion, making you feel fuller for longer.
In terms of consumption, Chia seeds are pretty versatile. You can add them to cereals, salads, soups, smoothies, rice… all sorts. (If you are trying to food combine, you should avoid mixing them with other fats - ie. oils, avocado etc - or animal proteins, but other nuts and seeds should be ok. Or you could add them to starches or greens, or acid fruit smoothies). A helping of 1-2tbs is a good sized serving.Andrew Weil, M.D.

(taken from the greenroomblog, written by esther waters)

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