I have been hearing about chia seeds
for a while now as they seem to be a hot topic on many health and food blogs (KathEats is always sprinkling them on something). They sounded intriguing but I had never seen them available in a store until this week when I spotted them at Sunflower Market. They were in one of the bulk bins and on sale for $3.99 a pound. Perfect time to try them!
for a while now as they seem to be a hot topic on many health and food blogs (KathEats is always sprinkling them on something). They sounded intriguing but I had never seen them available in a store until this week when I spotted them at Sunflower Market. They were in one of the bulk bins and on sale for $3.99 a pound. Perfect time to try them!So what are chia seeds? Are they the same thing as chia pets?
Yes, the “fur” on a chia pet is actually the sprouts from tiny chia seeds.
The seeds themselves are from a plant called Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. This little “superfood” is rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain calcium, fiber, protein and iron. Unlike flax seeds, they do not have to be ground to be utilized by the body.
Chia seeds can be eaten raw, ground and mixed in with flour for baking, or added to water to form a gel. In Mexico and Central America, chia seeds are mixed with water, sugar and lemon or lime juice in a drink called “chia fresca.”
I decided to sprinkle some chia seeds over my breakfast: a bowl of plain yogurt with blackberries and a drizzle of maple/agave syrup. The seeds were a bit nutty but didn’t have a strong flavor. I enjoyed them, but they did get stuck in my teeth! I look forward to experimenting with chia seeds over the next few weeks. I think they will be an easy way to get a “superfood” into my diet.
Have you ever tried chia seeds?
I've been using chia seeds for the past couple of weeks! I too used them in yogurt, sprinkled them on cereal, and lately I mixed one tablespoon with just enough water to get them down. A few minutes later, I drank a glass of water. They seemed to curb my appetite!
I've been experimenting with many new (to me) "superfoods.". I'm doing my own anti-oxidant, cancer-fighting food program. :))). Trying to stay ahead if the curve. :))
Anita
I love chia seeds and eat them every single day. š Apart from in smoothies or baked goods, I love them in a simple chia pudding. (If you soak them this way, they soften up and the pudding is almost like tapioca–delicious).
Yes! I put them in my oatmeal and just blogged about it (the oatmeal, not the Chia). I do it for the health benefit, while the entire oatmeal "concoction" fills me up.
No, I never have but I have been really curious to know what they taste like since I've been hearing about them so much recently. Nutty sounds good, are they similar at all to the taste of flax seeds? I'll have to find some and try it for myself.
My cousin sprinkles them with peanut butter on her kids sandwiches. With the crunch of peanuts she says they don't notice them and they get a healthy does of what they need.
So, this is a bit off topic, but I had to comment because I just learned something new- I didn't know that flax had to be ground in order for the body to metabolize it. All this time I thought I've been doing my body good with flax seeds, and now I know I need to buy ground flax. Thanks for the tidbit!
Thanks for the comment Anita, please share what other "superfoods" you are experimenting with!
Ricki, that pudding sounds so easy and delicious. I can't wait to try it! What kind of liquid do YOU use?
Brittany, sprinkling them on peanut butter is brilliant!
Holly, not off-topic at all. Glad you know now!
[…] inspiredrd on January 20, 2011 Last week, I posted about the health benefits of chia seeds. I received lots of comments. Many of you enjoy chia seeds on a regular basis, and many […]