Secret Ingredient: Chia Seed

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The natural world is diverse, complex, and breathtakingly beautiful. It’s also filled with remedies, healing oils, powerful herbs, and food that nourishes, heals… and tastes amazing! 

With that in mind, we’re creating a “Secret Ingredient” series that highlights an amazing natural ingredient that’s packed with healing power. From time to time, we’ll share a post like this one to give you another natural, tasty tool in your battle against pain and inflammation. 

And, as a bonus, we’re going to throw in a recipe so you can start experimenting right away!

Our first Secret Ingredient is chia seed… 

Ch-ch-ch-chia! Way More Than Meets the Eye

Remember Chia Pets? Some genius in 1977 created a terracotta head that grew sprouted chia seed hair, and it enjoyed viral popularity. Many of you probably remember the iconic commercials that graced Saturday morning cartoons for the entire decade of the 80s. By the way, I discovered that Chia Pets are still alive and well…you can find chia political figures, superheroes, and this amazing Chia Yoda and enjoy a bit of nostalgia on your windowsill.

But I digress.

It turns out that those little black seeds were good for much more than providing green hair for a novelty clay planter. In fact, they are tiny powerhouses of fiber, nutrients, and minerals…plus, they’re a great source of omega 3 fatty acids (the type that most of us don’t get enough of). And, when they get wet they produce a thickening gel which gives these little seeds a unique quality that’s helpful in many recipes.

Ready to learn more about chai seeds?

Nutrition, Fiber, Anti-inflammatory Factors, and Hunger-curbing Power

You’ll be astounded at what these tiny super-seeds can do. Chia seeds are…

• Anti-inflammatory, due to high levels of ALA.
• Low-Calorie, but high in nutrients. A few spoonfuls go a long way.
• Fiber rockstars! You can get nearly an entire day’s worth of fiber in just a small helping.
• Hunger-curbing. Chia seeds slow digestion and leave you feeling full for a long time.
• A great source of high-quality protein. Much higher in protein than most plants, these seeds are especially good for those who don’t eat animal protein.
• Rich in minerals. Calcium, magnesium, manganise, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B and potassium, to be specific.
• A great source of antioxidants. 
• High in omega-3 fatty acids. This is the disease-fighting fat that’s found in fish, avocados, and flaxseed.
  

Unique Health Benefits 

With all the nutrients, fiber, and good fats that chia boasts, it’s not surprising to discover that these seeds have unique healing properties. Here are a few of the most prominent benefits:

• Reduction in heart disease. In studies, chia showed promise in lowering triglycerides, raising HDL levels, and reducing high blood pressure.

• Adding chia to your diet may help with insulin resistance, reducing blood sugar spikes after meals.

• Chia is great for your bones. In fact, it contains more calcium than most dairy products as well as phosphorus and magnesium, which are vital to bone health.

• The anti-inflammatory properties of chia seeds have been shown to reduce C-Reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).

• Chia is great for your digestion. The seeds slow things down, allowing nutrients to be absorbed and leaving you feeling full for longer. They are also a great pre-biotic, feeding the “good” bacteria in your gut… which can help achieve the healthy microbial balance that’s so vital to good health.

And… They Even Taste Good!

All those benefits are useless, however, if the seeds don’t taste good and you don’t eat them. The really great thing about chia is that it’s tasty and very easy to incorporate into your daily diet! In fact, you can put the seeds in smoothies and drinks, make them into a pudding, add them to soups and stews, use them to thicken sauces, add them to baked goods, and toss them into your morning oatmeal.

The seeds themselves don’t have a flavor, which makes them easy to add to both sweet and savory foods. 

To get you started, here’s a recipe for Chia Pudding that’s quick, easy to make, and makes a great breakfast or mid-day snack. Packed with chia, coconut milk, and fruit, this tasty treat can be served either hot or cold!