Chia Seeds

Remember chia pets? I had this exact one when in jr. high!

Well apparently the little seeds are really really good for you. And I mean really good! I've come across them in a couple of healthy recipes, so I thought I'd look into buying some. Last weekend before I made a breakfast casserole I headed over to our local Whole Foods in search of these little seeds. They weren't as expensive as I thought and are so tiny they must go a long way.  After I came home I looked up more info about them and was shocked how nutritious they are!! I literally have been sprinkling them on everything I eat. Ask Bryson, he'll tell you! I'll put them on my yogurt, salad, sandwich, rice, mac n' cheese, ice cream and veggies! They have a little crunch to them, but no taste.  

Here are a few health benefits I discovered:

1. Antioxidants. Chia seeds are an excellent source of antioxidants containing even more antioxidants than fresh blueberries. The high amounts of antioxidants in Chia seeds also keeps the oils from going rancid - contributing to a long shelf life.


2. Water loving. The seed can soak up ten times its weight in water. When inside your body, the seeds help you stay hydrated longer, and retain electrolytes in your bodily fluids.


3. Endurance enhancing. Chia seeds are known as the "Indian Running Food". The ancient Aztec warriors would only eat chia seed during their conquests.


4. Omega-3. Chia is the richest plant-source of this healthy oil. By weight, chia contains more omega 3 than salmon, and it still tastes like whatever you want! Omega 3 oil is important in heart and cholesterol health. It’s also recently been targeted as a weight-loss helper. USA Weekend magazine also reports on a study where overweight dieters who included omega 3s in their eating plan lost 2 more pounds monthly than the control group, who did not.


5. Weight-loss. The essential fatty acids contained in Chia seeds helps to boost metabolism and promote lean muscle mass. The seeds are sometimes added to food to provide bulk and nutrients while adding very few calories. For these reasons, many people have found Chia quite useful in weight loss and weight maintenance.


These are just a few facts, read more about them here and here. Why wouldn't you want to eat these?!


Enjoy!