The word ‘Chia’ means strength in the Mayan language and we think that’s pretty good reason to tell you about these little super-powered seeds. If you were alive in the 80s and 90s, you most certainly remember those silly terracotta novelty gifts that used chia seeds to sprout little ‘fur’ onto figurines. And have no fear, they are still around today in case you wanted one of your favorite political candidate! 🙂 More seriously, though, did you also know Aztec warriors ate chia seeds to give them high energy and endurance? They said just 1 spoonful of chia could sustain them for 24 hours. Nowadays, consuming chia seeds is becoming more and more popular and can easily become part of your everyday life…for good reason!

Why are Chia Seeds so good for you?

• Omega-3 Good Fats
  • protect the heart by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation
  • give nourishment to the brain and nervous system
• Fiber
  • curbs appetite and helps you feel full faster
  • promotes bowel regularity and healthy stools
  • prevents insulin resistance: produces good environment for fat loss
• Protein
  • repairs and rebuilds damaged tissue, including muscle
• Packed with Vitamins & Minerals & Anti-Oxidants
  • lowers inflammation and protects cells from damage
  • strong bones, healthy skin & aging
  • good recovery after workouts
• Prevent Dehydration when soaked in water
  • simply mix 1:10 ratio chia to water – they’ll expand and absorb, keeping you hydrated after you consume them
  • If consuming without soaking in water, be sure to drink lots of extra fluid to prevent dehydration

For more info on the benefits of chia seeds, check out this article.

How can I eat Chia Seeds?

Chia seeds are so tiny and tasteless, they can really be added to anything. You can keep whole or grind up. We enjoy a Tbs or so in smoothies, sprinkled on salads, as a ‘dip’ for bananas, mixed into oatmeal, in baked goods, as a pudding, peanut butter energy balls and even just plain with water. ↓ ↓ ↓

In fact, you may have seen Mike chug his favorite powerhouse drink 🙂 – forget expensive lab-made energy drinks and whisk this up in your kitchen: 1 ounce of chia seeds to 12 ounces water. Let it sit for awhile (best if overnight) and the seeds expand into a gelatinous form. It’s a very interesting texture but for those who don’t mind, it certainly is an excellent way to flood your body with awesome nutrition. Let us know if you dare try it – it is something that will make your body feel good pretty quickly. You can even add lemon or orange essential oil or throw in some fruit slices as it sits overnight for a fancy-feeling infused drink.

Where can I find Chia Seeds?

Chia seeds can be found in virtually every grocery store in pre-packaged bags and certainly every health food store in bulk bins. Commonly, they’re in the nuts or baking aisle or even in the vitamin section.

You can also buy chia seeds online…we enjoy the Real Food Eaters Buyers Club, where we recently purchased a 5 lb bag of organic chia seeds at wholesale cost! That’s a lot of powerhouse drinks…and maybe even some leftover for a chia pet of our own. 🙂