Ch, Ch, Ch, Chia
The following article has been moved from a former Raw blog of mine that is no longer active.
The other day I was in the store looking for a gluten free oatmeal like cereal from my partner. The only thing I was able to find was rice based, which has been an irritant for him as well. I decided to see if I could find a raw alternative, so we could both enjoy it. I found a product call Chia Goodness. They had two flavors: Original and Apple Cinnamon. I picked up the Apple Cinnamon flavor and it was amazing.
You may best know Chia from those kitschy commercials about the Chia pets with the catchy jingle. Chia is an incredible superfood. It is very filling and tasty. When you add it to 2 – 3 x the water or milk (I particularly like coconut milk) and let it sit for 5 – 6 minutes it forms a gel like porridge substance. Chia Goodness has all the seasonings already in there. We fell in love with it.
You can also buy chia seeds themselves and add your own fruits, sweeteners and spices as you would a oatmeal or porridge. There are many other uses for chia seeds. Just do a simple Google search. I recommend picking up a bag from Raw Food World. You can get it from them through Amazon.com at a great price.
Health Benefits
The following are some of the benefits found in chia seeds reprinted from this Associated Content article:
Packed inside a tiny chia seed is protein, omega-3 oil, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and calcium. Tiny chia seeds don’t stop with what’s packed inside of them, once eaten, chia seeds provide energy, lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease, stabilize blood sugar, provide the daily requirements of fiber, vitamins and aid in weight loss. Huge health benefits from a tiny seed, but the chia seed isn’t done yet.
Chia seeds are extremely versatile. Chia seeds can be eaten as is, ground and put into baked goods, made into a gel and added to any recipe or dissolved in water and used as a fiber drink.
The tiny chia seed still is not done showing off it’s health benefits and versatility. Chia seeds can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 years since they never go rancid. Chia seeds are easy to carry with you and are readily available online or in health food stores. Now for the big question about tiny chia seeds that provide huge health benefits, how do chia seeds taste? Chia seeds have very little taste, which makes them acceptable to even the most discriminating palate.
A chia seed consists of 20% protein, 34% oil and 25% fiber. The high protein content in chia seeds is enough to provide the full daily requirement of protein. The chia seed is said to be the richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and water soluble dietary fiber, supplements that we commonly add to our diets for their health benefits.
Chia seeds have natural gel forming properties that slow digestion and help keep blood sugar levels stable, which aids in the prevention and/or control of diabetes. The feeling of fullness after eating chia seeds aids in weight control and weight loss. Chia seeds are packed with vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin E and calcium. Huge health benefits from tiny chia seeds.