Chia Benefits

Overview

Chia seeds are extremely nutritious. They come from the Salvia hispanica shrub that is native to Guatemala and Mexico where they have been used for foodstuff since the time of the Aztecs. Chia seeds are now being marketed as among the newest “super-foods”. Undoubtedly these small seeds are packed with nutritional value but not all the research supports all of the promises being made.

Nutrition

A 1-oz. helping of Chia seeds includes 139 calories and also supplies 11 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Chia seeds are cholesterol-free and low in saturated fats. They also are an excellent source of calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, and antioxidants.
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This recipe was found at Dailyburn

List of Ingredients
6 servings of Chia Seeds
1 serving of Reduced Fat Milk 2 percent
1 serving of Water, tap, drinking (1 cup 8 fl oz)
1.5 servings of Cocoa powder, unsweetened
2 servings of Xylitol

Recipe Description
Pudding made out of Chia Seeds, 2% Milk, Water, Cocoa powder, xylitol (natural sweetner)
1. Mix seeds, cocoa, and xylitol in a bowl
2. Add Milk and Water, stirring often
3. Let rest for 5 minutes and stir again

Makes three servings of 199 calories each.

It’s already promising to be a very hot summer and this Chia seed recipe will be a real treat on the endless hot afternoons. Thanks to Gen Y Foodie for this tasty recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup frozen pineapple
1/3 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth.
Pour the mix in to Popsicle molds and freeze

Chia Seed also goes very well in smoothie recipes. Find free smoothie recipes at Best Fruit Smoothies.

As reported by Reuters.com on 6/3/11

People who get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids in their diets may have lowered odds of developing type 2 diabetes, two new reports suggest.

In one study, of more than 3,000 older U.S. adults, researchers found that those with the highest blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — two omega-3s found in fatty fish — were about one-third less likely to develop diabetes over the next decade than their counterparts with the lowest levels.

In the other, researchers found that among 43,000 Singapore adults, those who got the most alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in their diets had a decreased diabetes risk. ALA is an omega-3 fat found in certain plant foods, including flaxseed, canola oil and soy.

But before anyone runs out to buy fish oil pills, researchers caution that their findings do not prove that omega-3 fats, themselves, fight diabetes. The fats may, for instance, be markers for some other aspect of the participants’ diet or lifestyle that influences diabetes risk.

People often hope there is a dietary “magic bullet” against disease, noted Andrew Odegaard of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, one of the researchers on the Singapore study.

He advised that people focus on getting plenty of healthy “whole foods” — especially fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich grains, legumes, vegetable oils and fish — instead of any single nutrient. read more »

For many of us, the rising cost of food has had the unexpected benefit of making us more aware of the foods we are eating. As prices continue to rise, it becomes more import to stretch your food dollars and purchase food that is healthy. Below are a couple of suggestions on how to become a more discriminating consumer and eat healthier as well.

Chia Benefits

Of course supplements such as Chia seed continue to play an important part in determining the amount of nutrients your diet provides. For example, Chia provides omega-3 fatty acids as well as a number of other necessary vitamins and minerals. When Chia is partnered with healthy food choices your diet is virtually guaranteed to be healthy. read more »