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You may have heard of Chia Pets but maybe you haven’t heard of the beneficial impact that the Chia seeds can have on your health. Chia seeds have been in a sense “rediscovered” only in the past five or ten years, but the ancient Aztecs and other Native American civilizations counted on them as a fundamental part of their daily diet.

Chia, also known as Salvia Hispanica, is rich in proteins,  and one of the most unusual and unique qualities of these seeds is their ability to absorb about nine times of their volume if soaked in water or juice. This enables the body to prolong its level of hydration, making Chia suitable for people involved in sport activities. Furthermore, the gel-forming property of the seeds causes a slowing down of their digestion process and balances the level of blood sugar, which can be useful in preventing or controlling some forms of diabetes.

One of the easiest ways of preparing Chia, is to put one tablespoon of seeds in a glass of water or juice, stir to avoid the formation of any clumps, let them soak for 5 or 10 minutes, stir again and then drink. Otherwise you can let them soak longer and use the resulting gel, adding it to jams, jellies, peanut butter, milkshakes, smoothies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, barbecue sauces, etc. as a substitute of more fatty ingredients, for energy and endurance, or for added great taste. To prepare the gel:

Fill a sealable plastic or glass container with nine parts of water and slowly pour one part of Chia seeds into the water, then mix with a wire whisk or fork. This process will avoid any clumping of the seeds. Wait a few minutes and stir again to break up any chunks, let stand ten minutes, and stir again. Put the container in the fridge, and store there up to two weeks. Add the gel, between 50 to 70 percent by volume, to any of the above mentioned foods, or any other if you feel like experimenting, then mix well, and taste. You will notice a very smooth texture, that respects the integrity of the flavor, but you have added 50 to 70 percent more volume to your food and have displaced calories and fat by incorporating an ingredient that is ninety percent water!

But what are the benefits of the Chia seeds? Here’s a summary:

• Weight control: mixed with orange or other fruit juice, the gel-like seeds can be a fundamental part of a nutritious breakfast that leaves one feeling full and without hunger until noon.

• Research is being conducted to show how Chia may prevent and/or overcome Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

• High level of Omega-3 and Omega-6: Chia is the vegetable source with the most Omega-3 content, which along with Omega-6, is highly beneficial for the health of the circulatory system and of the central nervous system.

• High concentration of alpha-linolenic acid: This substance lowers the risk of heart disease, blurred vision, and numbness.

• Native people have used chia gel on wounds, for colds and sore throats, for upset stomachs, body odors, prostate problems, and even constipation.

• High level of B vitamins and calcium: By volume, one ounce of Chia contains two percent B-2 (riboflavin), 13 percent niacin, and 29 percent thiamin, and trace amounts of all B vitamins. In roughly two ounces of Chia (100 grams), there are 600 milligrams of calcium, contrasted with 120 milligrams of calcium in the same amount of milk. That’s five times as much calcium than milk!

• Chia also contains boron, which is needed for bones. Boron is needed to aid the metabolism of calcium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus in bones and for muscle growth. Boron also can increase the levels of natural estrogen.

• Early results in current cancer research with Chia show promise in this area.

• Chia is an excellent source of fiber – one serving can provide 30% of the daily requirement.

More information about Chia can be found in the excellent book:

Buy Chia Seeds 3 Pound (Chemical Free)