Chia seeds. Who would’ve figured, when you got or gave (last minute gift shopping, huh?) a chia pet for the holidays, that those funny little creatures sprouting green hair actually contained a secret about something crazy good for our health … before sprouting?
There’s so much goodness for your health in those little seeds, it’s almost a must to add to what you eat. Which, good news, is damn easy. Sprinkle them on whatever. Mix them in whatever. You won’t notice much taste change, but you’ll get all the benefits. C’mon, can it get much simpler?
One caveat – if you don’t eat a lot of fiber, go slowly. Don’t buy a package of chia seeds and promptly put spoonfuls in you. Your tummy may rebel from all the fiber. Start with a small amount and gradually increase as all feels well.
Now, the short list of great things chia is going to do for your well being:
Blood sugar control
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance seems to be taking over lately. Thanks to their fiber and gelling action, chia seeds slow down your body’s conversion of carbs into sugar. So, adding chia seeds to your meal will help level out your blood sugar instead of sending it on a roller coaster, which is a killer to good health.
Natural energy
Nature gave us chia seeds as one of the most perfect sources of energy. The combo of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega 3s help supply you with a steady supply of the energy you want. And, unlike “energy” drinks, their natural energy will keep you going when you need it but not damage your health or keep you wired at night.
All the good stuff
Enjoy two tablespoons of chia seeds, and you reap the benefits of 10 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, more calcium than milk, more omega-3s than salmon, more iron than spinach and more antioxidants than blueberries. That’s a power-packed bunch of little seeds!
I use chia often to make a fake egg. One tablespoon of chia mixed in 3 tablespoons of warm water creates this gel-like substance that works pretty well as an egg. Well, not as a scrambled egg, of course! But it’s awesome if you need/want it in something like almond meal pancakes.
Sprinkle chia seeds on your salad. Mix them into your smoothie. Just remember, if you add them to anything liquid, they will tend to make it more gel-like.
Another few recipes I like, to get you started. (And, of course, you can Google chia seed recipes and come up with lots more ideas.)
One or two of these keeps me going for a long time. Totally powerful little morsels of goodness!
Tried this for breakfast. Was delicious but not my best choice to keep me fueled for long enough. Great snack, though.
Chocolate Chia Almond Pudding Cake
Perfect when you crave something sweet! So easy, too. Don’t skip the cream cheese topping; it’s what makes this, in my opinion. Skip the Truvia. Use stevia that is all stevia instead. (Confused? Read this: How to buy stevia that is actually good for your health.) I also didn’t use the xanthum gum and didn’t notice any problem with the recipe.
