Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Cha-cha-cha-Chia

I am now a big fan of Chia seeds. They have no taste and can either add crunch or soft volume to the texture of the food. But the benefits... Here are a few from the following website: http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/chia-seeds/premium.html


7 Good Reasons To Start Eating Chia Seeds

7 Good Reasons to Start Eating Chia Seeds
  1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
  2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
  3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
  4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
  5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect againstinflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
  6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
  7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.


5 comments:

  1. Have you tried the "chia egg" yet?

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  2. No Chia egg yet, and did you know you can replace half the butter in a recipe with Chia... Not sure what you're supposed to do for the other half?

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  3. we have been using them everywhere. Sprinkled on salads, stirred into coconut milk yogurt, added to soups and rice dishes. Really they are plain enough to put almost anywhere. Dad likes them sprinkled on peanut butter toast!

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  4. Ann, I'm Danesa, Nichole's friend. We met at her house when you still lived in SD. (you and i went to ucla together!) I and *sort of* my family have adopted a plant-based diet recently, as well, prob around the same time as you. It's been an adventure! But I feel great, too, and it's def the best health choice for us. (lots of bad family health history) I use chia in my oats in the morning to thicken them... eat them as "overnight oats," but only soak for 20 min or so. The chia really adds a great creaminess when added to nondairy milk. Have fun! I'll enjoy reading your blog!

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