CHIA...Pet? SEEDS!

Okay, I have been SO excited for awhile to tell you all about my new favorite discovery...CHIA SEEDS! I would describe its amazingness in my own words, but one of my favorite bloggers, Iowa girl eats, describes the benefits of Chia seeds much better than I, soooo.....

What are Chia seeds??? They are:

1. Nutritious. Chia seed provides ample calcium and protein to your tissues. The seeds are also rich in boron, which helps the body assimilate and use calcium.

2. Water loving. The seed can soak up ten times its weight in water. When inside your body, the seeds help you stay hydrated longer, and retain electrolytes in your bodily fluids.

3. Easily digestible. The shells are easily broken down, even when swallowed whole. This is an improvement over flax seed, which have to be ground up to be digested properly. If you eat flax seed whole, it will just pass through.

4. Mild tasting. Unlike some seeds, the flavor is very mild. They won’t change the taste of the food you add it to but will add to your nutrition!

5. Energy enhancing. The health pioneer Paul Bragg did an experiment an endurance hike with friends. They divided up into a chia-eating group and another group, who ate whatever they wanted. The group eating only chia seeds finished the hike four hours, twenty seven minutes before the others, most of whom didn’t even finish at all.

6. Versatile. You can use them uncooked in salad dressings, spreads, fruit shakes, ice cream, and just about anything you want. You can also add them to cookies, cakes, muffins, and other baked goods.

7. Regenerating. After eating, the nutrients travel to the cells very quickly due to the ease in digestion and assimilation. Use them when you want to build or regenerate healthy body tissue.

8. High in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help prevent free-radical damage in your body. Free radicals lead to problematic conditions such as premature aging of the skin and inflammation of various tissues. Chia seeds help fight free radical damage.

9. Complete Protein Source. Chia seed is one of nature’s highest plant-based sources of complete protein. Usually protein from items like peanut butter
and some beans are incomplete, meaning you have to combine them with other foods to get the full benefit. The combination of complete protein, vitamins, minerals and blood-sugar balancing gel all work together to make sure you have steady energy.

10. High in Omega-3 Oils. Chia seed is the richest plant-source of omega-3 oil. By weight, chia seeds contain more omega-3 than salmon! Omega-3 oil is important in heart and cholesterol health.

Chia seed seems to do it all, no?

Wanna know MY favorite way to eat Chia seeds? I put it in my Chobani yogurt, let it sit for a minute to soften and and thicken and it's ready! I love my greek yogurt even better with Chia seeds because it makes it extra thick...the chia seeds have NO taste, so it won't bother the flavor of your food AT ALL You can also add in fruit, oatmeal, whatever you want! I also stick a scoop in my protein drink and that gives it an added boost. L-O-V-E IT!

I went on the Hy-vee tour with some ladies from church and the dietitian grabbed the chia seeds right off the bat and told us what a great super food it is. Along with all that it is doing for my body that I am not so aware of, I have SO much more natural energy than before and MUCH more endurance at the gym in the evening after a long day at work.

Have I said enough about this stuff?? Well, when you find something so beneficial to your health, you would be one selfish person if you did not share with all your friends and loved ones. Since being diagnosed with RA a few yrs ago, I have awakened to a new realization of the importance of nourishing and nurturing my body.

You can find Chia seeds in the health food section of most grocery stores...near the flax seed and such. For all my Iowa friends, I buy mine at Hy-vee. A container is about $10.00 and lasts a LONG time...you only need a scoop a day. Try it out and let me know what you think!