These natural chia seeds are small in size but huge in health benefits! Members of the Salvia Hispanica family, chia seeds were a prized food to the ancient Aztecs and Mayans. Chia is actually the ancient Mayan word for strength, and the tiny seeds were valued for their energy-boosting properties. This is no surprise, as they deliver a massive amount of nutrients including fibre, protein, omega-3, calcium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus. In fact, just a small 28-gram serving contains roughly 40% of your RDA for fibre, 18% RDA of calcium, 30% RDA of manganese and magnesium, and approximately 27% of your RDA for phosphorus. Another area in which they shine is in their anti-oxidant properties. Research from the Nutritional Science Research Institute has shown that chia seeds have the highest amount of antioxidants, equal to or greater than dark berries like blueberries. Together, these factors all contribute to aiding things like weight loss, bone health, diabetes, gut health and metabolism. As well as this, chia seeds are a whole grain, making them high in dietary fibre. No wonder they are said to be among the healthiest foods in the world! Comes in a resealable foil-lined pouch for added freshness and easy storage, also making them great for sharing.
The beauty of these little power seeds is that they are extremely easy to be included in your diet and can be added to almost any food. Sprinkled onto salads and breakfast cereals, mixed into desserts or smoothies, they can also be eaten raw, added to baked goods, yoghurt, vegetables or rice dishes alike. They can literally be thrown into any dish. Why not also try using it as a coating instead of breadcrumbs for a gluten-free alternative. Chia seeds are among the few super-foods that are actually worthy of that term, and adding them to recipes will dramatically boost their nutritional value. One word of caution though, chia seeds form into a gel-type substance when mixed with liquid, so if eaten raw or mixed with water, they can become hard to swallow, so caution is advised in this instance.
