A teeny tiny superfood.

Ever hear about chia seeds, the tiny seed that has been cultivated since 1500 BC by Aztec and Mayan cultures. Recently chia has become popular in the North American natural health/food market, boasting about this miniature high-nutrition seed being high in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, protein, and fibre.

Here are some fun facts about chia seeds:


- they contain more omega oil than flax seeds
- the name chia actually comes from the Aztec word "chian" meaning "oily"
- they contain more antioxidants than blueberries
- they contain more calcium than milk
- they are thought to help regulate blood sugar
- they are being researched for increasing endurance in athletes
- they have almost twice the protein content/serving compared to other grain sources

Despite having known about chia for over a year, I admit I haven't regularly eaten the stuff. I purchased whole seeds but found they got stuck in my teeth. So I ground the seeds into a flour using a coffee grinder. I'm more apt to eat the chia this way and would like to see how I feel when consistently using them. It's kinda cool, if you soak the seeds in water they'll swell up into a gelatinous mass - great for thickening shakes, mixing in oatmeal/yogurt, partially substituting in recipes for butter, or even just to float around in a drink with lemon and limes.

Oh! I almost forgot to share the funnest fact of all! Incase you were wondering, yes the Chia Pet hair are the sprouts grown from Chia seeds!