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Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Plus How to Use and
Where to Buy Organic Chia Seed
Discover the health benefits of Chia Seeds from weight loss, running endurance, and
lowering cholesterol
to how to use and eat them. Plus where to buy organic chia seed in bulk and small quantities.
Health Benefits of Chia Seed
Chia is high in omega 3 fatty acids which help your heart, brain, and immune system operate properly.
Its soluble fiber is good for lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol while maintaining HDL (good) cholesterol.
It is also rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and manganese. See how Chia compares, nutritionally, to other
whole grains by visiting our whole grain comparison charts.
What Are Chia Seeds
Its name is derived from the Aztec word "Chian" meaning "oily". Used as a grain and pressed for oil, this seed was so valuable
to the Aztec people they used it to pay tribute (taxes) to their Emperor. It was also called the "running food" and was said
to be the only thing Aztec warriors carried for food during long treks and conquests. A small pouch of this grain was
carried by their side not just because it was nutritious but because it was small and light enabling these warriors to run
unencumbered.
According to Jesuit historians Chia was used in Aztec religious rituals. Spanish colonists attempting to stop these non-christian religious practices discouraged the use of this grain. For hundreds of years it was only cultivated by a few indigenous peoples in remote areas of North and South America.
The Chumash and Paiute tribes of California were still eating Chia (a native species to their lands) in the late 1800s when white settlers
came to California.
Today Chia is gaining popularity as a health food. Finally coming out of the shadow of the Chia Pet, this nutritious grain is
emerging from obscurity to regain some of its former glory.
How to Use and Eat Chia Seed
The fact that they are tiny but packed with nutritional value and virtually tasteless, makes these seeds an
easy and healthy addition to soups, breads, smoothies, and yogurt. Soak them to form a jell (absorbing 12 times their weight in water) that can be mixed into fruit juices, smoothies, and
yogurt. They can also act as a binder in flat breads to reduce or eliminate the need for lard or oil. Explore
the possibilities.
This is where you will find out where to buy these nutritious seeds in bulk and in smaller quantities
locally and online...
Your Chia Seeds Recipes, Tips, and Techniques?
Do you have a Chia Seeds health tip, cooking trick or favorite recipe? Post it here and the most popular entries will also be highlighted on our homepage!
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