CHIA BRO

Mmmmmm Chia. What is this wonderseed you speak of, Hannah? Native to Guatemala and Southern Mexico, this is one kind of latino seediness we could all use a good dose of!

It's in my LSAC mix, it's awesome in smoothies, sprinkled on cereals, salads and soups, used in breads, baking and puddings. Here's why it's so flippen good: 

• Chia seeds can hold 9-12 times their weight in water, and when they swell up, they work like an incredible digestive broom, sweeping through your intestinal tract, helping to dislodge and eliminate old accumulated waste in the intestines. Many people find they become more regular once they eat chia. 
• This incredible ability to hold water helps you prolong hydration and retain electrolytes, especially during exertion.
  
• Chia is gluten free
  
• It is very high in dietary fibre, making it great for digestion and healing digestion issues.
• It contains 20% Omega 3 ALA, making it a super food for the brain and heart. Chia has eight times more Omega 3 than salmon!
• It's 20% protein - a complete protein with all 8 essential amino acids
• It is high in antioxidants (It has a four times higher ORAC value than blueberries). Because of the high antioxidant content, the seeds stay stable for much longer, whereas flax, for example, may turn rancid. Chia seeds can be stored dry for 4-5 years without deterioration in flavour, odour or nutritional value. Plus, you can substitute chia in any recipe that calls for flax.
  
• Chia contains five times more calcium than milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones
• Chia contains seven times more vitamin C than oranges
• It contains three times more iron than spinach
• It contains twice the potassium content of banana
• It is food for healthy skin, hair and nails
• It has a positive impact balancing blood glucose levels (making it awesome for diabetics)
• Chia makes a great egg replacement. Just combine with water to form a gel, and add it to recipes that call for egg.

CHIA RECIPES

Chia Fresca
2 tsp chia seeds
300ml pure water
Juice of one lemon or lime
Raw honey to taste

Cinnamon Chia Pudding
4-5 tbsp chia seed 
1 cup almond milk
1 cup coconut milk
Dash cinnamon
raw honey or maple syrup to taste

Runners energy gels
1 Tb chia seed, ground
1 Tb coconut oil
1 Tb lemon juice
1 Tb honey
3 soft dates
1 tsp lemon zest
pinch salt

Blend all ingredients until smooth. This makes one gel. Or, make a batch and freeze what you do not need. The mixture remains soft when frozen.

Endurance Crackers
1 cup Chia seeds
1 cup linseeds
½ cup cacao powder
½ cup honey, maple syrup or natural sweetener of choice
½ cup raisins

Soak the Chia seeds and linseeds overnight in 2 ½ cups of water. Add the other ingredients and mix thoroughly. Spread onto baking paper and score lines (makes for easy breaking later) and bake at 50 C for several hours or until crisp. Alternatively, use a dehydrator – dry for 12 hours then flip and dry a further 6 hours.

Chia Seed Porridge

1 T Chia seeds
1T linseeds
1T cacao or cocoa powder
1T honey, agave or maple syrup
1 cup any kind of milk

Soak everything overnight and enjoy for breakfast!


Chocolate Chia Pudding:
1 cup nuts (almonds for low-fat pudding)
1/2 cup coconut milk (or rice milk)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds or meal
1/8 cup raw cacao
2 medjool dates (pitted)

Whiz up in Blender and enjoy


Add to your smoothies, cereals, juices or try these delicious Caramel Banana Cookies sprinkled with chia seeds from the beautiful Petite Kitchen.