The power of chia seeds

I bought myself a bag of Chia seeds today. 
Have you ever heard of it? 
Well, this seed is usually referred to as superfood. This made me as curious as excited to try it out.

Chia is a seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, that grows in Mexico. The first discovery dates back to the time of Mayan and Aztec cultures. 
"Chia" literally means strength. Those seeds were used by these ancient cultures as source of energy packed in for for their running messengers. Those people were used to carry a small pouch of seeds together  with them. 
Chia has also been described as Indian Running Food because of the incredible energy that it can deliver whenever necessary. 

From a nutritional perspective this all makes sense. Infact,  chia seeds are a concentrated of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, antioxidants, and calcium. 
Their size is also a quality: due to the fact that they can absorb an amount of liquid that is many times their size and weight, they are excellent to prevent dehydration during exercise or exposure to heat.

The capability of making you feel full is yet another property. This means that a meal with chia seed should make you eat less while still giving you the nutrients that a superfood can give.
A dream, for those who are on diet.

But let me insist on the benefits that this special seed can give. Chia seeds will

• boosts strength
• bolsters endurance
• levels blood sugar
• induces weight loss
• aids intestinal regularity

Now, let's assume you got your bag of seeds. How would you integrate into your diet? 
The mild, nutty flavour of chia seeds makes them quite easy to add to foods and beverages. They are usually sprinkled on cereals, sauces, vegetables, rice dishes, yogurt or mixed with drinks and baked goods. They can also be mixed with water and made into a gel.

Here is a delicious recipe for breakfast, something I personally suggest:

Ingredients

2 tablespoons chia seeds
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup cashews
2-3 fresh pitted dates, or dried pitted dates soaked in water overnight to rehydrate
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
fresh or frozen blueberries

Preparation

Since chia seeds rapidly absorb fluids and take on gelatinous properties when soaked, they can be considered an ideal nutrient-dense pudding base. 
Soak chia in water for 15 minutes. In a blender, combine with the rest of the ingredients, except the blueberries, and blend until smooth. Transfer to serving bowl and top with blueberries.

Enjoy!

Love,

Caroline