The Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Reader Contribution by Faith Moser
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Faith Moser is the creator of eco ike {organic baby t’s + cookbooks full of yummy, healthy and quick recipes for kids and grown-ups}! If you want your kids to grow, live, eat & play green, visit ecoike.com.

I love chia seeds! Lately, I have been throwing them in baked goods, cereal and sometimes savory dishes.

When you hear chia, you’re probably thinking chia pets… and you would be right–these little seeds are nutritional gems and help your clay pet grow hair (but please, only buy your seeds from a health food store!).

Chia seeds look like poppy seeds and have almost no taste. They are a member of the mint family and pack a lot of nutritional punch! One ounce of seeds (approximately 2 tablespoons) has:

• 4.9 grams of omega 3 fatty acids 
• 11 grams of fiber
• 4 grams of protein
• Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3

They are gluten free and vegan. The seeds are a great alternative to flax seed. They have a longer shelf life than flax seed and do not have to be ground to release the omega 3s (and they actually have more omega 3s than flax seed!). 

I find chia seeds to have no taste, which makes them the perfect addition to any dish. Throw them into salads, yogurt, smoothies or a pasta dish.

They pack a crunch and are loaded with health benefits. What are you waiting for? Grab some ch- ch-ch- chia seeds! 

Image: Photo By Marek/Courtesy Fotolia

  • Published on Mar 13, 2012
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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