Tuesday 31 May 2011

Fast and easy recipes with chia seeds

recipes with chia seeds
If you want to start using recipes with chia seeds and are strapped for time you will be happy to learn that there are some chia seeds recipes that you can complete within a matter of minutes. Here I will give you a couple of these recipes so that you can start enjoying all the benefits of eating chia seeds.

The first of the recipes with chia seeds I will share with you is how to make the basic chia gel which you can use as a thickener for other food items. All you need is some chia seeds and some water; mix 1/3 cup of the seeds with 2 cups of water, stir and allow to stand until the seeds have absorbed the water.

For some more quick recipes with chia seeds you can make sweet chia shortbread. All you need are 5 tbsp of chia seeds, 2 tbsp lucuma powder, 2 cups apple juice, ¼ cup pumpkin seeds and ¼ cup dried mulberries. Allow the chia seeds to soak in the apple juice along with the other ingredients then let it stand for around 10 minutes then you can enjoy.
One of my favourite quick recipes with chia seeds is the chia fresca. You only need 2tsp of chia seeds for this recipe along with the juice of one lemon or lime and some honey or agave syrup to taste along with 10 ounces of water. Just stir all the above ingredients and chill and enjoy this refreshing drink.

Another one of my favourite quick recipes with chia seeds is the Fruity chia. You will need 2 to 3 apples, 8 dates, ¼ cup mulberries and 5 tbsp chia seeds. Blend the apples along with 6 of the dates and transfer this to a bowl. Mix in the mulberries as well as the chia seeds and top with the remaining 2 dates chopped. Leave this to stand for around 10 minutes before eating.

Enjoy these quick and easy recipe with chia seeds while making healthier nutrition choices.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Chia Seeds: The Super Food

Chia Seeds SuperfoodIn the Mojave desert all the way down to Argentina grows a super food which only recently has become globally popular.  This is chia seed which belongs to the mint family and goes by the scientific name Chia Salvia Calumbariae. The benefits of chia seeds have long been known to Native Americans and the the ancient Aztec tribes.

Chia seeds can be roasted, mixed with water and eaten as gruel.  It can also be ground to powder and used as flour in baking.  One of the benefits of chia seeds is the energy boost it gives.  A mere tablespoon of chia seeds in a glass of water can sustain a man to go on a 24-hour march.  Long distance hikers now eat these seeds for this same reason.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Among all crops, chia seeds contain the highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids.  A whooping 60% of chia seed composition is omega-3 fatty acids.  Herein lies the amazing health benefit because omega-3 fatty acids prevent cardiovascular problems and improve mental and visual functions.

Protein

Compared to other nutritional grains, chia seeds have higher protein content and the protein it contains is complete as it contains all the essential amino acids.  Protein constitutes 19 to 23% of the total weight of chia seeds.  This concentration of protein explains the benefits of chia seeds in muscle building and wound and tissue repair.

Fiber

The high-fiber composition is yet another one of the many wonderful properties of chia seeds.  A third of their weight is fiber so that a 15-gram serving of chia seeds provides 5 grams of fiber.  Fiber aids in bowel cleansing and cholesterol removal.

Calcium

Maintaining bone density, blood pressure regulation and weight control add up to the benefits and this is because of the high calcium content.  A 2-ounce serving of chia seeds has 5 times the calcium of a glass of milk.

Antioxidants

Chia seeds contains 3 times more antioxidants than blueberries.  This high antioxidant content accounts for the protective benefits against oxidative processes which lead to cancer formation.

Potassium and boron

In addition, chia seeds contain potassium which is essential for blood pressure regulation and boron which is vital for bone health.

The evidence is overwhelming.  The benefits of chia seeds are multitudinous hence it is undoubtedly a super food.