question from a reader: chia seeds.

Question: What is the best way to eat chia seeds? I hear people talk about grinding them up, and then others say they don’t need to be. What should I do?

Answer: Chia seeds are really amazing little things. These tiny seeds pack quite a nutritional punch! Chia has a little bit of protein, healthy omega-3 fatty acids, tons of soluble fiber (which is good for keeping us feeling full and balancing blood sugar and cholesterol levels), and a good amount of antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. Adding chia seeds to your diet can help you balance your weight, ward off chronic illness (like hyperlipidemia, heart disease, and diabetes), improve digestion, and balance out your fatty acid consumption (i.e., provide you with a closer ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids). Additionally, they are really detoxifying.

But, how do we eat these little things? First of all, to answer your question, we do not have to grind them up. The myth probably stems from the need to grind up flaxseed in order to take advantage of all its nutritional benefits. Flaxseed contains a tough outer shell, which is so difficult to digest that when you don’t grind it up all of the oils and nutrients are never broken down in your system. However, chia does not have a tough outer shell like flax. That being said, you can grind up chia seeds, it is just not necessary for proper digestion.

Another myth about chia seeds is that you shouldn’t heat them up; however, chia seeds can acutally be used in baking. In fact, some people even use chia seeds as an egg replacement! Chia seeds aborb liquids when soaked and the result is a gelatinous substance, similar to the consistency of eggs.

Since we love chia so much, we will share our favorite ways to enjoy chia seeds:

1. Griselda’s Chia Seed Pudding - this recipe is pure amazingness!
2. Added to our morning smoothies (just don’t add too much or you will need a spoon instead of a straw).
3. Sprinkled on salads.
4. In Mamma Chia drinks.
5. In GT Synergy Kombucha Chia drinks.
6. Add to homemade gluten free pancake batter.
7. Mix with peanut butter and let sit for 30 minutes, then spread on gluten free toast.
8. Add to ground meat when making meatballs.
9. Sprinkle on top of cereal or oatmeal.
10. Add to stir fried veggies.

In wellness,

Lauren