Chia Seeds For Protein and Omega 3


by Matt Monarch

The name chia comes from the Aztec word for 'oily', which is 'chian', and this explains well what one of the main benefits of chia is; it is very high in omega-3 acids, which are a type of unsaturated fats.

It's easy to get mixed up between omega-3 and omega-6; basically, omega-3 acids are the fats which are not so easy to come by. They're in fish oils, flax seeds, kiwi seeds, and chia seeds, amongst other things. Omega-6, on the other hand, is found almost everywhere you look: nuts, vegetable oils, avocadoes, etc. As important as omega-6 oils are to our health, the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 is equally important. As it is so easy to consume plenty of omega-6, it is very easy to end up with an unbalanced consumption of the two types of oils, which are also known as essential oils. When it comes to the amount of omega-3 oil in various seed oils, the chia seed has the highest content, just above kiwi seeds, perilla and flax.
Most health conscious people will be more familiar with linseeds than they will be with chia seeds. So, if you've ever put a spoon of linseed into some water and left it for thirty minutes, you would have returned to find a kind of glutinous solution, kind of like a gel. Well, the same thing happens with chia seeds, which is another reason that they are so good for you; they act the same way in your gut. This means that they are really good for your digestive system, providing both a high amount of fiber, and also this action of forming a gel like solution moves through your body and cleans up as it goes. It's also thought that this gel physically prevents the fast breaking down of carbohydrates in the body, by slowing down the action of the enzymes on the carbs.

The chia seed was once a staple food of the Aztecs, loved for its ability to sustain and to give endurance. Actually, you could live off chia almost entirely, because it has 19 amino acids, with all of the essential amino acids except taurine. It also has more iron than spinach, more calcium than milk and even more antioxidants than blueberries.
So, how do you consume it? Well, you can grind it up into a meal called 'pinole' and add it to just about anything. In Mexico, they mix the whole chia seeds with water or fruit juice to make something they call 'chia fresca' which translates as 'fresh chia'. You can also sprout them in much the same way as you sprout alfalfa seeds and use them in salads.

Source: www.naturalnews.com

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Previous Comments

Giorgio Nicola commented on 03-Mar-2010 11:00 PM5 out of 5 stars
How do you translate Chia in Italian?
Theresa Broughton commented on 03-Mar-2010 11:12 PM5 out of 5 stars
I would suggest a raw whole food called Mila - it is 100% chia that is laboratory tested (Twice per batch) and it is micro-sliced and very easy to use in any food or drink - no need to soak the seeds or grind and destroy 3 the nutritional value of the oils.
Sheila Morgan commented on 04-Mar-2010 12:35 AM5 out of 5 stars
As stated previously, "Mila" by Lifemax is the #1 delivery system for Omega 3's in the world. There is no horrible after taste as in fish oil and no harmful side effects as in flax seed. Just a healthy whole raw food that is a renewable resource and does not deplete the oceans of a food source for other creatures of the world. Safe for all ages.
meenakshi kumar commented on 04-Mar-2010 01:07 AM5 out of 5 stars
by what name you can find chia in india
Debbie Davis commented on 04-Mar-2010 01:20 AM5 out of 5 stars
I also would suggest Mila. It is the highest quality blend of the Chia seed. The nutrient value depends on the conditions of the soil, growing conditions, etc. The seed is micro-sliced so that it is absorbed by the body. The nutrient content is not destroyed by grinding.
Anonymous commented on 04-Mar-2010 01:49 AM5 out of 5 stars
The last comment says that the "nutrient content" is not destroyed by griding! I'm very skeptical of that comment as what make this product different than any other fruit, vegetable nut or seed on the planet? All when exposed to air "oxydize" and lose nutritional value! ALL!
Tulsa Homes commented on 04-Mar-2010 03:12 AM5 out of 5 stars
I have been on Mila now for just a little over two weeks and I have seen amazing results. I would recommend everyone get on Mila ASAP so you too can live a better quality life!
tree commented on 04-Mar-2010 04:06 AM5 out of 5 stars
You cannot sprout chia the way you sprout alfalfa, you have to use a different method or you will end up with a gelatin. You sprout it the same way you would flax.

Also, your body can handle chia in whole form, unlike flax which requires grinding
Raye Chapman commented on 04-Mar-2010 04:15 AM5 out of 5 stars
MILA is amazing. To Anonymous on 3/4: MILA does not oxydize. MILA, a blend of chia seeds is grown around the equator. There are over 150 varieties of chia. Some have no food value. Google Dr. Wayne Coates who rediscovered the seed in 1991.
Anonymous commented on 04-Mar-2010 05:13 AM5 out of 5 stars
My favorite way to consume chia is to make chia pudding, in which I make sprouted almond milk, and mix 1/4 cup of chia with 1-1.5 cups of the milk, sweetened with maple syrup, coconut, dates, whatever, and shaken in a jar off and on until it thickens :)
Kate Larson commented on 04-Mar-2010 07:50 AM5 out of 5 stars
Where is Chia available to purchase in Australia?
Anonymous commented on 04-Mar-2010 08:45 AM5 out of 5 stars
Hi Kate, I am buying my chia in my local health food store in Oz. (Healthy Life).
Anonymous commented on 04-Mar-2010 09:01 AM5 out of 5 stars
can someone tell me where to purchase Mila. Also what does it contain::
Sarah commented on 04-Mar-2010 12:14 PM5 out of 5 stars
Hi! I bought excellent (and well priced) Western Australia Chia on EBAY and I've never been so happy to have such an easy to use product, that makes me feel great, in my diet, I juice and add some chia that has soaked for 10 mins in a little water to give me some extra fibre and omph! I love the Chia pudding idea though!
I can't recommend it enough! :) with a little chia in your day!
Beryl Downunder commented on 04-Mar-2010 04:55 PM5 out of 5 stars
The comments are very interesting,I have seen the chia seeds in our local
organic store but am not sure about "Mila" or where to buy in New Zealand
any help! would be appreciated
Nancy commented on 05-Mar-2010 06:39 AM5 out of 5 stars
Actually chia seed also contains omegs-9 fatty acids called oleic acid. Olive oil is also high in oleic acids. Oleic acids are known to be very heart healthy, supporting healthy cholesterol levels, even lowering LDL and helping to raise HDL.
I am a clinical herbalist and work in the world of integrative medicine. Chia not only is an amazing superfood, but it's production is really helping to support Mexican farmers who would otherwise be very economically depressed.
Bobbi Smith commented on 05-Mar-2010 10:19 AM5 out of 5 stars
Mila by Lifemax, is the best Chia on the market by far, Not only is it a blend of many different chia seeds to assure the high levels of Omega-3's, protein, fiber, antioxidants and phytonutriants. It is also meticulously cleaned, and tested by two independent laboratories for quality.....no other product on the market goes through this process. Plus, Mila is micro sliced, to retain the oils in the seed.....if chia is ground, you can loose a lot of the nutrients. Mila, is 99.9% bio-available.
Chris commented on 05-Mar-2010 01:35 PM4 out of 5 stars
You only destroy the nutritional content of food when it is processed (ground, cooked, left in contact with air/oxygen) and left for a while before consuming. Therefore, if you grind it and put it in the fridge it will last longer, but it is better to grind and eat straight away. If Mila is finely sliced and not stored in an air excluded pack in the cold, I am sure it is as nutritious as Chia seeds. Oxygen is a free radical - it is looking to hook up, and it will hook up with Chia, Mila, or any food, cell, or element inside or outside your body. I eat my flax whole as a desertspoon on top of my museli.
Denise commented on 08-Mar-2010 12:21 PM5 out of 5 stars
How much chia should you consume daily?
Geoff commented on 11-Mar-2010 05:17 PM5 out of 5 stars
Sounds like a few comments here from an employee of Lifemax !!
Jazzy commented on 17-Mar-2010 02:14 AM5 out of 5 stars
Could you just add Chia seeds to salads? Or is it important to grind them first?
pati commented on 27-Mar-2010 01:24 AM5 out of 5 stars
I was thinking the very same thing Geoff.

Thank you to the anonymous person who posted the Chia pudding. Very helpful to have a yummy recipe like that.
Sisi commented on 23-Apr-2010 11:44 PM5 out of 5 stars
I don't understand how people buy mila by lifemax. It's ridiculously expensive. I mean come on, a 1 pound bag costs $55. I buy mine for $6. All the people who posted good things about mila on this page are simply distributors trying to sell it. I don't believe it's the best on the market like they're trying to convince us. What this company has going for it, is its marketing campaign and that's what's convincing people that it's better than other sources when that's simply not true.
Hera commented on 23-Apr-2010 11:47 PM5 out of 5 stars
If you swallow chia seeds whole in water, does your body absorb the nutrients or do you have to absolutely chew them first?
Rich commented on 10-May-2010 11:22 AM5 out of 5 stars
Wow give me some. Sisi says 'I buy mine for $6' Let us in on a secret. Where is the best place to buy in New Zealand? Thanks
dress up games commented on 18-Jun-2010 06:52 PM5 out of 5 stars
Where is the best place to buy in New Zealand? Thanks
debt settlement commented on 01-Sep-2010 03:24 AM5 out of 5 stars
Chia seeds are great for sure. However there are some problems with purchasing them in some states. Of course there is always the way to buy them through the internet. Moreover prices are lower there. Thanks for the great article here and keep publishing them in the future too.
Kristen commented on 05-Apr-2011 10:32 PM5 out of 5 stars
We eat chia on our breakfast cereal, yogurt, applesauce and the like. Whole Foods carries it for $9.99/lb.
K commented on 20-May-2011 08:45 AM5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely love chia seeds. I put some in my oatmeal every morning and I just love how it makes the texture. They have virtually no taste but I can detect a sort of nuttiness when I put them in my oatmeal, which I love. For those asking where to buy
it in New Zealand, I just get mine from the bulk bins at my local supermarket (Pak 'n Save in Botany, Auckland).
sunbug commented on 04-Jan-2012 01:13 PM5 out of 5 stars
I'm wondering the same thing that Hera asked above, "If you swallow chia seeds whole in water, does your body absorb the nutrients or do you have to absolutely chew them first?"
Food Matters commented on 04-Jan-2012 02:15 PM5 out of 5 stars
Hi There, Your body will still absorb the nutrients whether you have them whole, chewed or ground. Yours in health, Rachel @ Food Matters
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