Chia seeds are Superfoods owing to their dense nutrition. Potency of Chia seeds was discovered long back by Aztec warriors who used Chia seeds as food for sustained energy release. Chia seeds have more Omega 3 fatty acids than fish on weight basis. They are also rich in dietary fibre with 26 % of daily fibre available in just 2 tablespoons of Chia seeds. Chia Seeds pack more protein than eggs and can be a great substitute for eggs in baking. Chia seeds have a rare full amino acid profile which is very much like meat protein. Chia seeds are thus one of the richest vegetarian sources of Omega-3 good fats, protein, antioxidants and fibre.
With so much of dense nutrition to offer, it is natural for mindful eaters to include Chia seeds in their daily routine. Chia seeds are easy to digest and can be eaten straight out of pouch too. Unlike flax seeds, Chia seeds do not need to be made into a powder for consumption. However, one should remember to drink one glass of water per tablespoon of Chia consumed since it has so much of fibre in it.
Chia seeds have complex carbohydrates which swell up on hydration resulting in a jelly like texture. This is one reason Chia seeds can be easily used for making low calorie delicious deserts. One can easily mix Chia with fresh juices or coconut water and let it sit till it swells up as jelly. Topping it up with cut fruits and nuts makes it more appealing. It is also very easy to include Chia seeds as a sprinkler on smoothie, cereal, yogurt or salads. This also enhances nutty taste of the dish.