Chia Seeds are powerful and awesome for your body

Big benefits in a tiny package package Chia seeds are packed with powerful nutritional punch. they’re naturally gluten/grain free, One tablespoon of chia seeds has more calcium than a glass of milk, more omega-3s than salmon, and more antioxidants than blueberries. Evidence shows they can also boost energy, stabilize blood sugar, aid digestion, and lower cholesterol.

So how can we add more of this little seed to our diets? chia seeds can be added to anything and everything! they are tasteless, and won’t affect the flavor of your food, you can easily integrate chia seeds into all your meals.

If you would like to give chia seeds a try…here a few great ways to get started:

Egg Substitute

Because chia easily absorbs liquids and turns into a gel, it makes a good egg substitute for baking. Blend one tablespoon ground chia seeds with three tablespoons of water and use the gel to replace the equivalent of one large egg in your baking recipes.

Breakfast Topper

looking for a quick omega-3 punch in the morning, simply sprinkle a teaspoon of seeds on your fruit, add them to your cereal/granola, mix them into your yogurt, or even in your pancakes. You won’t even taste the difference.

Antioxidant Smoothie

If you don’t really like the crunchy texture of the seeds, you can pump up the protein and fiber of any smoothie by adding chia gel (for one serving, soak a teaspoon of whole chia seeds in one tablespoon water.) This antioxidant breakfast smoothie from Whole Living is high in vitamin C and sure to become a new favorite.

Thicken Soup or Gravies

If you don’t use cornstarch or flour, it can be a challenge to thicken different recipes. Just add a couple tablespoons of chia seeds (powdered or not) at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Breading” for Fish, Chicken, Meatballs

Mixed with some almond flour and garlic powder, chia seeds make an excellent “breading.” They toast up well and provide a nutty, crunchy flavor without the grains. You can also throw in a couple tablespoons of chia seeds (per pound of meat) in place of bread crumbs in your meatballs and meatloaf.

Make A Healthy Pudding

Forget store-bought pudding cups, chia seeds make a perfect homemade and healthy pudding. Soaking chia seeds in sweetened almond milk, thickens to form a tapioca-like treat.

Jellies And Jams

Since the seeds have this amazing ability to make things jelly-like – they make great, well, jams and jelly! Puree blueberries, raspberries or strawberries and add chia seeds for an easy homemade jam.

Chia homemade Energy Gel for endurance or hydration

Energy gel is a great way for athletes to get a kick of energy during a long training session or race. The problem is that it’s normally pure sugar with no real nutrients. It’s also pricey!

To make your own: soak a 2:1 ratio of coconut water to chia seeds for 10-12 hours in the refrigerator. It will keep in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.

Scar Remedy

The Aztecs used chia gel to treat their wounds in order to avoid infections and promote healing. The same gel above can also reduce inflamed skin. Apply the chia get on a scar, and watch the redness fade away.

Face Mask

Use two teaspoons of chia seeds, half a cup of coconut oil, and one teaspoon of lemon juice and mix well. Add a few drops of bergamot essential oil and a drop of vitamin E for skin that is particularly dry. Let your mask set for a few minutes, then use a damp, lukewarm washcloth to remove using circular motions.