It was going to take something earth shattering and decidedly yummy to lure me from my beloved oatmeal with goji berries breakfast bowl. What I didn’t expect\u00a0was that a chai seed would be the seducer. But then\u00a0life is full of surprises and I was smitten. My world (as I knew it) would never be the same!<\/p>\n
Chia seeds are one amazing YUMMY AGING food! These tiny seeds are packed with fatty acids, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber and protein. They are nutritional powerhouses and a must-eat for every YUMMY AGER!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re like me you\u2019ll want to know why <\/em>they are so great and what exactly they are doing for you.\u00a0 Hang onto your hats…..they are true overachievers!<\/p>\n THE AMAZING CHIA SEEDS HAVE…..<\/strong><\/p>\n ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS — <\/strong>perfect balance of essential fatty acids – 30% Omega3 oil and 40% Omega6 oil give skin a yummy glow.<\/p>\n COMPLETE<\/strong> PROTEIN<\/strong> — contain all essential amino acids to repair muscle tissue and keep body looking toned while raising energy levels. A great source of protein for vegetarians and no\u00a0cholesterol!<\/p>\n LOTS OF FIBER \u2013 <\/strong>chia seeds are super easy to digest and have a high level of both soluble and insoluble fiber. This enables a slow conversion of starches into sugars, prevents spikes in blood sugar and provides deep cleansing by keeping the colon hydrated and making sure food\u00a0 moves easily through the system.Chia seeds swell to 10 \u2013 15 times their original size when exposed to liquids and form a gel which keep\u00a0you feeling full for hours. Great for those looking to lose weight!<\/p>\n BONE HEALTH IN MIND – <\/strong>a\u00a0daily serving of chia seeds (2tbsp) has 18 per cent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, which puts\u00a0you well on our way to maintaining bone and oral health, and preventing osteoporosis.<\/p>\n HEART HEALTHY BENEFITS<\/strong> \u2013 according to the Cleveland Clinic chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics and may also increase healthy cholesterol while lowering total, LDL, and triglyceride cholesterol.<\/p>\n BIG BONUSES<\/strong> – Trytophan \u00a0is found in chia seeds, it helps sleep and improves mood.<\/p>\n It might be my imagintion but my sleep has been improved (drastically) since I\u2019ve been indulging in my Chia Breakast Pudding. Just sayin’…..<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>HOW TO USE CHIA SEEDS \u2013 <\/strong>other than the Breakfast Pudding recipes below you can add chia seeds to a smoothie (not more than a teaspoon or you\u2019ll be eating to eating it with a spoon),\u00a0fill a salt shaker with chia seeds and place it on the dinner table adding a sprinkle here and there to salads and everything on your plate.<\/p>\n CHIA BREAKFAST PUDDING (pictured)<\/strong><\/p>\n 6 small servings<\/strong><\/p>\n (*consistency of cream of wheat)<\/p>\n 1\/4 cup chia seeds<\/p>\n 3 cups water<\/p>\n 1\/4 teaspoon salt<\/p>\n 1 cup raw cashews (or combination of almonds, hazelnuts)<\/p>\n 1\/2 teaspoon vanilla<\/p>\n 2-3 tablespoons agave syrup, to taste<\/p>\n 1\/2 teaspoon cardamom<\/p>\n *Slivered almonds (crunch) and dried fruit (chew) for garnish and added texture(optional)<\/p>\n In a blender, puree the water, salt, hazelnuts, cashews, vanilla, agave and cardamom as smooth as possible (mine had some clumps, as my blender isn’t perfect). In a large bowl or glass container, mix the chia seeds with the blended mixture. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for about eight hours. Chia seeds will plump up and absorb most of the liquid. Garnish with chopped nuts and dried fruit.<\/p>\n