Ch-ch-ch-chia!

Remember chia pets???? Nostalgia right?! I think we had a sheep or maybe a dog when I was a child...who knows, but I know we had a blast growing them! Little did I know that those tiny seedlings were edible and extremely nutritious!


So wayyyy back in the day Aztek and Mayan hunter-gatherers used to consume chia seeds for endurance purposes when hunting. Well why would they do a thing like that? Turns out, chia seeds absorb and retain water super easily- we're talking they can hold 9-10 times their weight in water- which leads to prolonged hydration and retention of those much needed electrolytes. Perfect for endurance athletes today, just as it was for those hunters from way back when! Oh, BUT WAIT, there is SOOO much more! These bad boys contain 22% protein, 35% of healthy fats (omega 3's and 6's) and 25% dietary fiber and then they are rich in calcium, potassium, and iron...Craziness right! 

These seeds are commonly used as relief from arthritis, healthy fats have a way of reducing inflammation which helps with those achy joints! These seeds can absorb sugar which has been known to help those with diabetes. It also can be helpful in decreasing blood pressure, reducing acid reflux and IBS symptoms (by absorbing extra acid), and improving general heart health. They are safe for consumption for those with celiac disease because they are gluten free.
Are you trying to lose weight? Possibly trying a juice cleanse as I talked about earlier this week? Chia seeds are also great for that too...because they form a gel when wet and are also loaded with fiber which cleanses the colon and binds with toxins and properly disposes of them, if you know what I mean;-)

Because it is known for lowering blood pressure, if you already have low blood pressure then it is not safe to consume Chia seeds in excess. A healthy dose of chia seeds a day is generally 1 tablespoon. These chia seeds are extremely bland and flavorless so they are easy to toss on or in just about ANYTHING. Really, you can toss them in your glass of water or juice if you want- you might feel them when swallowing but you wont taste them. I put them in mine and my kids oatmeal, sprinkle them on their peanut butter banana whole wheat sandwiches, sprinkle it on fruit or in salads..anything goes! 


Tomorrow I am traveling alone with my two kids to Florida, and our flight leaves at 7 am...so we have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn and won't have time for much of a breakfast so today I made my famous super moist chia seed muffins, tossed them in a baggie and we will scarf them down on the way to the airport!

Sweet potato chia muffins

Ingredients:

1 tbsp of ground chia seeds (you can toss them in the blender for a few seconds to achieve this)

1 1/2 C whole wheat flower

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 large roasted sweet potato (or about 1 c sweet potato puree)

1 c unsweetened applesauce

 2 egg whites

1/2 c agave nectar or honey

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp vanilla

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c craisins

Directions: 

Roast your sweet potato by wrapping it in aluminum and throwing it in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. I usually do this the day before or a couple hours before I am going to make them. Or use store bought sweet potato puree about 1 cup.

If you are using a roasted sweet potato, take off peel and put in bowl, mash well then fold in remaining ingredients. Put into 12 greased muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

These are extremely moist and delicious. My kids and I LOVE them! Enjoy!