Jul 17 2007

Chia Seeds

Today’s question (see Flaxseeds) is about Chia seeds: “I have heard and read that Chia seeds, (Salvia hispanica, a plant of the genus Salvia in the Mint family) are very high in omega-3s and very nutritious in several other ways. They were highly prized by the Aztecs and have been touted as a little-known “superfood”. Have you any knowledge about them or the accuracy of this?”
I consulted my standard sources for this sort of thing, Wikipedia (always a good place to start and then confirm independently) and the USDA’s authoritative data on food composition. As you suggest, Chia seeds have a good balance of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. But does this really make it a “superfood?” I think foods are foods. All natural, unprocessed foods have a mix of nutrients and the best approach is to eat a lot of different kinds of relatively unprocessed foods that together provide the nutrients and other components of food that promote health. Chia seeds, like flaxseeds or other kinds of seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and grains contribute good things to the diet, but it’s the overall combination of foods you eat that counts. Enjoy Chia seeds if you like them, but are they a miracle food? I wish it were that easy.

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I couldn’t agree with you more!

As a botanist and an educator, I maintain a website promoting chia seeds “for food and fun.” (Chia seeds are great for science projects.)

One of the big challenges I face is the notion that Chia is a superfood. Everyone wants that quick fix.

Chia seeds are indeed a superior source of omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber, and calcium. One ounce provides nearly half our daily fiber requirement and about 15% of our calcium needs.

Chia seeds are flavorless (more-or-less), and can be sprinkled and mixed into almost any kind of food.

I hope you and your readers will want to learn more about chia seeds and will start by checking out my website: http://www.chiativity.org

  • kombucha99
  • September 20, 2007
  • 6:40 pm

I discovered chia seeds a while ago, and now I eat them daily.

I’ve been pretty amazed by this food. It’s difficult to know when a food counts as a ‘superfood,’ but from my experience chia comes pretty close. If chlorella and spirulina are superfoods, then I think chia counts, too.

Indeed, I enjoy a wide variety of highly nutrient dense foods including chia, chlorella, spirulina, brewers yeast, and plenty of fresh organic vegetables and vegetable juices.

Chia seeds remain among my favorites for several reasons. I definitely feel a ‘burst’ of energy after consuming them, as well as longer-lasting energy. If this is what Aztec runners and warriors got from chia, then I see exactly why they considered it a sacred food.

Chia fiber is at least as effective as other kinds of fiber. This may differ for individuals, but for me chia seeds definitely help ‘eliminative’ functions as well as apple pectin or flax, and come close to the effectiveness of psyllium husks. Of course, chia tastes better than psyllium, so it’s easier to use on a daily basis (and mixes well with other foods/juices/smoothees).

I breathe easier after eating chia. James Scheer’s book (The Magic of Chia) says this happens with chia. Yet I am still surprised at this effect, which appears related to chia’s high levels of balanced essential fats (omega-3 and omega-6). I also get this effect when I use flax, but it’s more pronounced with chia seeds.

I can now get organic chia at my local health food store. I also get it online from several suppliers, including IntegratedHealth.com

With chia so readily available, I encourage anyone interested to give this food (or is it ‘superfood’?) a try, and see for yourself what it can do for you.

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