Chia Seeds

Chia seeds, the new superfood and the healing seeds of the Maya!

Chia seeds, where do they come from?

Before about 3500 BC the history of chia seeds began with their use as food. There are various hypotheses about the origin of the name “chia”. One of them says that the name “chia” comes from the language of the Maya and means something like “strength” or “power”.

Chia seeds – what’s all the hype about?

First of all let’s talk about what chia seeds are all about. They don’t exactly look tasty, and they remind you of small peppercorns that swell to a sticky paste when you add liquid. They are almost tasteless. But what can you say about the little miracle seeds at all? First of all, they have a positive effect on well-being and provide our body with everything it needs. Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants,vitamins and minerals and contain important proteins and fibre. Furthermore, they have the highest omega-3 value and therefore contain 10 times more omega-3 than salmon. The little things are also vitamin bombs because they contain plenty of vitamins A and B, potassium, zinc, boron, folic acid and all the essential amino acids. The risk of a stroke or heart attack is said to decrease significantly with a regular intake of chia seeds. The seeds can even have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. One tablespoon a day is enough to provide us with important nutrients. Even if chia seeds satiate for a long time, they should not replace meals, but should only be added to them.

But how do you actually prepare the seeds?

It does not matter how chia seeds are prepared, because the taste of the small seeds is not so noticeable. Add it to muesli with a little milk, to your stir fries or for dessert. Chia seeds can be sprinkled almost everywhere. A small amount is enough.

Recipes with chia seeds:

Chia-Shake

Alkalising and basic with many vitamins and minerals ensures maximum energy and vitality.

1 glass of coconut juice

1 glass of coconut milk

1 teaspoon acai berry powder

1 teaspoon goji-berries

1 dash of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of chia seeds

1 teaspoon of rice protein powder

Mix them all together and enjoy!

Chia Spread

3 tablespoons of jam

2-3 tablespoons of coconut flakes

1 tablespoon of chia seeds

dash of honey

Stir all ingredients into a smooth paste and spread on any bread.

Yummy pancakes without any flour

2 bananas

4 eggs

2-3 tablespoons of chia seeds

some cinnamon or vanilla extract

Mash bananas, whisk eggs and stir in with the bananas, fold in the chia seeds and spices. Put small pieces of apple in the dough if desired. Then bake pancakes individually.

Chia bread

700g of spelt flour

1 packet of dry yeast

20g of dry sourdough

3-4 tablespoons chia seeds

400 ml warm water

Mix everything into a dough, add 400 ml of warm water and knead well. Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour. Shape the dough into a loaf and sprinkle with other seeds or grains of your choice. Carve the loaf several times with sharp knife. Bake at 180 degrees for about 1 hour until golden brown.

Lemon Wonder

2 teaspoons of chia seeds

300 ml water

dash of lemon juice

dash of honey

ice cubes

The perfect cold drink for summer. It can not be easier:) The ingredients are poured into a glass – done! It is best to consume promptly so that the seeds do not swell.

Healthy Ice Cream

250 ml of almond, coconut and/or rice milk

100g pureed fruit of your choice

1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds

Stir in all ingredients and store in freezer.

8 reasons to consume chia seeds on a regular basis

• Chia seeds provide a high level of omega-3.
• Chia seeds contain large amounts of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron. They also contain trace elements such as boron, which supports calcium absorption. The seeds are also known to have hormone- regulating, immune-building and muscle-healing effects.
• Chia seeds have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, because the soluble fibre they contain reduces the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugar and thus provides long-lasting energy. This effect could be interesting for athletes, diabetics as well as for people with regular hunger attacks. And for all lovers of fast food restaurants – the appetite for sweets and junk food decreases considerably.
• Thanks to their neutral taste, chia seeds can be added to any food. The seeds increase the satiety effect of the food and can therefore be of indirect benefit when losing weight.
• Chia seeds provide twice as much protein as all other known seeds or cereals. They even provide plenty of all 8 essential amino acids.
• Chia seeds are gluten free. This makes them the perfect alternative for people with gluten intolerance.
• Chia seeds support digestion. By swelling, they increase their volume 9-12 times within 10 minutes and therefore increase the stool volume. Chia seeds can also alleviate heartburn without other undesirable side effects.
• Thanks to the strong antioxidants they contain, chia seeds can be easily stored for 4-5 years without losing their nutritional content, taste or smell.

In general, chia seeds in any form are the perfect nutrient kick for a vital everyday life!