Every Thursday morning, my mom babysits my 1-year-old daughter. Last week, when I returned home, my mom proudly announced that she had cleaned out and reorganized my pantry. I am not a particularly organized person, and the mess in my pantry can easily get out of hand, so I was grateful for the help.
The next morning, I realized that I could not find my chia seeds in the pantry. I texted my mom asking where they were.
Here is an excerpt of the conversation:
What are chia seeds? To answer my mom’s question, it actually is like a chia pet. Chia seeds come from a plant native to Mexico, which was used for the popular chia pets years ago. In addition, these seeds are considered a “superfood”, and there are many reasons to include them in your diet.
First, chia seeds are an excellent plant source of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3s promote heart and brain health, and have been found to reduce inflammation. These fatty acids are essential to good health.
Chia seeds are high in fiber, which promotes good digestion and regulates blood sugar levels. They absorb water, which may make you feel fuller between meals. The seeds are also high in other nutrients and minerals including calcium, phosphorus and manganese. In addition, they are a great source of plant-based protein. The ancient Aztecs used to consume chia seeds for energy before battle.
I tend to throw chia seeds into my morning oatmeal or a smoothie, or toss them into my salads. You can also bake them into food, although I have never tried this. Including them into your diet is an easy way to make sure that you are getting your omega 3s and other nutrients.
As a side note, my mom did throw out my chia seeds. They are not 30 dollars a bag – I exaggerated in my text. Look for them in your local supermarket, and keep in mind that one bag will last a long time, as you only need to use small quantities of the seed.
As a bonus, you can always create a homemade chia pet with any leftover seeds.
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