Chia Seeds are tiny black and white seeds that used to be a staple food in Aztec and Mayan times. They are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to their wonderful health benefits.
Chia Seeds As Superfood
Chia seeds are indeed a superfood. They have
- 2x the amount of protein of any grains
- 3x the amount of antioxidants of blueberries
- 5x more calcium than milk
- 2x the amount of potassium in a banana
- 3x the iron of spinach
Chia seeds are also loaded with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and have trace amounts of boron, which is an essential mineral to help transfer calcium to the bones.
How To Add Chia Seeds To Your Grain Free Diet
Knowing all the wonderful nutrients chia seeds provide is important, but many people are more concerned with how to incorporate them into their gluten free or grain free diet. It is far simpler than most people realize. Chia seeds have a very subtle taste which means that you can add them absolutely anything that you eat or drink. They will enhance the nutrients, but they will not alter the flavor.
Drink Your Chia Seeds
You can add chia seeds to a glass or bottle of water and drink them. As a matter of fact you can add them to any beverage you choose: coffee, ice tea, orange juice… anything. If you are adding them to a liquid it is best to add them to the drink, stir them up and let them sit just for a minute or two so that the seeds have the opportunity to soak in the liquid.
You can let them sit for longer. If you do they will turn into chia gel which you can eat by the spoonful. The gel will still taste like the drink you put them in and you can seal it in a container and store it in the refrigerator to eat at a later time.
Sprinkle Your Chia Seeds
If you are having a salad you can sprinkle them on top. They can be added to yogurt as well. You can sprinkle them on fish, on steak, in veggies, soup, really anything you want. If you eat it or drink it you can add chia seeds to it.
Soak Your Chia Seeds
One of the most common ways to eat chia seeds is to soak them. They absorb large amounts of liquid very quickly, usually within 10 minutes. You can make basic chia gel by adding 1/3 cup of seeds to 2 cups of water. Stir well so that there are no clumps and then leave it in a jar with a lid and eat a spoonful whenever you want.
Chia seeds are definitely a great addition to your gluten free and grain free diet. With a few spoonfuls a day added to the foods you are already eating, you will soon start to notice the great health benefits chia seeds have to offer.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Chia seeds are the best! I’ve been using them since I found out I have diabetes, my blood sugar is well under control, no blood pressure problems and in 3 months I’ve lost 17 pounds. They really keep you feeling full longer so you don’t eat as often and since they swell they make you feel full sooner.
Nature’s magic bullet!
Beth
I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.
Hi, very nice post. I have been wonder’n bout this issue,so thanks for posting
How soon will you update your blog? I’m interested in reading some more information on this issue.
I found grainfreerecipes.com very informative. The article is professionally written and I feel like the author knows the subject very well. grainfreerecipes.com keep it that way.
I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
Chia seeds are one of the best foods for all round health and energy. I wish I would have know about them 10 years ago.
I recommend them to all my clients and readers now.
Love your site by the way. Grain free recipes are a good thing. Will be having a look at a bunch of your recipes and such
Just had a look at your Alternative Flours and would also like to add to it Coconut flour. I just did up a coconut flour bread and it was awesome. Totally grain free. High fiber and high protein.
great article, definately looking to include chia seeds in my diet soon and will refer back to this post for information/advise. thanks
So just how much chia seed should one ingest per day – 2 teaspoons, 1/2 cup, …
Thanks
I have just started eating chia seeds today. My purpose is to reduce weight and control diabetics which is in starting stage.If u have any tips or quantam of uses let me know of chia
Chia seeds as in Chia pets? I had no idea. I will look into this… it sounds pretty amazing! Thank you for posting this!
I heard that chia seeds help you sleep. Is this true?
Do you have to drink alot of water if eating chia seeds?
YES I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY CAN HELP YOU SLEEP, BEEN HAVING A ALLFUL TIME TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP. THANKS
So Pam,
Did you try the chia seeds and if so, did they help you sleep?
I am dealing with type diabetes and obesity. I had not read about chia seeds before I put them on my list for the health food store I cannot wait to try them
i ordered some this morning so waiting for them to come in on the 5th hoping it works for my blood pressure so i can come off of it and works for weight loss since ive gained 20lbs since being on my blood pressure pill with it being a betta blocker so i can’t wait to start taking this
gonna try it
STARTING THEM TODAY. I AM EXCITED. WILL LET YOU KNOW LATER HOW THIS WORKS.
Can Chia seeds give you diarrhea?
how much seeds do you use in drink ? or anything
I would start slow, with just a tablespoon of chia seeds in a glass of water or juice. You can also sprinkle them on your salad or sandwich.
Just wondering if a person has pockets in the colon, can we still have Chia for our blood sugar and cholestrol?
I was thinking about taking them but I’m under weight allready but have no energy at all through the day would they help
I have been using Chi a seeds for almost a year. I saw a signifigant weight loss and appitite control the first 3 months. Then summer hit all the running and eating out forgetting to take seeds with me I gained back half the weight found out I an insulin resistant. So back to 1/8 cup 3x a day I bought “smidgies” from Tupperware (they hold the perfect amount and I don’t worry about the lid falling off in my purse) . I still eat out because it seems like I live in my truck between kids and work. But I take my Chi a seeds like vitamins. I put water in my mouth dump in the seeds and swallow. More water to rinse all down (those little suckers get between your teeth and you feel the jell 10minutes later) . I have lost 10 pounds since Christmas (2 months) I have more energy and I sleep so much better. But be careful too much will give you diarrhea and my mom got constipated because she took the seeds but didn’t drink any water. You MUST drink water! 8-8oz or more is best but @least 8oz with seeds.
My co-worker put me on to Chia seeds. He’s a runner, and I’ve recently starting running long distances, so he recommended them. Chia is indeed a superfood, and historically there were tribes in South America that used them for energy, as they use to hunt large animals. Their technique, run ‘em until they just collapsed of exhaustion, then kill them! Check out “Born to Run”. I’ve read of other great health benefits of Chia, but for long runs, it definitely increases your stamina. I buy it online by the 5lb bag…which lasts a while! Generally, I take 4 teaspoons in a 16oz cup; pretty thick. What I didn’t kno is that you can leave it and then come back. Great article!
Chia seeds are wonderful. You can put them in or on just about anything. I’ve lost 30 pound since Christmas. Not just from chia seeds, of course, but I do feel the help keep me feeling fuller longer. Plus when they gel, they help flush waste and toxins from your system.
A few months ago I heard about Chia Seeds at Whole Foods market. They had some juice like drinks with the seeds in them, I bought a few and loved them but the price was close to 4 dollars per 8oz bottle. They were jelly like so now I just make my own with tea or green tea let it set in the fridge, I also use the Cristal Lite drink mixes too. They are great to drink I like the texture of them
im 33 yrs old n iv been constipated since childhoood. im on ducolax a
kind of lax to keep my bowel moving and iv been taking it for almost 19 years now, can chia seed help me solve ny problem or make it worst? pls advice tq
I just started drinking Chia Seeds with all my daily glass of water or any other juice. I found out about this great product at Whole Foods Market.
After soaking chia seeds how long can store them?