We talk about chia seeds a bit on our nuts and seeds page, but here we wanted to offer more info to promote this great food source that has recently been rediscovered in the superfood world.
These tiny, dark brown to light brown, seeds are very similar in nature to the flax seed. That is, they are incredibly gelatinous when soaked in water.
I actually prefer using chia seed rather than flax. It is said that chia does not promote estrogen precursors in the body like flax does. It is also a little less hybridized and closer to a wild food.
We recently had the privileged of seeing the chia plant (Salvia hispanica) up close and personal in the California desert, when we were traveling through Joshua Tree National Park. We learned that the Cahuilla Indians in these regions were known to use it as a medicine and sustaining food source.
In addition, many native cultures in Mexico and Guatemala, including the Aztecs, were known to harvest chia for use in nutritious drinks and meals. The chia seed was carried by many tribes as a form of fuel to endure intense physical exercise along trade routes.
Native American tribes would also take a pouch of seeds and a gourd of water on their journeys. The seeds were their food source and taken with the water they would hydrate their bodies for endurance.
Superfood Properties Of The Chia Seed!
Omega fatty acids - contains ample amounts of the essential oils omega 3 and omega 6.
Digestive aid - produces a gel that soothes the intestinal tract and normalizes bowel movement.
Protein rich food - twice the protein content of most seeds and grains.
High in Calcium - reported to have 5 times the calcium of milk.
High in Boron - a trace mineral that helps move calcium into the bones.
Stabilizing blood sugar levels which make it an exceptional food for diabetics.
Enhancing the nutrient absorption of all foods that are eaten with it.
Containing beneficial long-chain triglycerides (LCT) in the right proportion to reduce cholesterol on arterial walls.
Slowing down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.
Nourishing skin and hair when used internally.
Helping with weight loss, providing feelings of fullness.
Chia seeds are gelatinous (like flax) and, when soaked, form a thick gelatin that can be blended into smoothies, shakes, and other beverages. You can use it much like that of irish moss to make desserts thick, like our raw cheesecake and carob-coconut cream pie recipe.
Hydrates The Body!
One of the major reasons chia is an endurance food is because it regulates glandular activity of adrenals and thyroid while re-hydrating the body with it's hydrophilic colloidal properties, absorbing between 7-12 times it's volume in water. The body cells can perform at optimal levels when they are properly nourished by fluids, providing electrolyte balance.
The exceptional value of chia is it's ability to prolong hydration (hold onto fluid), which maintains and regulates moisture in the cells and tissues of the body more effectively.
Irish moss and seaweed also have hydrophilic colloidal properties and are an excellent combination to use with chia, enhancing their mineral rich content.
HOW TO USE:
You can store them hydrated in your fridge for up to 3 weeks and have them on hand whenever a recipe calls.
Make a Chai chia milk to sooth the stomach and eliminate acidic conditions. Use it to thicken nut milks, to make a cold chocolate milk shake, or add it to pureed fruit to make a "raw jam." You can make a quinoa pudding, use it to thicken salad dressings or try it in our chia porridge recipe with a little natural sweetener.
In Mexico they use it as a drink called "chia fresca", which is chia soaked in fruit juice.
Remember, it will absorb between 7-12 times it’s volume in water in less than 20-30 minutes. This means that a jar of chia seeds and water will become a thick gelatin mass.
One of the major reasons chia is an endurance food is because it regulates glandular activity of adrenals and thyroid while re-hydrating the body with it's hydrophilic colloidal properties, absorbing between 7-12 times it's volume in water. The body cells can perform at optimal levels when they are properly nourished by fluids, providing electrolyte balance. 
You can store them hydrated in your fridge for up to 3 weeks and have them on hand whenever a recipe calls. 
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