Chia seed advantage Over Flax Seeds

These days, the market is saturated with all sorts of health product being marketed as quick fixes for various conditions and ailments. In truth, these products are largely ineffective, and some can be downright dangerous to your health and safety. The only real way to get fit and become healthy is a lifestyle geared towards achieving those goals. This means getting plenty of exercise and maintaining a proper diet. There are plenty of healthy foods to choose from, but none are as densely packed with nutrients like the chia seed.

Chia seeds are grown from the salvia hispanica plant, which was first discovered thousands of years ago by the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations of Central and South America. Even then, it was considered a super food, so prized for its qualities that it was used as currency and even sacrificed to their gods. The techniques of modern scientific analysis have proven chia seeds worthy of the status they were given. When compared to other normal healthy foods, the chia seed has been shown to outclass all others in terms of nutritional content. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, containing 8 times the quantity normally found in pink salmon. These essential fatty acids are vital in promoting growth while protecting vital organs like the heart and the brain. The calcium content for every gram of chia seeds is equivalent to six times the amount found in milk. Calcium is best known for promoting strong and healthy bones, but it has other benefits, such as disease prevention and weight regulation. Chia seeds also contain 9 times the Phosphorous content found in whole milk. Phosphorous is an element the body uses for energy regulation and in building healthy bones. Iron is another essential nutrient that the chia seed has in abundance. The iron content found in chia seeds is thrice of that found in spinach. Potassium, which is vital to regulating cellular functions, is also found in significant quantity, with approximately double the amount found in bananas. The element magnesium is a vital catalyst in the body’s processes, and a diet deficient in it has been shown to be responsible for the development of illnesses such as asthma and ADHD. Chia seeds are a good source of magnesium, carrying 15 times more of it than broccoli.

Chia seeds also contain twice the amount of dietary fiber than one would find in bran flakes. Dietary fiber helps clean out the digestive system, and allows for greater absorption of the nutrients in our food. Protein, the building block of the body’s muscles and tissues, is also abundant in the chia seed, with the nutritional content being around six times that found in kidney beans. Chia seeds are also rich in antioxidants, the molecules that our protect cells from the damage brought about by free radicals.

Even among nutrient rich functional foods, the chia seed stands head and shoulders above the competition. For comparison, the flax seed is considered one of the healthiest foods available, but even it pales in comparison with the chia seed. To begin with, the chia seed contains more carbohydrates and dietary fiber than the flax seed. Carbohydrates are the foods that the body converts into sugars for energy. The phosphorous and calcium levels of the chia seed are also superior. The chia seeds also contain 9 times more selenium than flax seeds. Selenium is a micronutrient that helps regulate some of the body’s functions, most notably that of the thyroid gland. There are also significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, and thiamin, along with trace amounts of all the other B-vitamins.

The chia seed also beats the flax seed when it comes to practical considerations of preparation, consumption, and shelf life. Chia seeds are not only more nutritious, but they are also easier to integrate into your diet. They may be consumed in any number of ways. They can be eaten as they are, without any preparation whatsoever. They may be added to water or any beverage to make a gel for eating or for adding to other meals. You can even grind up the seeds into flour and bake it into any number of recipes. Flax seeds, on the other hand, need to be ground into meal before it can be consumed. Eating a flax seed raw will simply cause it to pass through the digestive system without imparting any nutritional benefit. This limits the number of ways the flax seed can be integrated into a diet. Chia seeds are also easier to store for future consumption. Left in a sealed container, the seeds, whether in normal or ground up form, are good for consumption for up to five years. By contrast, flax seeds have a maximum shelf life of 12 months at the most. Grinding the flax seed into meal will only shorten the shelf life further to a mere 4 months maximum.

Chia seeds also have the unique advantage of being hydrophilic, or extremely water absorbent. When chia seeds come in contact with water, their fibrous structure allows it to absorb up to 10 times its weight in water. The seeds turn into a gel, which can be eaten on its own or added to different foods or beverages. Once ingested, the gel will form a barrier between the digestive enzymes and any consumed carbohydrates. This slows down the process of breaking down the carbohydrates into sugars, which in turn stabilizes the body’s metabolism and maintains steady blood sugar levels, which makes you feel fuller for much longer. This unique mechanism makes chia seeds an excellent diet food.

Given all the health benefits of chia seeds, there is little wonder that it is considered one of nature’s superfoods. The seeds are all natural, with no added chemicals or compounds. It is also gluten free and has only trace amounts of sodium, which makes it an ideal food for people with allergies or sensitivities to either substance.

Source: http://www.hidalgofoods.com/page21/chia-seeds-most-nutrient-dense-natural-food-advantage-over-flax.html

Chia Seeds for Your Health and Wellness

People looking for the most perfect natural food need look no further than the chia seed to satisfy their demands. Harvested from salvia hispanica plants, chia seeds have been recognized as a valuable food for thousands of years, and they were used as a form of currency by the ancient Mayans. Taxes and tribute to royalty and religious leaders could be paid in chia seeds. The ancient Aztec and Mayan warriors fearlessly traversed the forbidding jungles of South America subsisting only on chia seeds and some water, often fortifying themselves with a handful of seeds before going into battle. With the fall of these civilizations, the chia seed eventually fell into obscurity, its existence and amazing nutritional benefits known only to the indigenous people who have been harvesting the seeds for millennia.

With the rediscovery of the chia seed in the latter part of the 20th century, scientists, nutritionists, and herbalists all over the world unanimously agree that it is one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world. It contains significant amounts of both protein and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.

What's especially surprising about the chia seed is that it contains so much of these substances and compounds when compared to your everyday, run-of-the-mill fruits and vegetables. To put things into perspective, a gram for gram comparison of chia seeds and other nutritional foods reveals that chia seeds contain 6 times more protein than kidney beans, 4 times more selenium than flax seeds, twice the amount of dietary fiber normally found in bran flakes, thrice the amount of iron in spinach, two times more potassium than bananas, and nine times more phosphorous than whole milk. It also has 15 times the amount of magnesium content of broccoli, over thrice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries, 6 times the amount of calcium of milk, and 8 times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in pink salmon. To top it off, it contains large amounts of B-vitamins, and is completely gluten-free.

The quality of nutrition imparted by chia seeds is a big bonus. Most healthy foods are enjoyed in moderation because they can have their own unpleasant and unhealthy side effects when consumed in overly-large quantities. For example, drinking too much red wine, a good source of antioxidants and heart healthy substances, will eventually damage your liver. Fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, but eating too much can lead to weight gain. And taking artificial supplements to get the same levels of nutrition can be just as risky. In a recent case, a fish oil supplement meant to boost consumers' levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids was found to be contaminated with unacceptably high levels of toxic chemicals. These are risks that simply do not exist with chia seeds because they are all natural, and have no known negative side effects.

As an additional bonus to all this good nutrition, chia seeds, once consumed, form a gel in the digestive system that effectively regulates the body's metabolism to make more efficient use of the body's energy. Athletes, diabetics, weight-watchers, and anyone who wants to lead a healthier lifestyle are all eager to experience chia seeds' benefits for themselves.

And enjoying all these nutritional benefits is easier than you think. While most health foods have strong and distinct flavors that are difficult to mix with other foods, chia on the other hand, has a mild, nutty flavor that can easily be mixed into almost any dish. They're small enough to sprinkle directly on your meals, can be crushed into flour for mixing into any number of baked goodies, and can even be eaten on their own. Chia seeds also make a great addition to any beverage, from plain water to smoothies and shakes. A handful of chia seeds can go a long way towards making any lifestyle much happier and healthier.

Hidalgofoods has made its mission to make such nutritional food more available to everybody, and is determined to supply only the highest quality chia seeds in both wholesale and retail quantities. We offer chia seeds in black and white varieties. White chia seeds occur much less frequently than black chia seeds, but both types are nutritionally identical. However, white chia seeds may sometimes be preferred precisely because of their rarity as well as their aesthetic value. As part of Hidalgo Foods' dedication to making healthy choices easier for our customers to make, we supply only chia seeds that have been grown organically and without the use of GMOs. As a further assurance to our customers' safety, we ensure that our products are uncontaminated by toxic chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/chia-seeds-for-your-health-and-wellness-issues-2028789.html

Side Effects of Chia seeds

Chia seed is a superfood that originate in Mexico. It is good for lowering cholesterol and for diabetic patients. It contains omega3 fatty acid which is great for skin, hair and nails.

Chia seeds are good for our body but there are few side effects .

-Chia can cause gas and intestinal bloating

- Chia seeds can lower blood pressure but you need to be careful if you are from upper age group. Because chia can lower the pressure of blood to the dangerous level.

-If you have heart problems , avoid chia seeds. It has addictive effects.

Eventhough chia seeds has bad side effects . It is still known as "superfood". We just need to be aware and consult our doctor for serious illness.

Side Effects of Chia seeds

Simple Chia Recipes

The fastest and easiest way to take chia seed is to add one tablespoon chia seed into an eight-ounce glass of water or juice, stir to break up any lumps, let sit about five minutes, stir again, and then drink. You can also use it to make a versatile gel, which can be added to jams, jellies, peanut butter, milkshakes, nut spreads, smoothies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, mustard, catsup, tartar sauce, barbecue sauces, etc. as a fat replacer, for energy and endurance, or for added great taste. Here’s how to make chia gel, which has a slightly nutty flavor:

Put nine parts water in a sealable plastic container. Slowly pour one part seed into the water, then mix with a wire whisk or fork. This process will avoid any clumping of the seed. Wait a few minutes and stir again to break up any clumps, let stand ten minutes, and stir again. Store up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Add the gel, between 50 to 70 percent by volume, to any of the above-mentioned foods, mix well, and taste. You will notice a very smooth texture, with the integrity of the flavor intact, but you have added 50 to 70 percent more volume to your food and have displaced calories and fat by incorporating an ingredient that is ninety percent water!



Strawberry or other Berry Chia Jelly

The best way to make berry chia jelly is to make a portion of chia gel and mix into your favorite jelly using a 50/50 mixture. Example 1/4 cup of chia gel to 1/4 cup of your jelly. This will make 1/2 of jelly for you breakfast toast, with 50% less calories! Easy and good for you.

Chocolate Chia Coconut Bar submited by customer Richardson

1/2 c melted virgin coconut oil 1/3 c Cocoa Powder 1/2 c zylitol or 1/4 c honey 1/3 c coconut milk or pl yogurt 2 tsp chia seeds 1 1/2 c raw coconut flakes 1/4 c almond flakes 1/2 tsp vanilla dash of salt 1/4 c coconut flour

Melt coconut oil in pan on low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in other ingredients in order listed. Spread on one end of jelly roll pan to form a 6 x 11 bar. Cut the bar into 3 x 1 3/4 " servings. Refrigerate until real firm. Put into snack size ziplock bags for a healthy snack on the run.

Chop Suey Noodle Candy

2 Cups semisweet chocolate chips melted 2 Cups butterscotch chips melted 1/4 cup chia seeds one large can chow mein noodles 1 cup copped nuts Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonsful onto waxed paper. Let stand until set. About 30 servings.

Alegria

6 tablespoons amaranth, 4 tablespoons chia seed, 1/4 cup dark corn syrup, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup honey, 1/2 stick butter, Cook amaranth one tablespoon at a time in hot oil until all popped. Use a lid on the pan as this step can get wicked with the little hot seeds popping around the stove. Toast chia seeds in the same pan. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Combine the honey, syrup, butter and vanilla in a heavy skillet, heat to boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture turns dark amber and thickens - about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the amaranth and chia. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Spoon mixture into prepared pan, spread evenly, cut into bars and cool.



Chia Seed Muffins

1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sour cream 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1/3 chia seeds, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda cinnomon sugar - mix 1/4 cup sugar with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bow, cream butter and sugar, Blend in eggs, sour cream and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, chia seed, salt and baking soda, then add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture. Fill greased muffin tins two-thirds full. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Makes 12 muffins.

Chia Herb Couscous

4 teaspoons margarine, 2 medium green onion chopped, 2 cups chicken broth, 4 teaspoon chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons chia seed, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 1/3 cups uncooked couscous, 1/2 Teaspoon salt Melt margaine in a 3 quart nonstick saucepan over medium high heat. Cook the garlic and onions in the margarine until the onions are crisp-tender about 4 minutes. Add the chia seeds and lightly toast for about 30 seconds. Stir in the couscous, salt, and if using dried basil add at this time. Add the broth to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat. Cover and let stand about 5 minutes. When ready to serve, take a fork and fluff the couscous. Stir in the fresh basil (if fresh is used) and the Parmesan cheese.

Crunchy seed topping for toast - Submit by a customer Robin

In small bowl mix equal volumes of chia, sesame and poppy seeds; I like to add fresh ground flaxseed (I have a small electric seed grinder).

slice your favorite bread and toast lightly; butter it generously (i use margerine). Spinkle with seed mixture and cinnamon/sugar. Return briefly to the oven; remove and eat.

Chia Recipe for adding to a box mix

We found that you can add 1 to 2 Tablespoons of chia seed to the liquid in cake mixes, brownie mixes, or other box mixes of your choice. Mix as per the instructions on the box, bake and eat. A simple way of getting the family to eat "healthy" in a special treat.

source : http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=65&init=dir&q=hidalgofoods#/topic.php?uid=74344544647&topic=8191

Energize Your Body with Chia

Chia seed may have seem to be ordinary but it is, undeniably and undoubtedly, even more than that. It has a distinct quality that elevates itself from the rest of other so-so medicinal and dietary supplements that arises in the market today.


Imagine by just simply adding it to your drinking water or your food, it will remove all your worries of having to watch carefully your diet and craving to eat more than your required meals a day. This is because of its structural and natural ability to make you feel full most of the time—and this is without even compromising your energy. In fact, it even enhances and doubles it. Dating back as far as the ancient Aztecs, chia is called the running food since it provides high energy and great endurance.

By just incorporating Chia seeds on your daily diet, you don't need to spend your money on gruesome dietary supplements, which more often than not, has only minimal effects. This is being sexy and healthy in such a natural way without depriving you the pleasures of all those mouth-watering dishes that you usually indulge your self in. Chia seeds, even if mixed or added on a certain recipe doesn't have impact to alter the food's natural taste. It even enhances its natural flavor, turning it from ordinary to a superb dish.

Aside from its culinary capabilities and benefits, chia seeds has a lot more to offer when it comes to its nutritional content. This tiny little seed is actually a great source of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids which are both good for our heart. They are also excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, & copper. In fact, chia seeds contain 6 times more calcium, 11 times more phosphorus, and 4.6 times more potassium per 100g of edible portion than does milk. Its strong anti-oxidant activity also provides you with better immunity on toxic-related diseases. It also posses 19-23% protein, higher than many other cereal grains including wheat, corn, rice, oats, & barley. It is gluten free and a great source of B vitamins. And unlike flax seed, you do not have to grind chia seeds to reap all of these benefits.

It's really amazing how this long-forgotten tiny seed can make great wonders on one's health and wellness. With its great nutritional value and medicinal properties, no wonder it has been dubbed as nature's super-food.
So now you can enjoy being healthy, fit and sexy without any hassle.