Have you heard how great Chia seeds are for you? Would you like an easy way to get more Chia into your diet? You know those Chia drinks that are starting to pop-up at health food stores? Well it's super simple to make your own.
I have a friend who had me try, what she called Chia Fresca, once and it was okay but I wasn't sure about it. Then recently she came for a visit and bought one of those drinks when we were at the local health food store. I thought it was pretty good she told me I needed to make it. So we went home and I gave it a try.
I've been drinking it a lot ever since! I love it.....I mean yeah the slimy little seeds are kind of weird but they seem so full of......well energy! I feel like I get more out of them this way then blended in a smoothie. I feel like they give me more stamina and energy.
In fact I have to be careful and only drink a little every morning otherwise I don't want to sleep at night. They are also very filling. Ryan says it is kind of a weird texture but he for sure likes the flavor. So if you don't mind the texture (give it a few tries to get used to) it's a great way to get live, raw, amazing energy.
I now call it Chia You Choose because I can't use the other name....I guess it's trademarked.....who knew! ;) I am perfectly happy to respect a trademark......so why don't you choose to call it whatever you would like!
But it's funny when I try to come up with a catchy name I never thought I would need to see if it was trademarked. Is there a way I can check before I name a recipe? Is there even an original thought anymore? What an amazing age of information that we live in!
Either way I still love having Chia seeds in my food storage. Check out a few interesting things about Chia I got in an email below the recipe! I still feel like it helps recharge me! How about a recharge?! ENJOY!
Chia You Choose
2 Tablespoons Chia seed
Juice of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 Tablespoons of Agave or other sweetener of choice
In quart jar mix water and Chia seed and let soak at least 15 minutes. Add other ingredients. Stir, keep in fridge. Don't drink all at once this much lasts me a week! I have also taken the same recipe only reduced the agave to 1 teaspoon and added 2 teaspoons cranberry concentrate. You could try lots of flavors have fun with it!
CHIA SEED
Chia seed was traditionally used by Native Americans and was domesticated in Mexico around 2,700 B.C. They were the primary staple food of the Aztec, Mayan, and other indigenous people. One spoon of chia seed mixed with water was used to supply sustenance for an entire day of hard labor. It was also used by Native Americans and settlers as a poultice for wounds and to prevent infection and promote healing. It is a great food storage item to have on hand.
Nutritional Value
The nutritional profile of chia seed is quite impressive. Chia seed is about 20% protein, 35% oil, and 25% dietary fiber. They are high in antioxidants and also offer a range of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and boron (which acts as a catalyst for calcium absorption in the body). They are one of the richest vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help protect against heart disease and inflammation, and they are especially beneficial for those with diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. They contain all nine essential amino acids and are a great source of vitamin B-17.
1/4 cup of chia seed provides as much calcium as 3 cups of milk, magnesium 10 stalks of broccoli, 25 % more dietary fiber than flax seed, 30 % more antioxidants than blueberries.
Serving size of 2 Tbs Chia Sees Provides the Following Nutrients:
Calories: 66
Complete Protein: 4.14 grams
Total Fat: 6.56 grams
Saturated Fat: .64 grams
Trans Fat: 0 grams
Monounsaturated Fat: .44 grams
Polyunsaturated Fat: 5.44 grams
Omega 3 (ALA): 4.2 grams
Omega-6 (Linoleic Acid): 1.24 grams
Cholesterol: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 7.5 grams
Total Dietary Fiber: 8.25 grams
Soluble Fiber: 1.07 grams
Insoluble Fiber: 7.18 grams
Sodium: .42 milligrams
Potassium: 140 milligrams
Calcium: 142.8 milligrams
Iron: 3.28 milligrams
Phosphorus: 213.4 milligrams
Magnesium: 78 milligrams
Uses
Chia seed has a mild nutty flavor and can be sprinkled on salads, cereals, yogurt, or soups, or ground up and used in breads and muffins as you would use wheat germ or rice bran. It is most commonly used as chia seed gel, which can be made by soaking 1/3 c chia seed in 2 cups of water. In about 9 minutes the gel will be ready to use. The gel will keep for about 3 weeks in the refrigerator. You can also soak chia seed in apple juice or other liquids you like. The gel can be used as an oil replacer in baking, an egg substitute, or a thickener in various recipes. The gel can also be mixed into smoothies, granola, salad dressings, or pudding.
Since chia seed absorbs so much water (up to 9 times its volume) they can be used for hydration purposes, as they will help a person retain water.
Unlike flax seed, chia seed does not need to be ground or soaked before using to obtain the nutritional benefit from the seed.
Shelf Life
Chia seed has a relatively long shelf life and is a great food storage item. They can be stored at 70 degrees F for 5 years or more without going rancid, due in part to the high antioxidant content of the seeds.
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