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Eating healthy<br />
with chia seeds<br />
BY STEVE BORN<br />
One of Laura Labelle’s tasty<br />
recipes in this issue includes<br />
chia seeds, and since they’re<br />
something I like to consume<br />
and enjoy fairly consistently (I<br />
sprinkle chia seeds on salads whenever<br />
I have them), I thought this healthy food<br />
deserved additional mention.<br />
Not to be confused with the chia seeds<br />
that were used to “grow hair” on the<br />
novelty product from years ago, the chia<br />
seeds that are gaining an ever-increasing<br />
reputation as a “superfood” come from a<br />
different flowering plant, salvia hispanica,<br />
which is a type of sage in the mint family,<br />
abundantly found in Mexico and South<br />
America.<br />
Dr. Bill Misner had the following to say<br />
about chia seeds:<br />
Chia seeds are reported to increase<br />
HDL ("good") but lower serum LDL<br />
("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides<br />
levels. I added one scoop of chia<br />
seeds per day for five weeks to postworkout<br />
late-day salads. The taste<br />
is completely neutral [Steve’s note: I<br />
find them to have a mildly pleasant<br />
nutty flavor], with a fibrous mucilage<br />
property. Chia seeds are high in<br />
protein and may be the only food that<br />
has a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-3 to<br />
Omega-6 fatty acids ratio. Chia seeds<br />
are significantly rich in minerals and<br />
antioxidants. Endurance athletes<br />
lack dietary fiber and Omega-3 in<br />
diets I have analyzed. Overall, a chia<br />
seed product is an excellent organic<br />
nutrient component to add to your diet<br />
for fiber and bulk effect.<br />
Because the human body can digest chia<br />
seeds very easily, they don’t need to be<br />
ground up (like flax seeds do) before<br />
ingesting and enjoying the multiple<br />
benefits they provide. Chia seeds are<br />
incredibly versatile and can be sprinkled<br />
on pretty much any food you desire; your<br />
imagination is your only limitation! They’re<br />
a great way to boost the antioxidant/<br />
mineral/fiber/healthy fat content of soups,<br />
salads, cereals, smoothies, and more, and<br />
they’re ideal for including in batter when<br />
you’re making pancakes, muffins, and<br />
similar baked goods. Prepackaged chia<br />
seed products are readily available in any<br />
good health food store, so give them a try<br />
on some of your favorite foods! HN<br />
www.hammernutrition.com 43
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