I see chia seeds everywhere now. They are in drinks, in the bulk aisle, in cereals and baby foods. But, it wasn’t always like this. When I was first introduced to chia seeds by my running coach in Hawaii it was not available in the local stores yet and I would order it online. At the time I had to order 20lbs of it in bulk! That is a lot of chia seeds.
Luckily among our running friends chia was a hot commodity. The book Born to Run inspired this love for chia seeds since we all wanted to be able to easily run 50-100 miles like the Tarahumara. Chia was a dietary stable of the Tarahumara, the Native American people of northwestern Mexico who were known for their long-distance running ability.
I can’t say that the chia seeds made running a marathon easy, but I was munching on chia during my one successful marathon in Honolulu. I was enjoying the chia seeds, but my running partner wasn’t quite as pleased since she had the “ch-ch-ch chia” tune in her head for the last 15 miles! Hey, whatever you have to do to stay distracted, I think I might have done her a favor.
If you aren’t convinced yet, here are the top reasons why I love chia seeds:
- According to Dr. Andrew Weil, chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids and provides fiber as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc.
- Great for travel. They don’t need to be ground, so you can pack them in your suitcase and have them readily available to make chia pudding for breakfast or a snack in your hotel room. You can also pack travel size containers of almond milk (if checking luggage), as well as nuts and just pick up fresh fruit in your destination city.
- Hangover Cure. Had a little too much to drink? 1-2 Tbsp of chia seeds in a glass of lemon water before going to bed does the trick for me. Not only are you rehydrating, but the chia seeds help absorb and flush out the extra alcohol.
- Can help pull excess estrogen out of the body. You can read more about the anti-cancer effects of chia (and flax seeds) here by Dr. Furhman.
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My Basic Chia Water
For 1 serving:
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ lemon, lime or tablespoon Cranberry Concentrate
Add water to a large glass first and then chia seeds. Stir or shake (I like to use a jar with a lid) the mixture until the chia seeds are fully hydrated. When fully hydrated they will be evenly suspended throughout. This should take about 10 minutes. Add your lemon, lime, Cranberry Concentrate (or all 3!!) and enjoy!!
Not sure that you want to drink this? Chia seed pudding is also a good option and is much more delicious than it sounds!
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Chia Pudding Recipe
For 1-2 servings:
- 1 cup coconut, almond, or hemp milk
- 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 banana
- ½ cup strawberries (frozen are OK)
- Handful of almonds or walnuts, if desired
- Cinnamon, to taste
Mix all the ingredients together and let them sit in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Stir after a few minutes, as the chia seeds are “gelling” into a pudding-like consistency. Let it sit in the refrigerator about 20 minutes or until ready to eat.
If you find the pudding too thick, you can add more milk or a little water. If you find the pudding too thin, add more chia seeds or any of the other ingredients to make it thicker. You really can’t go wrong with chia pudding, which is why I love making it so much.
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Are you singing ch-ch-ch-chia right along with me?
What are your favorite recipes for chia seeds? We’d love to hear!!
