Comments on: Chia Seeds: facts, thoughts, questions

By: PJ

PJ — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:32:50 +0000

This might be just humor for you, but months ago I was having a study-fest on chia via internet, and bought some seeds and ground seeds. I had a vivid dream a few nights later that this small dark woman, using a kind of uglyish ‘oven’ looked like of clay very close to the ground, was showing me what SHE did with chia, I felt she was a south american native. She had this hunk of animal flesh and some soaked chia, and she took the ‘goop’ and spread it thickly all over the meat, and then put that in the ‘oven’ and sealed it up with rocks. To this day I haven’t got around to trying cooking a meat like this — I’m just wildly guessing the seeds would gradually dry out completely and either be a shell or just fall off, but perhaps it makes the meat more moist, or in that kind of oven would keep more humidity in the cooking area.

By: Sean Hannigan

Sean Hannigan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:00:20 +0000

Great post and comments. I stumbled upon this post as I was googling Chia and Omega 3′s. (Not sure of ‘googling’ is recognized as a word YET but if it isn’t it will be and that makes me a pioneer)

First, let me get it out of the way that I am a distributor of a proprietary blend of Chia by a Company called Lifemax. That being said, I just wanted to make a few comments from what I know of Chia based solely on what I NOW know from learning my product.

As far as growing Chia, you probably can grow it here in the US but as for the nutrients, it grows best within 23 deg. north and south of the equator.

As far as grinding it like flax, it will lose some nutrients in a grinding process.

It does hold, I believe, 13x its weight in water and for that reason – and the fiber content, it works well as an appetite suppressant to aid in weight loss.

It does have amazing powers as an anti-inflammatory and cholesterol reduction (these I have personally experienced — in addition to more energy and better sleep)

And a certain Company does sell Chia that doesn’t need to be ground or made into a gel due to a proprietary method of splitting the seed. This makes it easy to put into a drink or sprinkle on any food.

My kids enjoy it blended with their chocolate milk and/or orange juice and drink it EVERY day. They’re 4 and 5 YOA and refer to it as their ‘healthy drink’

Have a great day!

By: Eva

Eva — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:23:28 +0000

I live on the Tennessee – Kentucky line. A few years ago I bought some chia seeds and planted them. I never found out how to harvest them so I just let them grow wild. If anyone knows when and how to harvest them I would love to hear about it!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:23:15 +0000

Jules – I’ve never heard that rule before so I can’t say for sure. Sorry.

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:43:09 +0000

We bought some chia “meal” (freshly ground chia seeds) from a local farmer’s market, and sprinkle it on lots of stuff – yogurt, eggs, beans, kefir, steamed veggies, meat, etc.

It doesn’t have much of a taste, so add it just like you might add ground pepper or salt.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:28:27 +0000

I heard that they can keep you hydrated because they hold so much water.

By: Jules

Jules — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 07:57:39 +0000

Guess Sally must have since changed her opinion, as I read a comment from Sally not so long ago that mentioned a rule about nuts and seeds – anything smaller than your fingernail doesn’t need soaking, sprouting etc (the rule was from tribes in the WAP study).

By: susan allport

susan allport — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:49:24 +0000

I thought you’d find this new take on omega-3s interesting: http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/the-vanishing-youth-nutrient/6dec72fe5deb2210VgnVCM10000030281eac____/news.voices/in.the.magazine/september.2009.issue/0/0/1

By: Ricki

Ricki — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:49:02 +0000

I use chia a lot. Apparently, unlike flax, the omegas are absorbable directly from the whole seeds, so the chia “pudding” is a great, nutritious food. I’d think you might lose some antioxidants/vitamins if you grind them, but it would be minimal if you ate them right away. I wouldn’t heat them directly, though apparently they aren’t harmed if used as an egg substitute (I use them that way instead of ground flax on occasion). And I also love the way they taste!

By: Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free

Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:46:40 +0000

I understand the real food litmus test but mine would also have to include – Does it taste good??? I’ve spent enough time eating things that were “healthy’ but tasted so bad. Not going back there again.

Also, had to giggle – can you see people harvesting greens from their Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia Heads???