Chia Seed

Chia is the one of the newer superfoods to hit stores in the US. Each little seed is packed with the right balance of omega 3 and 6, they are full of protein and fiber, they help lower the glycemic load of foods by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugars. Not only that but unlike flax seeds they do not have a hard outer shell so are much more easily digested and do not have to be ground. This makes them very easy to add to your diet as they can be eaten raw. Sprinkle them on your cooked rice, add some to your bread or biscuits. If you sprinkle about 1Tbsp into a glass of room temperature water and leave it for 10 minutes the outer shell breaks down and forms a jelly (a bit like tiny tapioca). You can use this gel as an egg replacer in baking or use fruit juice in place of the water to create a jelly dessert. There is no official recommended quantity to take as no negative health effects have been observed. However, most people in the health industry think 1-2Tbsp per day is probably a good guideline.