The Benefits of Chia Seeds + Recipe

From Gwyneth Paltrow to Kelly Slater, nutritionists and personal trainers, everyone LOVES chia seeds, and for good reason! These tiny superfood seeds are bursting with nutrients to nourish your body from the inside out.

Native to Mexico and Guatemala, Chia seeds now come in all different forms and are even grown in Australia. You can use white or black seeds, chia bran, ground chia seeds and even chia seed oil! They are known for their incredible health benefits.

PHOTO1_right Chia seeds are rich in many nutrients such as manganese, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, folate, iron, vitamin A, B12 and C. They are also are a powerful source of naturally occurring antioxidants and are packed with fibre. They are a great source of essential omega-3 fatty acids and are classified as the richest plant based source. Chia seeds even contain more omega-3’s than many types of fish, including eight times more than salmon! This makes them perfect for everyone, including those looking for vegan and vegetarian sources; chia seeds are even gluten free!

For such a tiny seed, with their excellent source of nutrients it’s no wonder they are classed as a little superfood! It is recommended to consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds daily. They can be sprinkled on top of yoghurt, salads or breakfast cereals, mixed into baked goods or smoothies, made into a pudding or even chia seed crackers. Their mild flavour and high nutrient content makes them a great addition to any meal.
So if you haven’t already left to go and buy these goodies, make sure you throw a bag of chia seeds in your basket next time you go shopping ’ your body will love you!

Here is one of our favourite chia seed recipes by the beautiful Georgia Creer from The Blue Ingredient.

Chia Pudding Parfait

Ingredients

1⁄4 cup chia seeds
1 cup almond milk
tsp honey
tsp almond butter

Method

1. Place all ingredients into a jar and stir really well, make sure that all the chia seeds are soaking in the almond milk, this often requires you to stir and shake the jar (with lid on).
2. Leave in the fridge over night with the lid sealed
3. The next day layer with natural yogurt, raspberries, banana and granola

Easy as that! Georgia says this is the perfect on-the-go breaky that tastes delicious, nourishes your body and keeps you full!