Chia Seeds Nutrition Has Worked For Centuries

Chia was an important crop during pre-Columbian times until the discovery of America when cultivation decreased. From that time until the late 1990’s, only a small amount of chia was cultivated in its native Mexico. During pre-Columbian times, chia was one of four main crops the Aztecs and was a key component of their diets. The Aztecs grew chia, beans, amaranth and maize in a sort of primitive hydroponics system to produce the nutritious crops that contained the nutrition which meets that of the ideal diet today.

Chia seed nutritional aspects were observed more than 500 years ago by the Aztecs, even without the kind of research that is used today to evaluate the benefits of various foods in the diet. Today, modern science has determined that these pre-Columbian diets were better than those eaten today. Although the natural food was forced into obscurity, chia seeds nutrition and ease of use has brought it to the forefront again. Chia offers an easy way to add omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, protein and dietary fiber to the diet. Thanks to the efforts of the Northwestern Argentina Regional Project in initiating a chia research and development program, new production areas and the development of commercial production practices have led to the introduction of chia as a commercially available food. Its composition and nutritional values has positioned chia to be a key player in the future for use in both human food and animal feed.

How to Make Your Own Recipes for Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a versatile food that adds omega3 fatty acids, protein, fiber and antioxidants to your diet. In addition to being able to sprinkle the seeds directly onto a wide range of foods to take advantage of these benefits, there are also numerous ways to enjoy chia seeds in recipes that can improve a healthy diet even more. You will find over 100 recipes at AZChia that tell you how to introduce chia into all types of recipes so as to add the nutrients that chia contains, and also provides tips for using chia as a substitute for ingredients that are not as healthy such as eggs and saturated fats. The result is a greater diversity of healthy foods and delicious tastes that suit almost anyone.

One example of an easy chia seed recipe  is to use a brownie mix that calls for 2 or 3 eggs. Instead, use three egg whites with 3 teaspoons of whole chia seeds. Other than increasing the liquid used and cooking time by a few minutes, the recipe is prepared in the same way as one would normally do it. This gives you the option to use a low cost brownie mix or any other kind of packaged baking treat as a healthy snack that doesn’t have the whole egg or oil added to it, which adds cholesterol or unhealthy fats to your diet. With so many choices available as to how you use chia seeds, there is no reason that everyone cannot get the added nutrition that makes chia the world’s healthiest whole food.