What Is Chia?
- According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), chia only grows naturally in the southwestern portion of the United States
- Chia seeds were considered by the ancient Aztecs to be a super food so powerful that one tablespoon would sustain your for 24 hours.
- The plant itself is not very remarkable. The dark green leaves are thick, wrinkled and somewhat hairy with deep lobes that grow mainly from the base of the plant. The flowers are pale blue to deep blue with two lips. The flowers produce as many as 13 tiny, gray to light brown, flat seeds each.
- Chia seeds are a valuable source of Omega-3 fatty acids, containing even more of this nutrient than flaxseeds.
- Chia seeds and sprouts are both becoming popular as food sources due to the health benefits discovered by ancient Indians.