it's BACK!

When I recently read an article raving all about the chia seed, my memory instantly went back to this commercial! Who doesn't remember those hokey commercials trying to sell us a dog or cat that actually sprouts! Just the other day though I read an interesting article all about chia. It was way back on the last page of Energy Times, a free magazine that I picked up at a store somewhere. I currently have a plastic bag full of chia seeds at home, but I had no idea how wonderful this tiny seed actually was!
Chia (Salvia hispanica) was used as food around 3500 BC. For the Aztecs, Mayans, as well as many other pre-Columbian peoples, these seeds were a dietary staple. At one time, chia was revered as "food of the gods!"
Amazingly, chia has between 19% and 23% protein by weight, more than most grains and nuts do. It is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as boron, calcium, iron, potassium, the B vitamins, and vitamin C.
Chia's soluble fiber when moist helps keep the body hydrated, hence becoming a popular item among athletes. It also has been shown to help individuals with type 2 diabetes, by slowing the conversion of dietary carbohydrates into glucose.
So, chia has come a LONG way since it's debut way-back-when as a decorative sprout head, huh? Have you tried eating or cooking with chia seeds?