How to eat chia: 4 original and nutritious ways to prepare it

They reconstitute, protect the health of the heart and are useful in diabetes. Therefore considered a “superfood”, chia seeds can be consumed in many ways. However, here we highlight 4 original and especially healthy ways to take chia seeds.

1. Chia con Limon: Mexican Chia Lemonade

The most frequent is mix them with water or juice, at a rate of 1 to 3 tablespoons depending on taste. In Mexico, chia is taken fresh, in a lemonade to which chia gel is added.

If the seeds are soaked, in cold water, after an hour a gel forms and the seeds almost disappear. This ability to gel makes them very appropriate in diets to reduce weight, cholesterol or diabetes.

In general, it is consumed as a food supplement, adding it to juices, salads, creams, flours, sweets, shakes, milk or yogurt.

2. As vegetable oil

Due to its richness in fats, chia seeds can be extracted a virgin oil which has the characteristic of being one of the richest in omega-3 fatty acids that are known

3. Ground chia seeds: the flour that can replace the egg

You can also take its flour (chianpinolli), toasted or defatted; It can replace other flours such as wheat, or mix with them.

Chia flour allowsamong other uses, replace the egg in various recipes that want to be veganized.

To make an egg replacer mix together four tablespoons of chia flour with a cup of cold water and let it rest for half an hour; so we get the equivalent of half a cup of egg.

4. Chia sprouts: how to sprout chia seeds?

Chia sprouts are delicious and very nutritious.

To prepare them, the seeds must be placed on kitchen paper.distributed in such a way that there is some space between them, and moisten it.

It is convenient that they receive light, but not directly (to also prevent moisture loss).

After about three days changes are beginning to be seen.

must be taken raw: in salads, toasts…

Nutritional properties of chia seeds

Chia seeds contain up to 40% polyunsaturated fatty acidsespecially omega-3 (30%) and omega-6 (40%)in addition to being rich in long-chain triglycerides. They are also extraordinarily rich in protein (twenty%) and fiber (25%), with a moderate carbohydrate content (13%), are rich in mucilages of high hydrophilic capacity (a gram of seeds can absorb up to 12 grams of water). They also have abundant calcium and boron.

What are chia seeds used for? 4 reasons to integrate them into your diet

For digestion. Chia seeds are very useful in cases of weak digestion, low weight or convalescence from diseases. They are suitable for any age, but they are recommended especially in childhood and the elderly. Due to its richness in mucilages, they are suitable in inflammatory processes of the digestive system such as gastritis.In diabetic people. In addition, by reducing or delaying the absorption of fats and carbohydrates, they are an ideal supplement for diabetics.To regulate cholesterol. Due to its high content of polyunsaturated fats, its regular consumption helps prevent cholesterol and, in general, cardiovascular diseases.To improve defenses. There are studies that relate them to a general improvement of the immune system.