Chia Pet:New Health Food For Your Heart In 2009?!

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!!!

You know that catchy tune. The one that pops up on telelvision ads right before Christmas.

We know that many of you have given and received Chia pets as joke gifts, but you might want to re-think what's really in a Chia pet.

Chia seeds are the latest health fad going. The seeds are good for your heart and pack in more Omega 3's than flaxseed.
Whatever you do, don't eat your Chia pet. We'd prefer that you head to your local health food store and pick up a bag of Chia seeds. The seeds are sprouting across store shelves, as folks try and get on healthy diets in the new year.

Even Dr. Andrew Weil enjoys munching on the nutty-flavored chia seeds. And Dr. Weil is quite the nutrition guru. We found this great nugget of research at greengrownproducts.com:

Dr. Weil on Chia Seed:
"Unlike flaxseed, chia seeds can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid and don't require grinding (whole flaxseed is tough to digest). Chia provides fiber (about 2 tablespoons--25 g--give you 7 g of fiber) as well as other important nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, niacin, and zinc.

Very few formal studies have looked at chia's benefits, although I expect that more will soon. In a preliminary study from the University of Toronto, researchers fed 21 diabetics either a supplement made from chia or grains with similar fiber content. After 3 months, blood pressure in patients taking chia dropped (10 points diastolic, 5 points systolic) while the grain group's BP remained steady.

I enjoy the seeds' nutlike flavor and consider them to be a healthful and interesting addition to my diet. You can sprinkle ground or whole chia seeds on cereal, yogurt, or salads; eat a handful of whole seeds as a snack; or grind them up and mix with flour when making muffins or other baked goods.Or make your own "chia fresca," a drink popular in Mexico and Central America: Stir 2 teaspoons of the seeds into 8 to 10 ounces of water (you'll end up with a slightly gelatinous liquid). Add lime or lemon juice and sugar to taste, and enjoy.My prediction? You will begin to see chia being added to more and more commercial products, such as prepared baby foods, nutrition bars, and baked goods."
- Andrew Weil, M.D.3 Reasons to Eat Chia