Chia

It’s summer and we have visitors. Most of us over 70 and we are all health conscious.

I thought this morning that an outsider watching us around the breakfast table would be amused to see us all sorting out our vitamins and other supplements and then preparing our own bowls of fresh fruit, kefir, and cereals. As we chatted yesterday about the benefits of our choices, I learned about chia [also sold under the brand name Salba], a recently rediscovered small seed I am definitely going to add to my bowl.

Chia [or Salba] was a staple in the diet of the Aztecs, and was fed especially to their soldiers. When the Spaniards were invading and trying to conquer their armies, they learned that chia was the chief contributor to the strength and stamina of the Aztec soldiers and made the decision to completely wipe out all chia crops.

Intrigued, by what I was hearing about the health benefits of these small seeds, I naturally went on the Internet and found a number of sites that give all the information you would ever want to know about this recently discovered wonder food.

For instance:

- Two tablespoons of chia give you your total daily requirements of antioxidants.

- Chia can absorb over 12 times its weight in water and forms a gel. This means it improves digestion and body hydration and makes you feel full so it decreases your appetite, a benefit for weight watchers.

- With high levels of calcium and high quality protein, chia strengthens bones and muscles. It also regulates blood pressure, and lowers bad cholesterol levels.

- The seeds have the ability to regulate blood sugar levels and are being discovered by diabetics as an excellent addition to their diet

If you click on the highlighted site you can do your own research into the many benefits of chia seeds.

Can't resist including Mark Twain's quip: 'Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.' Rie