I've fallen in love with chia seeds

[Holistic Star]

i've been hearing about chia seeds a lot on raw food forums. I finally stumped up the cash to get some. They're pricey - but wow are they great!

They're pretty much tasteless but high in nutrients such as calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fibre and is 23% protein.

When they are wet they form a gel, which makes food more bulky and gelatine like. It gives a great texture to eat and fills you up more.

In my baby-food puree maker I mixed up:
1 banana
a little water
a tiny nubbin of creamed coconut (not raw) - could use raw coconut here if you had some.
a few drops of vanilla extract.
Raw agave nectar.

I added 3 teaspoons of chia seeds, left it in the fridge for 15 minutes and it made a fantastic pudding. Yes it looked a bit like frog spawn - but the taste was amazing!

There's loads more recipes that I want to try. Just thought I would share

[rawxstasy]

I'm going to have to try this. Where do you buy yours?

[Holistic Star]

I got mine from a company called Raw Living in the UK. There's not many places in the UK that do them. Just had a look and you can get them from Raw Spirit. Raw Vegan Books :

just realised they are much cheaper from this source! Especially taking exchange rate into consideration.

[Dimond]

I love chia seeds too. I've made all kinds of simple meals with it. They're also a great portable food because you can bring it as the seed and add water or juice to it and easily stir in other ingredients.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Holistic Star

They're pretty much tasteless but high in nutrients such as calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fibre and is 23% protein.

The recipe sounds divine!

Just keep in mind that chia seeds, like all veg sources, only contain the omega-3 fatty acid ALA. They contain no DHA or EPA.

[ginkgo]

As far as cost being expensive, it depends what you buy (what you can find). The generic ones cost only about $7 a pound. Then they have taken the white ones and sell them under the brand name of Salba and they cost like $40 a pound. They also say that the white ones, not the black ones, are any good.

They are the best plant source of omega-3s like flaxseed but are higher in other nutrients. The flax seed is indigestible unless broken but if they are milled, then they can go bad. The chia seeds can be eaten whole and be digested.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

They are the best plant source of omega-3s like flaxseed but are higher in other nutrients. The flax seed is indigestible unless broken but if they are milled, then they can go bad. The chia seeds can be eaten whole and be digested.

They have only slightly less ALA than flax, but I didn't realize you could eat them whole.

I like to keep whole flax seeds in the fridge, and then grind some up in a coffee grinder I have for just the seeds to consume immediately.

[Herbivore]

like all veg sources, contain no DHA or EPA.

You're saying I haven't had DHA or EPA in 15 years? I shouldn't be feeling nearly this good.

Or maybe we make them. Maybe animals make them too, which is why cows and chickens have them(on a vegan diet).