MySeeds Chia Test Kitchen - Chia Seed Remedies: Use These Ancient Seeds to Lose Weight, Balance Blood Sugar, Feel Energized, Slow Aging, Decrease Inflammation, and More!

Copyright 2014 by MySeeds Chia Test Kitchen

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

eISBN: 978-1-62873-893-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

MySeeds Chia Test Kitchen.

Chia seed remedies : Use these ancient seeds to lose weight, balance blood sugar, feel energized, slow aging, decrease inflammation, and more! / by MySeeds Chia Test Kitchen.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-62636-391-5 (alk. paper)

1. Chia. 2. HealthNutritional aspects. 3. Cooking (Seeds) 4. Cooking (Natural foods) I. Title.

TX558.C38C63 2012
641.656dc23

2013031842

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

The MySeeds kitchen is comprised of sunny-side-up people who love whole natural foods. We love science and the ecosystem of the human body. We feel that life should be interesting, fun, lively, and tasty and that incorporating foods like chia into our lives helps us live more fully. With a little planning and thought, we know that chia seeds will enhance your life too. Chia has so many health benefits that we just had to spread the word about it. This book is a compilation of research from a variety of scientific sources combined with a good dose of plain common sense. We hope the thoughts and recipes we offer will help you understand how to make your body healthier and happier and how to give yourself more energy to have more ! fun . Sound good? Lets get started!

NOTICE:

The statements in this book are reflective of the authors experiences. Yours may be different. As always, you should consult with your physician before making changes to your diet or taking supplements. Chia is not intended to prevent, treat, cure, or diagnose any disease. We feel, as so many people do, that including chia in our eating habits has enhanced our lives.

WARNING:

Chia seeds are not magical seeds. They cannot be sprinkled onto or into your food and then magically transform your body into the person you want to be. Theyre not a pharmaceutical pill you can take to rev your metabolism or suddenly experience a blast of artificial energy. Chia provides nutrients your body needs, as well as fiber and protein for steady, non-jittery energy.

Theres a lot of hype surrounding chia seeds today. Some companies are trying to genetically modify certain chia plants for patents, while others are using multilevel marketing schemes to sell the seeds, which can lead to some outlandish claims. Its important to do research for yourself and get the real facts so that you can avoid being swept up in the hype of a new food. Chia is actually ancient but is currently experiencing a well-deserved return to the spotlight as health enthusiasts rediscover this fantastic seed.

However, chia seeds added to a healthy eating lifestyle can help you transform your body into a healthier you. Chia seeds are packed with so many vital minerals, nutrients, and omega-3 fats that you are most likely missing from your diet. They will help you control your appetite and sugar levels. Chia will keep you hydrated for energy and endurance. But chia is not magical, it just may seem a bit magical once you learn how to up your nutrition by using these little seeds.

A LITTLE BIT ON HEALTHY EATING:

We bet you are thinking, how hard is this healthy lifestyle going to be? How much tasteless tofu-ish food can I stand? How much time is this going to take? How can I get my act together and accomplish this new proposition? How hard is the chia seed to use? Well, it is easy! We will show you how easy, fast, and fun it can be. (We are not really tofu fans, by the way.) You already do a lot of food preparation that is smart. You broil or bake a chicken. You do eat fish. You do serve veggies. You do make salads. Lets just up your game!

We have included many chia recipes that we are certain you will enjoy and are fast and easy . Because chia seeds are flavorless, you cant hate them, but they could get boring (no taste = no fun) if you dont have creative ways to use these healthy seeds. Each recipe illustrates a point in the book. For example, if youre looking to help your picky-eating kids get better nutrition, there are chia recipes to help you. If your goal is to have a meatless night in a house full of carnivores, you can find some recipes that everyone may agree on. This book is here to help you implement any or all of the healthy advice with examples and recipes that anyone can do.

You can use some of your favorite recipes and perhaps tweak them and add chia to up your fullness factor and add nutrition. To make planning meals easier, we started by making a list of all the dinners and lunches the whole family liked. Just ask around the dinner table before your designated grocery day, What sounds good for the next week or the next few days? Im sure you will get suggestions that everyone will agree on. Now, gather up the recipes and see what fill-ins or other ingredients you will require. Ta-da! Your list is close to being complete.

A few of the recipes are sides. These are meant to accompany a piece of meat or fish. These sides would replace the mac and cheese, the instant mashed potato pile, the oven-baked frozen french fries. You want a pizza? We have one. You would like a burger? We have one (actually, lots of them). You want easy ideas for a taco salad? Would you like a few easy salad dressings too? OK, it is just that fast. Youll be so surprised at the super variety of recipes that you can make easily with chia seeds. Lets get started!

What Is the Chia Seed?

Chia seeds are tiny seeds that come from the Salvia hispanica plant. This plant is a relative of the mint family. Its a hardy plant that grows in sandy or rocky soil in hot, dry regions. It originated in the high-altitude desert area of Mexico. Its believed to have gotten started in the Chiapas region, which gave it the modern name of chia.

Chia is actually much older than many people know. It has been used since the time of the ancient Aztecs. Chia seeds were prized by ancient people because of their nutrition and hunger-fighting properties. These lightweight seeds could help soldiers travel for longer periods without food. The Tarahumara natives (a more recent people than the Aztecs) call chia the running food and are known for consuming it on their amazing marathons through harsh desert conditions.

Chia seeds come in two colors, mostly black and mostly white. Neither one has any flavor. Thats the first great property of chia. Because it has no taste, no one can hate it! Chia is tiny, about the size of a poppy seed. Often, if youre eating chia, you wont even notice. Thats what helps make it so great: you can add a healthy boost to almost any food you already like to eat by adding chia. You wont taste the difference, but your body will know, as chia adds nutrients, fiber, and protein.