By Melanie A. Albert, intuitive cooking expert, author, and speaker. Founder & CEO Experience Nutrition Group, LLC
Yesterday, I posted a quick smoothie with homemade sunflower seed milk as the base. Today, I created a similar smoothie with chia seeds and coconut water as the base.
Both smoothies were made with coconut water, raspberries, and a banana. The only difference being the sunflower seeds yesterday and the chia seeds today, as a thickener and source of protein and healthy fats.
CULINARY TIP: Be sure to soak chia seeds before you use them in a recipe, as they will expand about 12 times their size with soaking.
SIMPLE SMOOTHIE: Blend coconut water chia seed liquid, with frozen raspberries and a banana for a quick, delicious smoothie.
By Melanie Albert, Nutrition & Wellness Expert, Author, Speaker, Founder & CEO Experience Nutrition, Instructor Holistic Nutrition Conscious Eating and Whole Food S.O.U.L. Food at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.
Chia seeds are the rage today! But some of us remember when they were the green hair that grew on our Chia Pets when we were kids. Who knew that decades later we’d be eating them!
Chia seeds come from a flowering plant in the mint family that’s native to Mexico and Guatemala, and history suggests it was a very important food crop for the Aztecs.
Top 5 Benefits of Chia Seeds
• Good fats. Chia seeds, like hemp seeds and flax seeds are a great ALA omega-3 healthy-fat rich seed, which is important for brain health and reduction of inflammation in the body. • High in protein. Great source of protein for vegetarians and vegans • Stabilize blood sugar. Important for diabetics • Improve heart health. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics, and may also increase healthy cholesterol, whil lowering total, bad LDL and triglyceride cholesterol • Good source of calcium. 18% or the recommended daily intake for calcium.
Ingredients
• 1/3 cup chia seeds
• 1 cup soy milk (or coconut water)
• 2 chopped bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-2 Medjool dates, if you desire more sweetness
• Berries, nuts and seeds for toppings
Simple Steps
• Mix chia seeds, vanilla and dates into the soy milk or coconut water
• Fold in the bananas
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight)
• Enjoy for breakfast, snack, or dessert with your favorite berries, nuts and seeds
By Melanie Albert, Nutrition & Wellness Expert, Author, Speaker, Founder & CEO Experience Nutrition
Chia seeds are the rage today! But some of us remember when they were the green hair that grew on our Chia Pets when we were kids. Who knew that decades later we’d be eating them!
Chia seeds come from a flowering plant in the mint family that’s native to Mexico and Guatemala, and history suggests it was a very important food crop for the Aztecs.
Benefits of Chia Seeds
Good fats. Chia seeds, like hemp seeds and flax seeds are a great ALA omega-3 healthy-fat rich seed, which is important for brain health and reduction of inflammation in the body.
High in protein. Great source of protein for vegetarians and vegans
Stabilize blood sugar. Important for diabetics
Improve heart health. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics, and may also increase healthy cholesterol, while lowering total, bad LDL and triglyceride cholesterol
Good source of calcium. 18% or the recommended daily intake for calcium.
9 Ways 90 Days Organic Chia Pudding Recipe
9 Ways 90 Days Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients
1/3 cup chia seeds
1 cup soy milk
2 chopped bananas
1 tsp vanilla
1 Medjool date, if you desire more sweetness
Berries, nuts and seeds for toppings
Simple Steps
Mix chia seeds, vanilla and date into the soy milk
Fold in the bananas
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight)
Enjoy for breakfast, snack, or dessert with your favorite berries, nuts and seeds
