Channeling Your Chia

Be strong, like chia. 
Really, that’s what it means. “Chia” is the Mayan word for strong. It makes perfect sense since the Mayans and the Aztecs were the first ones to cultivate these seeds and introduce them into their daily diet.  

Fast forward to today and it seems like chia seeds have been blowing up beyond the health and fitness space. It’s in everything! Shakes, juices, pastries, and even simple drinking water can be sprinkled with these health-supplementing sediments. If this craze blew right past you, don’t worry. We’ll bring you up to speed bit by bit discussing why chia seeds are exactly what you need to supercharge your health!

Chia seeds can be black, black with spots, white, or gray. They’re considered a pseudo-grain, a fancy term meaning “like a grain but not really,” much like buckwheat or quinoa. For something so tiny, it packs a lot in terms of health benefits, earning the title of “superfood.” It provides energy, protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and all other benefits you would expect from food with “super” in front of it

Want to get in on these benefits? Here are some recipes to try out!

The granular and tasteless feature of Chia seeds makes them the perfect ingredient in recipes like pudding. Adding a subtle and surprising texture in every spoonful

     1.) Mix about 250 ml of almond milk with 3-4 tablespoons of Chia seeds.

     2.) Add a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, or maple syrup for extra flavor.  

     3.) Let the mixture swell for around 30 minutes, then get ready to dig in! 

Speaking of textures, we Filipinos love to chew on something while we drink. Which is why we have our traditional Sago’t Gulaman. Want to know how to make it better? Sprinkle some Chia seeds in there! Adding it with tapioca pearls (sago) and agar jelly (gulaman), your health will surely feel the benefits soon after!

Another Filipino classic gets supercharged with Chia seeds! Much like Sago’t Gulaman, the everyday taho is already laden with the textures of silky tofu, tapioca pearls, and sweet syrup. The benefits of Chia seeds will simply slide into your system as you have what feels like regular taho.

This beloved Filipino dessert can be turned into a shake that packs a positive punch. Mix coconut water, young coconut meat, pandan extracts, and a tablespoon of Chia seeds together in a blender. Green is the color of goodness, and now, with the power of Chia seeds, Buko Pandan is all the more greener!

The mango is a tropical fruit favorite, especially in the Philippines. Shake it up with extra health benefits by blending fresh mangoes, coconut milk, a touch of honey or your chosen sweetener, and a dash of Chia seeds.

Calamansi has been a huge player in Filipino cuisine, one of the country’s top citrus fruits. And because of this, its juice has been the go-to beverage for anyone feeling under the weather. Add another C to the benefits of Vitamin C by squeezing fresh calamansi extracts into water together with a tablespoon of Chia seeds. Don’t forget to let the seeds soak and swell to maximize the benefits.

Resources:

1. Kulczyński B, Kobus-Cisowska J, Taczanowski M, Kmiecik D, Gramza-Michałowska A. The Chemical   Composition and Nutritional Value of Chia Seeds-Current State of Knowledge. Nutrients. 2019 May 31;11(6):1242. doi: 10.3390/nu11061242. PMID: 31159190; PMCID: PMC6627181.