Chia Seed - The Super Food

There's so much hype around all these different super foods recently - flaxseed, hemp seed, acai, and my favourite….chia seeds!
Chia seeds seem to have become a huge thing recently, everyone's talking about them, and I'm seeing them in more and more shops, but what's so great about them? What are their benefits? Are they worth the 'super food' title?

Chia seeds come from a flowering plant in the mint family that's native to South America. They're tiny, black or dark brown seeds that are pretty tasteless and can't really be eaten alone (they wouldn't taste terribly nice and they'd get stuck in your teeth, I wouldn't recommend it). However, when combined with other ingredients they're a healthy eating dream. My favourite things to do with them are to stir the seeds into porridge or make chia seed pudding.

• Chia seeds contain more iron than spinach, which is essential for carrying oxygen around the body.
• They're bursting with antioxidant strength, some studies show they're more antioxidising than blueberries.
• 10g of chia seeds (approximately 2 table spoons) is almost half your daily requirement of fibre, which is needed to eliminate toxins from the body, and provides a slow release of energy.
• These little seeds are the highest plant-based source of alpha-linolenic, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, which reduces joint pain and inflammation; essential for keeping the heart nice and healthy and lowering blood pressure & cholesterol.
• Chia seeds have the ability to absorb up to 10 times their weight in liquid when consumed, meaning they're fantastic at keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
• They aid muscle and tissue regeneration and help with digestive regularity.
• Chia seeds also contain a lot of magnesium, manganese, zinc and calcium, which boost the metabolism and keep the skin glowing.

Chia seeds may not be the cheapest, but there are definitely deals to be found online and in independent health food shops (avoid Holland & Barrett if you're on a budget), and even a small bag will last you a long time. With all those amazing benefits for the body they're well worth the money, and I think we can conclude that chia seeds are well worth their 'super food' status!