Ch Ch Ch Chia!

No longer are chia seeds just for growing leafy hair on ceramic Shreks and Obamas. The tiny, edible seed, which comes from the Salvica Hispanica plant of southern Mexico, is quickly becoming the latest health craze. However, ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations knew long ago the numerous health benefits chia seeds contained. They were the basic survival ration of Aztec warriors, and it is believed that 1 tablespoon can sustain an individual for 24 hours.
Chia seeds are very rich in those coveted omega-3 fatty acids, even moreso than flax seeds. And, unlike flax, they do not need to be ground up to make their nutrients more readily available to our bodies. Nor do they become rancid as quickly as flax seeds.
In addition to omegas, chia seeds provide us with fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, niacin, and zinc. Another advantage: when added to water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, chia forms a gel. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar.
Chia has a nutlike flavor. You can mix seeds in water and add lime or lemon juice and sugar to make a drink known in Mexico and Central America as "chia fresca." As with ground flax seeds, you can sprinkle ground or whole chia seeds on cereal, in yogurt or salads, in puddings or applesauce, add them to smoothies, eat them as a snack, or grind them and mix them with flour when making muffins or other baked goods.
The health benefits of chia seeds are too numerous to list, but here are a few:

~ they can aid in weight loss because their gelling effect help you feel full longer
~ they help balance blood sugar
~ they can help prevent diverticulitis, a disease quickly on the rise due to all the over-processed foods we consume
~ they help you feel more energized all day long
~ they add age-defying antioxidants to your diet
~ they help cut cravings by filling you with nutrients - being deficient in vitamins and minerals can cause cravings for certain foods

Chia seeds can be found in all health food stores, and even the more mainstream grocery stores are starting to carry them. I found mine at Meijer and they even boasted an organic label!