Chia Seeds!

Ch-ch-ch-chia! Remember those old Chia Pet commercials? Who knew back then that I could have been eating those dang seeds instead of making a huge mess in Mom’s kitchen and then waiting an eternity for my tiny chia teddy bear to grow some green fur? Well, unbeknownst to me at the time, chia has been a staple food source for thousands of years in Meso-America. High in essential fatty acids, proteins and minerals, chia can truly be considered a superfood. Other great benefits to this tiny little powerhouse are lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, lower serum triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol and even helping those with sucrose-induced insulin resistance!

“Geez! How much of this wonder seed do I need to get these benefits and is it gonna kill my pocketbook?” you may ask. Well never fear. Chia seeds are pretty darn inexpensive compared to other superfoods. At the time of writing our bulk herb section has them at $1.60 an ounces. A mere pittance and as little as 2 tablespoons a day in a glass of water is enough to get the goods. Chia is also very versatile in a culinary sense. With an almost nonexistent flavor, it’s a great thickening agent for smoothies, makes amazing puddings and breads and can even be sprinkled over your favorite greens or vegetables! And it also looks pretty cute grown out, anthropomorphized and sitting on your windowsill.

Public Relations Team, Community Pharmacy