Ch-ch-ch-chia; the new flax seed?

If you are concerned about your blood pressure, your heart health, diabetes, or you are a general health enthusiast, you have likely heard of the food chia, also referred to as Salba®. Salba® is a patented brand name for white chia seeds which are touted as having a higher nutritional value than their black counterparts. Salba® is being heavily marketed as the next superfood that will protect us from all illness. Similar to the infamous flax seed, chia seeds deliver a healthy dose of omega 3 fats and fibre which support a healthy heart and circulatory system. Unlike flax seeks, you don’t need to grind them to enjoy the nutritional benefits. Because chia seeds don’t have a hard seed coat like flax seeds, you can add them to a salad or to a yogurt for a little crunch and some added nutrition. Soaked chia seeds become slimy very fast but they turn white and milky when blended and make a great nutrient dense base for a smoothie. Nutritionally, flax rivals chia, providing more dietary fibre and omega three fats per serving, and flax seeds also cost about a quarter of chia. However, always the advocate for variety, I recommend adding chia to your seed repertoire and enjoying a variety of seeds as a part of a healthy diet. For the best price, look for white chia in bulk at your natural foods store. For more information about chia, including a smoothie recipe, visit www.wholefoodsnutrition.ca