I’ve noticed chia seeds added to a lot of products lately – nutrition bars, cereals, breads, and also drinks. I asked about the health benefits of chia seeds while at a local health food/organic grocery store, and apparently, there are many health benefits:
- Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 acids.
- Chia seeds are rich in protein.
- Chia seeds are gluten-free.
- Chia seeds are high in fiber.
- Chia seeds are rich in minerals and antioxidants.
- Chia seeds can help regulate blood insulin levels.
While looking at some smoothie-type beverages which contained chia seeds, one of the store employees told me ways that I could make my own drinks and puddings with very few ingredients and save myself some money. Since I hadn’t eaten chia seeds or chia powder before, and not knowing if I would like the taste or not, I bought a small amount from the bulk section.
At home, I mixed a cup of blueberry flavored Kefir milk and about 1/3 cup of black chia seeds. As instructed, I let it refrigerate overnight. The next day, the pudding-like mixture was ready. I added some fresh berries, slivered almonds, and unsweetened coconut on top, as I might do with a yogurt parfait. After a couple of bites, I drizzled a little blue agave nectar on top, as I felt it was missing something, taste-wise.
To me, the chia seeds had the texture of sesame seeds, yet very little taste. I would not object to using chia seeds again for their health benefits; I would not have them be one of the predominant flavors in recipes, though, opting for something with more flavor.
