[dilettantesteph]

Anyone tried this product? Did it seem really gluten free? Was it any good?

[RiceGuy]

Please don't be fooled by all the hype. It's just chia seed. Despite the claims, you can actually get loads more nutrients from one cup of ordinary garden green peas, than from one serving (two tbsp) or chia seeds. The deception is in the density of the nutrients. While they do have a lot of nutrients for their size, it's not something you can really fill up on.

Also, my research revealed that there is no significant difference in nutrients between the white and black chia seeds.

You can look up the nutrient content of foods here:
http://www.nutritiondata.com/

[dilettantesteph]

Thanks for your reply. I was interested in them for the omega-3 fatty acids, which garden peas aren't high in.

[Juliebove]

Chia seeds are really filling. I ate them soley for breakfast for a long time, mixed with water and set in the fridge overnight as a gel. The problem is, I am diabetic and was told I needed to eat more carbs than just that because not eating enough carbs was probably causing my high blood sugar. As summer came around, I had less room in my fridge so stopped making the gel. And then I just forgot. I should start doing that again. I really did feel more energetic when I was eating it.

[dilettantesteph]

Thanks for your reply.

[RiceGuy]

dilettantesteph, on Dec 17 2008, 04:54 PM, said:

Thanks for your reply. I was interested in them for the omega-3 fatty acids, which garden peas aren't high in.

Oh, ok. Yes, they are fairly high in Omega-3s. Though as I recall, the last time I checked, flax was considerably cheaper, so that you'd be able to get more O-3s for your money with flax anyway. Prices do change all the time though, so just like flax, I'm sure chia will be more cost effective over time.

Either way, since O-3s are highly unstable, the best advice as to how to use them (that I've read) is to use a pepper grinder to grind the seeds fresh onto your salads and such. Keep the whole seeds in the freezer, or fridge if used within a relatively short period of time. Though, chia does seem small enough that you may not need to grind them up, unless your digestion isn't up to the task of the whole seeds. I'd think they'd probably work well in smoothies, especially considering that they'd add to the thick, creamy consistency.

[dilettantesteph]

I really don't like the taste of flax seeds, and you aren't supposed to have to grind the chia seeds. You are right, flax is cheaper, but I couldn't stand the taste and was adding so much stuff to cover up the taste, I was undoing a lot of the good. It would be nice for creamy smoothies.