Diary of a Superfood: Chia Seeds

How Chia Seeds Got Its Hype

It’s all the new rage in the health industry, but this all-natural superfood is actually an ancient food of the Aztecs. And, it’s also the stuff growing right in your Grandma’s uncomfortable collection of Chia pets. A versatile little seed? We think so.

The seed of the Mexican native Salvia Hispanica plant, chia was known by the Aztecs as the ‘running food’ for its high-endurance qualities. Warriors would take as little as a teaspoon to sustain themselves like the Energizer Bunny over a 24-hour period. As for other bragging rights, chia seed is the richest whole food source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber in nature, with six times more calcium than whole milk, three times more iron than spinach, and 15 times more magnesium than broccoli.

Chia seed has a nutlike flavor and can be used in a number of ways. The most important thing to know is Chia needs to be prepared with pure water before using it in recipes. For most recipes, the ratio is 9:1 (nine parts water, one part seed). One pound of seeds will make 10 pounds of Chia gel. (See “Daily Credo” below for instructions.) Similar to flax seed, you can add chia seeds to flour when baking, or try sprinkling it on bran cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, soup, dips or in a salad. Unlike flax seed, the beauty of chia is that it is easy for your body to digest, so no need to grind them up. In Mexico, they mix it in water with lime or lemon juice, add a little natural sweetener and cheers to a drink called a “Chia Fresca.” Olé!

Bitchworthy Benefits of Chia Seed

Hydrates. Chia can hold 12 times its weight in water to offer you prolonged hydration. Given the fact that fluids and electrolytes create an environment in our bodies that supports the life of all cells, this is a good thing.

Slims. Chia helps to control weight gain, by bulking up and cleansing your body of shit in your intestines. When the chia seed gets wet (i.e. placed in water) it turns into a gel. When in our digestive systems, this gel helps prevent the absorption of some of the calories in food. This blockage of calorie absorption makes chia a skinny bitch’s BFF. Last, but certainly not least, because chia seeds absorb a great deal of water, they release natural, unrefined carbohydrates slowly into the bloodstream to make you fuller.

Protects. Chia is highly concentrated in omega-3 oils, which are essential to heart health. Omega-3s are said to help lower triglycerides, increase HDL “good” cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and act as an anticoagulant to prevent blood clotting. In addition to protecting your heart, omega oils are known for improving memory, recall, reasoning, and focus.

Heals. Chia is pretty much a mega-multivitamin in seed form. Because of the way that it breaks down in your body, it is extremely efficient in delivering all that it has to offer in the most productive way. In gel form, chia is great for healing wounds, treating the common cold, sore throats, upset stomachs, body odors, prostate problems and constipation. 

Where To Buy. You can get chia in seed or powder form at specialty health retailers like Whole Foods. Call your local grocer to see if they carry it.  Navitas Naturals Chia Seeds Aztec Superfood, 16 Ounce Pouch

*article from The Healthy Bitch Daily

Calcium: Collard Greens Have More Than Milk

According to this article from the Harvard School of Public Health, one cup of collard greens contains 357 milligrams of calcium, but a cup of milk has 306. Collard greens also are one of the leafy greens with calcium that is more absorbent. (Some greens like spinach contain oxalic acid which interferes with absorption of calcium).

In addition to calcium, Collard greens contain Vitamin K which plays a role with calcium in keeping bones healthy and strong. Three proteins in bone depend upon Vitamin K to function. Collard greens are a member of the cabbage family. The leafy vegetable has been a regular part of American cooking in the South, aka ’soul’ food for decades. (They were also popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans). In the South, they are often cooked with black eyed peas. A Collard Greens Festival has been held for several years in East Palo Alto celebrating Southern African-American culture.

In Portugal, soup is made with the greens, potatoes, onions, garlic, salt, savoy cabbage, and pork sausage, although tofu could be substituted for the pork.

Kevin Gianni has a video for Vegetable Wraps with Collard Greens and Tahini Sauce. Chef Keith Snow provides some video tips for washing and cooking them Southern Style.

The vegetable is usually planted in the early spring. In the South it can also be planted in midsummer and harvested in fall or early winter.

*article from Care2.com
(http://www.care2.com/greenliving/calcium-collard-greens-have-more-than-milk.html)

Pamela Anderson's Vegan Milkshake

Pamela Anderson teamed up with PETA at Los Angeles' Millions of Milkshakes to launch her new vegan milkshake concoction. The "Pamela Anderson" is a vegan vanilla soft-serve blended with coconut and pineapple. Yum!

When Anderson was asked why it is beneficial to be vegan, Anderson replied, "It's healthier. It did it just to be healthy. I wanted to make healthier choices."

"Leading health experts agree that going vegetarian is the single-best thing we can do for ourselves and our families. Healthy vegetarian diets support a lifetime of good health and provide protection against numerous diseases, including our country’s three biggest killers: heart disease, cancer, and strokes. The American Dietetic Association states that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer” and that vegetarians are less likely than meat-eaters to be obese."

Well-planned vegetarian diets provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus all the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants found in animal flesh, eggs, and dairy products.

The Naked Vegetarian: Alicia Silverstone

Sexy Hollywood star Alicia Silverstone bares all in PETA's first-ever naked vegetarian testimonial. Watch Alicia's sexy video, directed by acclaimed director Dave Meyers, whose credits include videos for Britney Spears, OutKast, and Dave Matthews Band.

Alicia Silverstone, like many individuals, was not always a vegetarian. It was only after meeting some farm animals where she realized that these animals were no different than a domestic dog or cat. These cows and chickens have feelings and feel pain. From that point, she decided to become a vegetarian.

After becoming a vegan, not only has she helped animal suffering, but Alicia has noticed significant changes in her body physically and spiritually. Alicia has been a vegan for over 10 years.