Hello, Chia Fairy

Hi guys! Hope you’re having a wonderful night 😀

So you all know how much I love my chia seeds…

chia

They’re the main component of my beloved chia pudding:

005

A excellent addition to smoothies:

smoothie

Bfast cookies:

cookie

Oats:

oats

And they offer an excellent blast of nutrition.

Benefits: Omega 3’s, you don’t need to grind the seeds to digest it (unlike flax), high in protein, increase metabolism by slowing the process by which carbohydrates are converted to simple sugars, high in cancer-protective antioxidants

And more info from this website:

1. Nutritious.  Chia seed provides ample calcium and protein to your tissues.  The seeds are also rich in boron, which helps the body assimilate and use calcium.  The nutrients also support proper brain functioning.

2. Water loving.  The seed can soak up ten times its weight in water.  Do this fun experiment.  Put one tablespoon of chia seed in a cup of water and stir.  Wait a few hours and see what happens.  When inside your body, the seeds help you stay hydrated longer, and retain electrolytes in your bodily fluids.

3.  Easily digestible.  The shells are easily broken down, even when swallowed whole.  This is an improvement over flax seed, which have to be ground up to be digested properly.  If you eat flax seed whole, it will just pass through.

4. Concentrated.  If I could only take one cup of food for a few days, I’d choose chia!  The food value per volume is simply astounding.  You don’t need much.

5. Mild tasting.  Unlike some seeds, the flavor is very mild.  The mild taste makes it easy to put in sauces, smoothies, breads, puddings, and whatever you want.  They won’t really change the taste, but will add to your nutrition!

6. Energy enhancing.  The health pioneer Paul Bragg did an experiment an endurance hike with friends.  They divided up into a chia-eating group and another group, who ate whatever they wanted.  The group eating only chia seeds finished the hike four hours, twenty seven minutes before the others, most of whom didn’t even finish at all.

7. Versatile.  The seeds can be used to replace less-healthy fat in just about any recipe.  You can use them uncooked in salad dressings, spreads, fruit shakes, ice cream, and just about anything you want.  You can also add them to cookies, cakes, muffins, and other baked goods.  I usually just mix in a couple of teaspoons to my juice or water and drink them down!

8. Slimming and trimming.  Yes, the seeds will help you lose weight, for two reasons.  The first reason is that they are so filling that you will eat less of other foods.  The second reason is that they actually bulk up and cleanse your body of old "junk" in your intestines. 

9. Endurance enhancing.  Chia seeds are known as the "Indian Running Food".  Also, the ancient Aztec warriors used chia seed during their conquests.  I’m a runner, and I’ve used chia seed to enhance stamina and endurance on my mountain runs, some of which are several hours long!

10. Regenerating.  After eating, the nutrients travel to the cells very quickly due to the ease in digestion and assimilation.  Use them when you want to build or regenerate healthy body tissue.

Not too shabby, eh? 🙂

I promised ya’ll a giveaway today and the chia fairy (aka Chia Seeds Direct) was so kind to offer 2 lbs of chia seeds to a lucky Fitnessista.

Want to enter?

*CLICK HERE* (as I’m not able to publish giveaways on the main page of my blog, unless it’s something I’ve made myself)

See ya tomorrow with exciting news! 😀

xoxo,

Gina

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30 Comments

  1. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg on February 11, 2010 at 8:27 pm

    Ooh! I DO love the chia fairy!!!! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on February 11, 2010 at 8:39 pm

      everyone loves the chia fairy 🙂

  2. Jean on February 11, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    SO glad that tomorrow is Friday so we’ll get to hear the big news! I can’t wait! Think I’ll go & make a bfast cookie for the celebration. 😉

    • Fitnessista on February 11, 2010 at 8:37 pm

      so cute!

  3. Ally (Exercise and Pies) on February 11, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    Awesome, I almost ordered some online the other day… if I win i won’t order but I tend to have bad luck with this stuff lol

  4. Vicky on February 11, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    What is foodgasm? I tried looking it up and found nothing!

    • Fitnessista on February 11, 2010 at 8:47 pm

      i didn’t know how to describe it in words (ahah) but a friend on twitter said:
      “like when Homer Simpson drools and moans over his food”
      think mmmmmmmmm ohhhhhh yesssssssss 🙂

  5. Lauren @ Eat, Drink, and Be Hopeful on February 11, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    I can not wait for the news! I gotta find myself one of those glass straws. I’m in love with yours.

  6. Joelle (The Pancake Girl) on February 11, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Yummy looking oats!

  7. Liz on February 11, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    Oooh, I can’t wait to hear your news tomorrow!! I haven’t gone on teh guessing train yet but I am going to throw out that your new job is possibly food related??? It’s the first clue-those shoes-maybe to be worn in a kitchen? Well, I will find out tomorrow 🙂

    And I think you may have convinced me to go to Whole Foods and pick up some chia! I know the post said that the flavor is mild but is there anything you think it resembles in taste??

  8. Samantha on February 11, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    I can’t wait to try a green monster/smoothie when I return home and have a blender!!

  9. Kilee on February 11, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    Thank you for hosting the chia seeds giveaway. I am so excited to hear what the big news is! I’m so happy for you, whatever it is. I’m sure it was hard to give your notice at the gym, but every closed door is the opening of a new one!

  10. Heather (Heather's Dish) on February 11, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    OH i can’t wait! headed over to sign up and HOPEFULLY win 🙂

  11. M on February 11, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Gina! Do you store your beloved millet bread in the fridge or freezer? Or can you keep it out on the counter? Thanks xxo

    • Fitnessista on February 11, 2010 at 11:19 pm

      freezer. then i chisel off a piece when i want some 🙂

  12. Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat) on February 11, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    I cannot wait to hear the big news!! We are dying over here! 🙂

  13. Angie (Losing It and Loving It) on February 11, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Those oats look so good! Why can’t you post giveaways on YOUR blog? That’s odd.

    Can’t wait to hear your news tomorrow!

    • Fitnessista on February 11, 2010 at 11:19 pm

      it’s because of my advertising contract. i don’t mind at all though- i never want the bloggy to turn into a commercial 🙂

  14. Katie on February 11, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Excited for the exciting news 😀

  15. Emily on February 11, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Yeah where did you find that glass straw contraption (if I may be so bold to ask:)?

  16. Romy on February 12, 2010 at 2:12 am

    Can’t wait for tomorrow 😀 I’m so curious! I guess it has something to do with raw cooking, perhaps you’ll be a raw chef for your clients. Raw Food take-out or something like that? 😀

  17. Danielle on February 12, 2010 at 2:37 am

    Chia, chia… 😉 Can’t wait to hear what your exciting news is!

  18. Antonia on February 12, 2010 at 3:58 am

    Can you just buy them in any grocery market? I’ll have to add this to my list this weekend!

    • Fitnessista on February 12, 2010 at 9:20 am

      most health food stores have them- i haven’t seen them at a regular grocery yet

  19. christie @ honoring health on February 12, 2010 at 7:44 am

    Can’t wait for the big news!

  20. Pam on February 12, 2010 at 8:56 am

    Nice giveaway….Rules…ugh!

    Have a nice day and enjoy!

  21. Jenny on February 12, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Ok you really have convinced I need to try Chia seeds. They are just too awesome 🙂

  22. jds on February 12, 2010 at 10:10 am

    i am dying to try these, i’ve seen them everywhere! i would LOVE to win!

  23. Jenna @ EatingGreen,StayingLean on February 12, 2010 at 10:35 am

    This is great! 2lbs is a LOTTAA chia seeds, but I love it. Good luck with the giveaway and can’t wait to hear the exciting news!

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