Health
Related: About this forumThe chia craze (BBC)
By Lauren Everitt
BBC News Magazine
Chia will soon be joining the list. So what exactly is it?
Chia, or Salvia hispanica L, is a member of the mint family from Mexico and South America. The flowering plant can sprout in a matter of days, but chia's appeal is in the nutritional punch of its tiny seeds.
With more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, a wealth of antioxidants and minerals, a complete source of protein and more fibre than flax seed, the seeds have been dubbed a "dieter's dream", "the running food", "a miracle", and "the ultimate super food", by advocates and athletes.
Protein: 20.7g
Fat: 32.8g
Carbohydrate: 41.8g
(of which fibre is 41.2g)
Calcium: 714mg
Iron: 16.4mg
Niacin (B3): 613mg
Thiamine (B1): 0.18mg
Riboflavin (B2): 0.04mg
Source: Nutritional Science Research Institute
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17476690
Ian David
(69,059 posts)catbyte
(34,447 posts)Chopped: British Invasion
<snip>
Round two: entrees. The mystery ingredients are pork loin, cheese curls, escarole, and chia seeds. I didnt know chia seeds were even edible. They have 30 minutes for this round. Everybody starts to scurry. Andy hits the fridge and explains his plans for a take on the classic Sunday roast: roast pork with apples and escarole salad. Mmmm.
<snip>
Ted asks the judges about chia seeds and Marc explains theyre very popular in Guatemala. Geoffrey adds that theyre from the mint family and wonders if theyll taste minty.
Andys never heard of chia seeds before, but hes going ahead and using them as a crust on his pork.
<snip>
Jun presents his crusted pork loin with spaetzle, escarole puree, and mustard sauce. Geoffrey praises the presentation, Alex loves the mustard sauce. Ted, for some reason, busts in to explain chia pets to the chefs, which apparently none of them have even heard of. Seriously? They dont have those in England? And even if they dont have them, none of these three have even heard of them? Its not like theyre a new thing, I remember them being around when I was a kid back in the 80s. Alex thinks Jun used the chia seeds quite well as a crust. Predictably, both Geoffrey and Marc think Jun overcooked the pork, and on top of that, Marc got a bunch of the anchovies on his plate.
More:
http://armchairanglophile.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/chopped-british-invasion/
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)the seeds are so fatty that they stay suspended after they have soaked and been stirred. It's almost like a miniature bubble tea, the way they feel in your mouth.