Chia Seeds White Organic  16 oz / 454 gram

Harvested in southern Mexico, near the ancestral home of this magnificent seed, our Organic White Chia is the very same superfood that once fueled the ancient Aztecs. Folklore holds that chia was so revered that it was used as currency and given as tribute to the kings. In those days, chia grew wild in what would become the southern-most Mexican state of Chiapas, whose name is derived from the seed.

Considering the nutritional value of chia seeds, that is not a surprise.Chia is naturally high in fiber as well as vitamin E, and a single serving contains 6 grams of Omega 3 fatty acids. Our chia is also a good source of protein, calcium, niacin, iron, phosphorus, biotin and thiamin. That is quite a potent punch for such a diminutive seed and it certainly explains why chia is experiencing something of a renaissance today.

Today our Chia is grown free of chemicals and pesticides, in organic fields, just the way it has been for hundreds of years. It is grown by small farmers and cooperatives in rural areas, providing good jobs and fair pay that leads to greater opportunities for everyone involved.

The statements on this have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

Chiazaad en Salbazaad hebben wij speciaal op voorraad op verzoek van- en voor de bakkers onder u en ..... voor die klanten die hun eigen brood bakken.

Ons gebruiksadvies is 5% Chiazaad of 5% Salbazaad aan uw brood toe te voegen.

Bel ons met uw vragen en voor meer informatie.

Per gram gegarandeerd voordeliger dan onze collegae !!  Per gram guaranteed cheaper than our colleagues !!

Chia Seeds for Health, by Gloria Hoover

Chia seeds have been a staple food source for the American Native people for centuries (long before the Chia Pet hit the market). Aztec warriors would eat chia during hunting trips, and the Indians of the Southwest would eat only chia seed mixed with water as they ran from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean to trade products.

Chia seed is a complete source of dietary protein, providing all the essential amino acids. Compared to other seeds and grains, chia seed provides the highest source of protein, between 19 to 23 percent protein by weight. One of the unique qualities of the chia seed is its ability to absorb more than nine times its volume in water or other liquid. This ability can prolong hydration and retain electrolytes in body fluids, especially during exertion or exercise. Normal fluid retention ensures electrolyte dispersion across cell membranes, maintains fluid balances, and aids normal cellular function.

The gel-forming property of chia seed tends to slow digestion and sustain balanced blood sugar levels, which can be helpful in preventing or controlling diabetes. Whole, water-soaked chia seeds can be easily digested and absorbed. This results in rapid transport of chia nutrients to the tissues for use by the cells. Chia also facilitates the growth and regeneration of tissue during pregnancy and lactation, and aids the regeneration of muscles for conditioning athletes and bodybuilders. For the dieter, this means feeling full with no more peaks and valleys in blood sugar levels.

The fastest and easiest way to take chia seed is to add one tablespoon chia seed into an eight-ounce glass of water or juice, stir to break up any lumps, let sit about five minutes, stir again, and then drink. You can also use it to make a versatile gel, which can be added to jams, jellies, peanut butter, milkshakes, nut spreads, smoothies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, mustard, catsup, tartar sauce, barbecue sauces, etc. as a fat replacer, for energy and endurance, or for added great taste. Here’s how to make the gel, which has a slightly nutty flavor:

Put nine parts water in a sealable plastic container. Slowly pour one part seed into the water, then mix with a wire whisk or fork. This process will avoid any clumping of the seed. Wait a few minutes and stir again to break up any clumps, let stand ten minutes, and stir again. Store up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Add the gel, between 50 to 70 percent by volume, to any of the above-mentioned foods, mix well, and taste. You will notice a very smooth texture, with the integrity of the flavor intact, but you have added 50 to 70 percent more volume to your food and have displaced calories and fat by incorporating an ingredient that is ninety percent water!

Chia gel causes a slow release of carbohydrates and an equally slow converting of carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar) for energy. The outer layer of chia seeds is rich in mucilloid-soluble fiber, intended to keep the seeds from drying out in desert air. When chia seeds are mixed with water or stomach juices, a gel forms that creates a physical barrier between the carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down. The carbohydrates are digested eventually, but at a slow and uniform rate. There is no insulin surge or spike needed to lower the blood sugar level after eating chia.

Other benefits of chia gel include:

• Helping to control weight: mixed with orange or other fruit juice, the gel-like seeds make a nutritious breakfast that leaves one feeling full and without hunger until noon.

• Research is being conducted to show how chia may prevent and/or overcome Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

• Chia seeds contain high levels of both ornega-3 and omega-6 oils, needed by all people, but especially by pregnant women or those with PMS.

• Chia seeds contain greater alpha-linolenic acid concentrations than any other seed or grain. This substance lowers the risk of heart disease, blurred vision, and numbness.

• Native people have used chia gel on wounds, for colds and sore throats, for upset stomachs, body odors, prostate problems, and even constipation.

• Chia seed contains large amounts of B vitamins and calcium. By volume, one ounce of chia contains two percent B-2 (riboflavin), 13 percent niacin, and 29 percent thiamin, and trace amounts of all B vitamins. In roughly two ounces of chia (100 grams), there are 600 milligrams of calcium, contrasted with 120 milligrams of calcium in the same amount of milk. That’s five times as much calcium than milk!

• Chia also contains boron, which is needed for bones. With much of the nation’s soil boron depleted, we simply are not getting enough boron in our daily diets. Boron is needed to aid the metabolism of calcium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus in bones and for muscle growth. Boron also can increase the levels of natural estrogen.

• Early results in current cancer research with chia show promise in this area.

• Chia is an excellent source of fiber - one serving can provide 30% of the daily requirement.

All of this brings us back to Chia Pets. Chia seeds are too sticky for conventional sprouting jars (remember all the talk about chia gel), but sprout very easily when spread out on earthenware. Thus the Chia Pet was born in Mexico in the Chiapas region (Chiapas was named after the chia seed and means "Water of Chia"). The Mexicans have long made earthenware in the shapes of Chia Pets, and yes, you can eat the sprouts that grow on the Chia Pet. They taste like watercress (but better), and are full of vitamins and minerals, just like the seeds.

More information about chia can be found in the book The Magic of Chia by James F. Scheer.

Published in the Seattle New Times Feb. 2002, written by co-owner Gloria Hoover.

Chia seed nutrient composition and its relation
with human daily nutrient requirements

Ing. Ricardo Ayerza (h)
The Office of Arid Lands Studies
The University of Arizona
<rayerza@ag.arizona.edu>
(June 29, 2003)

Introduction

The following discussion is intended to make it easier to understand the nutritional composition of chia seeds in relation to the nutritional recommendations that are being made and which will contribute to a healthy diet.

Daily value

Percentage of daily value (%DVs) are based on recommendations for a 2,000 calorie diet. For labeling purposes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration set 2,000 calories as the reference amount to calculate %DVs. The %DV shows the percentage (or how much) of the recommended daily amount of a nutrient is in a serving of food. By using the %DV, you can tell if this amount is high or low. Your actual daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs, since if you are like most people, may not know how many calories you consume in a day. Still you can still use the %DV as a frame of reference, whether or not you eat more or less than 2,000 calories each day.

Serving size

The size of the serving on the food package affects the nutrient amounts listed on the label. A 25 gr. serving size is based on the daily amount of omega-3 fatty acid recommended by a number of nutrition organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (2002), British Nutrition Foundation (1999) and Health and Welfare Canada (1990), and on the results of the trial which determined the total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides effects in humans, following chia seed consumption (Coates and Ayerza, 2002).

Serving per container

The number of servings per container, four and ten for 100 and 250 gr. containers, respectively, is based on the chia seed packages already in the market.

Content claims

Nutrient content claims of the Nutritional Facts Panel makes it easy to distinguish one claim from another, when comparing different products. The chia seed content claims were set up using the classification system developed by The National Academy of Science (1999, 2000) and the US Food and Drug Organization (1999). However, as these two organizations have not determinated daily recommendations for omega-3 fatty acid values, the values and content claims for these were set up using the officially recommended minimal nutrient intakes established by Health and Welfare Canada (1990).

Nutrition Fact Comments

The nutrients

Limit these: The nutrients listed first are the ones Americans and other Western Countries people generally eat in adequate amounts, or even too much. They are identified in brown on the chart as Limit these Nutrients. Eating too much fat, saturated fat, trans fatty acids or too much sodium increase your risk of certain chronic diseases, like heart disease, some cancers, or high blood pressure. Eating too many calories is linked to overweight and obesity. Chia seeds are free of sodium, cholesterol, and trans fatty acids, and low in saturated fat content.

Get enough of these: Americans often don't get enough dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron in their diets. They are identified in blue on the chart as Get Enough of these Nutrients. Eating enough of these nutrients can improve your health and help reduce the risk of some diseases and conditions. For example, getting enough calcium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, in which bones become brittle and break as one ages. Chia seed are a high source of dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganesum, cooper, iron and molybdenum, and a good source of niacin and zinc, and a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Healthy food

Chia seed is considered a Food Supplement by the FDA, however, it meets the food nutrient content regulations established by this organization, and hence can be claimed as a “healthy food” (FDA, 1999).

References

British Nutritional Foundation. 1999. N-3 fatty acids and health. British Nutrition Foundation, Briefing paper, London, U.K., 44 p.
Canada [dept of] Health and Welfare. 1990. Nutrition recommendation. Canadian Government Publishing Center, Ottawa, Canada.
Food and Nutrition Division. 2002. Human vitamin and mineral requirements. Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization, Rome, Italy, 312p.
National Academy of Science. 2001. Dietary reference intakes for vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, cooper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, and vanadium. The National Academy Press, Wasingthon D.C., USA., 800p.
National Academy of Science. 1999. Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. The National Academy Press, Wasingthon D.C., USA., 592p.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1999. The food label. Download from the www.cfsan.fda.gov on

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