Tag: chia seeds

  • Fuel for Doing Good! Four Great Chia Seed Recipes!

    Do you know what this world needs? A happy, productive, & vibrant you! We have a lot of work to do to make this world awesome, and for that happen, we need to make sure that our bodies are healthy. It takes energy to go outdoors, plant a garden, pick up trash, make our own things and serve others… so I feel that if I can show you some fun, wholesome recipes to help you supercharge your body and mind, then perhaps I’ve done some good too.

    I searched the web for some great recipes using my favorite ingredient of the moment: Chia Seeds. Enjoy! Four great chia seed recipes

    I’ll be playing around with these recipes myself. Leave a comment below and let me know:

    Which one do you think you’d like to try?

    For me – I’m headed straight for the Lemon Chia Seed Muffin! But I’ll probably tweak the sugar a bit, maybe replace it with honey… hmm, I’ll let you know how it turns out!

    p.s. Looking to buy chia seed in Singapore or internationally? Check out these two great options:

    • Singapore: get chia seeds delivered via Foodsterr.com. Get 10% off any order with the coupon code LGD10 at checkout.
    • International: order chia seed from iHerb.com. $5 off to first-time customers, with great delivery prices (incl. to Singapore).
  • What are Chia Seeds? Plus Six Reasons You Should be Eating Them!

    Recently I’ve been feeling noticeably different: tons more energy. Running around Singapore, taking on more projects, feeling creative… I’m enjoying full days. To keep active, I do eat a healthy diet, but I also like to experiment and try new things to see what works for me. So what’s different? For a few months now I’ve been eating one tablespoon of chia seed almost every day and, boy, can I feel it!

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    Looking to buy chia seed in Singapore or internationally? Check out these two great options:

    • Singapore: get chia seeds delivered via Foodsterr.com. Get 10% off any order with the coupon code LGD10 at checkout.
    • International: order chia seed from iHerb.com. $5 off to first-time customers, with great delivery prices (incl. to Singapore).

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    Some of this newfound energy I use to perform cartwheels with my kids, and the rest, to stay up late learning why it is that chia seeds make me feel so… super. Now I’m not a nutritionist, so I’ll leave it to you to make up your own minds, but here’s what I’ve learned about this little bitty seed.

    Chia Seeds

    What are chia seeds?

    You may know chia seeds as a superfood… which is so cliché – we should just call them a really, very good for you food, though admittedly, it’s not as catchy. Basically the entire internet world is buzzing about chia seeds and, after my own personal experience with them, I get what the excitement is all about.

    Tablespoon of chia seeds

    The definition of “great things come in small packages”, chia seeds are tiny, like a sesame seed – and part of the mint family. Chia seed is actually a herb, with a long history in South and Central America where they are mostly grown. Aztec warriors used to consume chia seeds for energy and sustenance in battle. It’s said that they could survive a day of hunger, heat and exhaustion by eating just one tablespoon!

    Here are six reasons why you should do like the Aztecs and eat chia seeds to survive our modern battles – long hours at work, chasing after the kids & mental fatigue! Slightly less brutal, but exhausting nonetheless!

    1. Chia seeds are an amazing source of Omega 3, higher than flaxseed. We’re talking brain function, mental clarity, healthy heart… and good hair! If you are vegetarian, or just don’t like the smell of fish oil, chia seeds are a great alternative
    2. Chia seeds are gluten-free. You can grind them and add them into your baking recipes, like a flour. In any recipe, replace 1/4 of the flour for chia flour – so if it’s 1 cup of flour you can do 3/4 cups of flour and 1/4 cup of chia flour. You may prefer to use white chia seeds, as the black ones will speckle your baked goods.
    3. Chia seeds are high in fiber. They help your body to eliminate toxins and clean out your intestinal tract, which means you’ll be regular and of course, that’s a good thing!
    4. A complete protein, chia seeds contain all nine of the essential amino acids which our bodies need for growth & repair of blood cells, tissue, muscle, collagen… our bodies can’t produce these building-blocks, we can only obtain them from our diet.
    5. Chia seeds contain an army of different antioxidants which help to prevent disease and boost energy. Chia is so high in antioxidants that the natural oils do not go rancid, giving chia seeds a very long shelf life.
    6. Chia seed controls blood sugar levels. Chia seeds form a gel when placed in liquid and in our body this gel helps to slow down the release of sugar from starches, giving us a prolonged release of energy rather than the high and low spikes we can get after eating a carb heavy meal.

    To receive all these benefits – it’s recommended that we eat 1 tablespoon of chia seed per day.

    Chia seed gel

    How do you eat chia seed?

    Chia seeds can be eaten whole, sprouted, ground or soaked to form a gel. If you love playing in the kitchen, chia seeds are endless hours of fun. Completely flavorless they absorb the flavor of what ever ingredients you mix them in. The Mr. Science trick that you can do in your kitchen is to add chia seeds in any liquid and watch it turn it into a thick sludgy gel – which is not gross, like it sounds, but actually perfect to thicken sauce, add bulk, make a pudding, or even replace an egg in baking!

    The ratio for chia gel is 1 part chia seed to 10 parts liquid and let it sit for 15 minutes.

    To replace an egg do 1 tablespoon of chia seed in 3 tablespoons of water.

    If you’d rather keep it simple, sprinkle them in juice or shakes, over salads and your cereal…

    Chia seeds sprinkled over oats

    …or make my Coconut Chia Fresca – a bubble-tea like drink that will make you run in circles it’s so good! Big tip: If you do eat them whole and un-soaked, make sure to drink plenty of water, otherwise chia seeds will soak up your own internal liquids, leaving you dehydrated and maybe a little constipated! Not a great note to leave on, but I had to say it!

    That’s the skinny on chia seeds! If you’ve thought about trying them, leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us:

    Question: What do you do when you need extra energy?

    I’ll start – When I’m feeling down – I make a healthy drink (usually with a sprinkle of chia seeds!) and take it out for a walk or bike ride. Even just 5 minutes clears my head and get’s my blood pumping!

    [ribbon title=”Where to buy chia seed in Singapore”]

    1. Get chia seeds delivered to your home from Foodsterr.com. Get 10% off any order by using my coupon code LGD10 at checkout — best value in Singapore.
    2. Can’t get enough chia in your life? Make sure to check out the bundle deals from BGO Singapore!
    3. Order chia seed online from iHerb.com – I buy the raw chia seed, but most any kind is good. iHerb offers $5 off to first-time customers, with great international delivery prices, so they’re worth checking out.

     

  • Get More Energy With The Coconut Chia Fresca

    Coconut Chia Fresca Recipe | littlegreendot.com

    Life is busy. We’re constantly running around, juggling so many things and fighting off exhaustion. So, I thought we could all use a good energy drink: the Coconut Chia Fresca!

    This recipe is inspired by a popular drink in Mexico called the Chia Fresca, which is made of water, chia seeds, lime juice and sugar. I was super intrigued by the chia seeds, but it was the sugar part that I didn’t love too much. So, I thought about how to make our own version! The Coconut Chia Fresca is made with just three ingredients: energy giving chia seeds, hydrating coconut water and refreshing lime!

    Tablespoon of chia seeds | Coconut Chia Fresca Recipe | littlegreendot.com

    You may have heard of chia seeds during the Chia Pet craze: Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Well, they’ve made a comeback, but this time riding the superfood craze! The term “superfoods” is overused, but chia seeds are pretty remarkable! They are so nutritionally dense – giving us tons of energy – and that’s exactly what we want!

    Their benefits may be news to us, but people have eaten chia seeds for endurance since the times of the Aztecs. Soldiers used to eat a daily ration of these tiny seeds to give them energy for running long distances and to sustain them for long periods of heat and thirst. In more modern times, marathon runners talk about eating chia seeds before a run for increased energy. It’s amazing to think that such a tiny seed can give us such a big boost!

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    Looking to buy chia seed in Singapore or internationally? Check out these two great options:

    • Singapore: get chia seeds delivered via Foodsterr.com. Get 10% off any order with the coupon code LGD10 at checkout.
    • International: order chia seed from iHerb.com. $5 off to first-time customers, with great delivery prices (incl. to Singapore).

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    Here are three things that I’ve learned about how chia seeds work for us:

    • Highest plant source of Omega-3 (also found in fish oil)
      Omega-3 is an essential fatty-acid that most people are lacking. It helps with brain function, mood, inflammation and joints.
    • Incredibly high in antioxidants (which help to protect and repair the cells in your body)
      According to the authors of Staying Young, the antioxidant activity of chia seeds is higher than any whole food, even blueberries!
    • Stabilizes our blood sugar levels
      Do you ever feel like collapsing after lunch?  It’s usually after you’ve eaten something sugary or starchy (I’m looking at you, rice!). How do chia seeds solve this problem?  Well, when placed in a liquid (or in our body) the seeds form a gel like substance. This gel slows digestion and stabilizes our blood sugar levels, giving us steady release of energy throughout the day, rather than peaks and slumps.

    Chia seeds gel | Coconut Chia Fresca Recipe | littlegreendot.com

    Coconut Chia Fresca Recipe

    • water of 1 whole coconut (– this adds a natural sweetness and is bursting with electrolytes!)
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
    1. Open the coconut and pour out the water into a glass, make sure not to get in any woody bits!
    2. Add the chia seeds and squeeze in the lime juice
    3. Wait 10 minutes for the seeds to form the gel

    You can make this drink in the morning, and bring it out with you, it will keep throughout the day, whether you are out exercising, chasing after your kids or busy at work!

    [ribbon title=”Singapore Shopping Guide”]

    1. Get chia seeds delivered to your home from BGO Singapore– and check out their bag deals!
    2. Or order chia seed online from iHerb.com