Cha Cha Cha Chia…Gel?  The first time I saw the container for Chia Seeds I had no idea what I was looking at, but couldn’t help hearing the Chia Pet jingle in my head.  Cha cha cha chia…still to this day.

Years ago I worked at a vitamin shop and would see the Chia container with the Flax Seed products and became ever so curious.  I finally took the time to look into this tiny item and discovered it’s one of the healthiest little seeds known!

I thought surely some of the information on the package is hype by marketing companies to sell the product.  While that might be partially true, the marketing team didn’t have to exaggerate with our tiny speckled friend.  Chia seeds are considered a Super-antioxidant.  It’s nutrient and mineral content is off the charts and all contained in a tiny package. This nutritious concentration is made more digestible and versatile in gel form. And all you have to do to make gel is to put chia seeds in water or an edible liquid depending on use.

Nutritious Properties

Each serving of Chia Seed is packed with antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and appx 2655mg of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) – an essential Omega 3 Fatty Acid.

Fiber is important for the regulation of overall digestive health and may help relieve occasional constipation.

Chia’s high content of ALA also makes it one of the best plant sources available for this beneficial nutrient.  ALA is important for heart, skin, and immune health.

Chia Seeds also consist of a high level of Linoleic Acid (LA) – Omega 6 Fatty Acid, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Magnesium as well as being a decent source of Protein to add to any meal.

Seeds vs Gel

You think the Chia seeds sound good?  Wait till you learn that the antioxidant properties of Chia Gel are almost 3x the amount of the seeds!  When the seeds are combined with water the nutrients break out of the seeds shell making the nutrients locked inside more readily available for us and our digestive systems.  During the digestive process our bodies don’t always break down every little item we put in our pie hole.  These seeds are small and some may make it through our bodies without completely breaking down.   So letting these tiny seeds soak in a bath of water make them more soluble/digestible! Chia Seeds can absorb 9 times it’s volume in moisture. So get soakin!

Chia seed/gel Uses

Chia seeds have a slightly nutty flavor, but are very mild and nearly undetectable as a flavor in most recipes.  When used as the dry seed the crunchy texture is, of course, noticeable…but the flavor remains mild enough to add to almost anything without changing the taste of your favorite recipes.

Dry Seeds:  Yogurt, shakes, cereal, soups, salads, dressings, baked goods, etc.

Gel:  Shakes, dressings, yogurt, sauces, dips, soups, baked goods, egg substitute, butter or oil substitute, or even a scoop in your favorite fresh juices or a small glass of water.

How do I make Chia Gel?

Basic Chia Gel

Ratio = 1 TBSP Chia Seed: 1/2 cup water (clean drinkable water)

Best for: jams, jellies, salsa, hot cereals, cream cheese

Thick Chia Gel

Ratio = 1 TBSP Chia Seed: 1/4 cup water

Best for: egg substitute, thick smoothies and soups
Use appx 1-2 TBSP thick chia gel as a substitute for 1 egg.

Runny Chia Gel

Ratio = 1 TBSP Chia Seed: 1 cup water

Best for: sauces, drinks, yogurt, salad dressings, dips, soups, etc.
*The gel can be stored for appx 2 weeks and can be used in an array of recipes as you can see above.