Just Ask The Aztecs About The Benefits Of Chia Seeds

Just Ask The Aztecs About The Benefits Of Chia Seeds

Have you heard the stories about the "running people" of the Copper Canyons in Mexico?  It has been said that they are perhaps the finest long distance runners on earth.  The stories tell of 100 to 300 mile runs that the people do with ease.  You can just imagine the intense physical conditioning that must take place to be able to run like that!

The Tarahumara people of Mexico begin that conditioning at a very young age with the goal to be becoming runners for life, and along with a simple diet, the people have been known to live to 100 years old.  They also rarely suffer from disease and illnesses like we do in the western world.  Main staples of their diet were chia seeds and pinole.  Pinole was actually a type of roasted corn, often mixed with sugar, which is an excellent food for staving off hunger. Super concentrated and super nutritious, it is a food that will sustain you for weeks.

The mighty chia seed comes from a member of the mint family that thrives in the desert.  These seeds, along with the pinole are true "super foods" and chia offers twice the protein of any other seeds, like flax seeds for instance. They are also a rich source of antioxidants. 

Dr. Andrew Weil's website tells us that: 

"Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. And it has another advantage over flax: chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. And, unlike flax, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc."

The Aztec peoples of Mexico ate chia seeds as a staple of their diets as the plant was grown all over Mexico as far back as 1500 BC.  The chia seed helped maintain their powerful military and was known as the ultimate survival food.  They also used chia for medicine and it was included in religious ceremonies as an offering to the gods.  When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived they made note of the importance of this food in the people's diets and they promptly decided to do whatever they could to remove it from the people's lives.

Today, we know that the mighty chia is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.  We also know that it can help us reduce our risk of heart disease and even help us avoid the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Studies have shown that eating chia "improves major and emerging cardiovascular risk factors".

When we learned about all the health benefits of eating chia seeds, we just had to find a way to include them in our snacks.  Along came the Organic, Blue Corn Tor"chia" chip which has been infused with the mighty chia seed.

Contact us and we will let you know where you can grab a bag today!

Four Easy, Healthy Snacks That'll Throw You Into A "Tailspin"

In today's society, when are you not busy? I mean, you have to do the laundry, take the kids to their swimming lessons, and be at your underwater basket weaving class by three... Oh wait, maybe that last one's just me. Nevertheless, when that bag of potato chips just isn't cutting it, you need these four easy and healthy snacks that will keep you from *ahem* dropping like a hot potato, so to speak:
1. Sunset Dip- adapted from yummly.com

• softened, low-fat cream cheese
• cheddar cheese
• salsa (any salsa you have around the house will do) 

Directions: Spread cream cheese evenly into the bottom of a dish. Sprinkle cheddar over the cream cheese. Add salsa and serve with our Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails.
2.  Microwave Nachos - adapted from wikihow.com

• tortilla chips
• shredded cheese
• beans (optional)
• salsa (optional)
• guacamole (optional)
• low-fat sour cream (optional)
• jalapenos (optional)

Directions: Lay down a bed of our Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails on a microwave-safe dish. Add shredded cheese and cook on medium power (50%) for 30 seconds or until the cheese melts. Add whatever toppings you have around the house.
3. Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad- adapted from tastykitchen.com 

• 2 tablespoons of salsa
• 3 tablespoons of ranch dressing
• 7 ounces of canned black beans
• 2 sliced and quartered radishes 
• 4 leaves of chopped romaine lettuce 
• 1 whole, chopped green onion
• 2 whole, chopped jalapenos
• 2 tablespoons of feta cheese
• 1 cup of crumbled Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails

Directions: In a small bowl, combine salsa and ranch dressing. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients in a seperate bowl, add dressing, and serve.
4. Mango Salsa- adapted from simplyrecipies.com

• 1 peeled, pitted, and diced mango, ripe (about 1 1/2 cup) 
• 1/2 finely chopped red onion, medium
• 1 minced jalapeño chile 
• 1 peeled and diced cucumber, small (about 1 cup)
• 3 tbsp of choped cilantro leaves
• 3 tbsp of lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy with our Hawaiian Barbeque Organic Whale Tails.
Whale done! *Cue the clapping seal* We hope you enjoyed these recipes. For more healthy snacks, please contact us today.

Non GMO: Petition to Stop FDA Approval of Transgenic Salmon - Deadline April 26

Although genetically modified crops have been part of the U.S. food supply for years, genetically modified animals have remained taboo. Now, a fast-growing salmon threatens to break that taboo, as it passes through the final stages required to become the first transgenic animal approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption.
AquAdvantage is an Atlantic salmon, modified by the addition of a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon, and a genetic switch from an eel-like creature called the ocean pout. The switch keeps the growth hormone gene active all year, rather than only during warm weather. The genetically modified fish reach market weight in around 18 months, compared to three years for the natural Atlantic salmon.
The FDA tentatively concluded in 2010 that the fish would be safe to eat, and for the environment. In December, 2012, the agency released a “draft environmental assessment and preliminary finding of no significant impact,” effectively clearing the product’s path to enter the U.S. market, likely with no labeling to distinguish it from non GMO salmon. The FDA was scheduled to accept comments on their findings until February 25, but later extended the comment period until April 26.
GMO watchdogs Institute for Responsible Technology are petitioning the FDA not to approve GE salmon, and in the event that it is approved, require it to be labeled as genetically modified. If you are among the majority Americans who oppose introducing genetically modified meats into the food supply, sign the petition before the April 26 comment deadline.
For more information on our commitment to non GMO food, contact us.