Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Our sprouting chia at the Garden Herb Shop

All of us remember when Chia Pets were the rave. It's yet another reason why we wag our heads in shame at the 90s, that awkward decade of, um, interesting tastes and fashions. But there is a little bit of sunshine peaking out of a relic from that dark age. Do you remember Chia Pets? They're still around you know. In fact, there's actually a Barack Obama Chia Pet available on eBay!

That shimmer of sunlight is found in the sprouts coming out of your Mr. T Chia Pet ( pity the fool who actually got one of those as a gag-gift). It turns out, dear readers, that chia sprouts and chia seeds are actually really good for you! Chia recently went through a sort of renaissance of its own where people started realizing that it's more than cheesy 90s decor!

Its benefits include, but are not limited to:
~ Rich in protein,
~ Excellent substitute for eggs in baking (And all the vegans rejoiced!),
~ Assists in weight loss,
~ Fibrous,
~ Great for boosts of energy before and after workouts (and all the athletes rejoiced!),
~ Said to be the richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and water soluble dietary fiber (supplements that we commonly add to our diets for their health benefits),
~ Rich in calcium

So there you go, the chia is now redeemed. It's an excellent plant to start growing on your kitchen counter or window sill, seeing how you can throw it in practically everything! Don't worry, you can grow it in a simple flower pot. It's still chia even if it's not sprouting out of a Homer Simpson head! Nutrition tends to come in simple packages now doesn't it?

Oh, and it's a superfood. So there.

~The Harvest Crier~

Sources:
Andrew Weil M.D.
Yahoo Voices
Huffpost
Washingtonian