Who knew when we were growing all those chia pets in the 1970s, that we should’ve been eating them!! I know I’ve mentioned Chia Seeds and that I’ve been testing Omega 3 on myself. I’m more convinced than ever that the lack of Omega 3 in our diets in a major factor in disease. Some of the differences I have noticed in myself are the elimination of all of my digestive problems (and they were numerous) plus no food cravings, no more cracks in the skin of my heels and toes, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. Of course chia is not responsible for all of this, but Omega 3 is, and chia is a very rich source of Omega 3.
Chia seeds can be added easily to practically anything. I always add them to oatmeal and scrambled eggs. The articles referenced below have other good suggestions. To get some good information about chia, click here for the short article in Better Nutrition. For one of the articles that goes with that, click here. For information from Dr. Weil in a 2006 article (makes me feel like a slow learner!), click here.
Although chia is a rich source of Omega 3, the addition of it to your diet is probably not enough to balance out the Omega 6 we all get with most of the food we eat, whether from supermarkets or restaurants. (Omega 6 promotes inflammation, Omega 3 reduces inflammation.) So some modification of diet over time will also help. Here are things I’ve done to bump up Omega 3 levels:
- Daily trifecta of – chia seeds, and (5-7) macadamia nuts, and an EPA/DHA supplement
- Omega 3 chicken eggs – I buy locally (yard eggs)
- Butter from pastured cows
- Generally organic dairy from pastured cows
- Tomatoes, celery, potatoes – I buy organic or grow my own
- Meat from pastured animals, hormone and antibiotic free
These are the big changes I’ve made. It is more expensive, but much cheaper than medications and medical problems, so I’m actually saving money by improving the quality of the foods I eat. And the biggest thing is I feel better. Of course, I’m viewing chia as a “crop” now, and have some planted to see how that works out!