How Chia Seeds Turn Ordinary Foods into Healthy Foods Advice and precautions

Chia seeds are able to absorb liquid and turn into a gel, which opens up a lot of opportunities for cooking various dishes. In addition, unlike flax, they do not require grinding to get the maximum benefit. Details sb.by told the consultant on a healthy lifestyle Svetlana Sinichenko.

The main feature of chia seeds is the ability to absorb liquid and turn into a gel, noted Svetlana Sinichenko:

- This opens up many possibilities for cooking a variety of dishes - from breakfast to desserts and even baking. Unlike flax, these seeds do not need to be ground to get the most benefit. They can be used both in dry and soaked form.

According to the expert, the easiest and most popular way is to make chia pudding:

- To do this, the seeds are poured with any liquid to choose from: water, ordinary or vegetable milk, kefir or yogurt. The classical ratio is one part of seeds per three to four parts of liquid. If you pour chia water, after 10-15 minutes they form a gel-like mass, and if yogurt or kefir, it is better to leave the mixture for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. The resulting base can be eaten as is, adding honey, fruits or berries, and you can show imagination and create a layered dessert, alternating chia with cottage cheese mass, puree from peaches or strawberries. Such pudding turns out not only tasty, but also very satisfying, and thanks to fiber, the feeling of hunger does not return for a long time.

Add chia seeds and ready meals, said the consultant:

- Dry or slightly dried seeds in a dry pan can be sprinkled over salads, porridge, mashed soups or yogurt. They will add a pleasant crunch and enrich the dish with useful substances. If you like smoothies, try grinding chia along with the rest of the ingredients or adding them to a ready-made drink by pre-soaking. They will make it more nutritious and nutritious. The same goes for homemade jams: grind the berries in a blender, add some sweetener and chia seeds, let the mixture stand - and you'll get a light, healthy jam without heat treatment.

For those who are fond of baking, chia is a real find, Svetlana Sinichenko stressed:

- They can be added to the dough for muffins, muffins, pancakes or bread to increase the nutritional value and give a slight nutty hue. In addition, water-soaked chia seeds (one tablespoon of seeds per three tablespoons of water) can be an excellent egg substitute in vegan pastries.

The consultant urged to remember safety and moderation:

Chia seeds are very rich in fiber, so do not immediately start with large portions. The optimal amount for an adult is about one to two tablespoons a day. Always combine them with enough fluids to avoid digestive problems.

It does not contain gluten, a source of slow carbohydrates and antioxidants. What are the benefits of sorghum cereals