If you are attempting a healthy diet or are just interested in these tiny miracle seeds, you may ask, “where to find chia seeds in grocery store?”. In this article, we will find out exactly where to find chia seeds, what they are, what they contain, how to use them, and where they come from.
One of the most popular superfoods available today is chia seeds. These seeds contain valuable nutrients and antioxidants that positively affect our health. However, they have been used in food and cosmetics since ancient times.
Where to Find Chia Seeds in Grocery Store?
So, you want to know where are chia seeds in grocery store? Every grocery store or supermarket you visit has a healthy food section. This is always the place to start your search when you wonder what aisle are chia seeds in. Chia seeds are rich in nutrients, so most supermarkets place them in the healthy food section. Some supermarkets and grocery stores will also label the healthy food section as organic or bio.
Some supermarkets still do not place chia seeds in the healthy food section. In most of these supermarkets and grocery stores, chia seeds can be found in the baking section.
Chia seeds are often used when baking bread and other baked goods. So, searching with flour and other baking products may be successful.
If you still haven’t found chia seeds, you have two more options. The first would be to search with herbs and spices. Although not technically herb or spice, some stores group all these types of products together.
Searching in this section can take quite a long time as there are usually so many products to look through. However, most stores alphabetize these products, which can save some time.
The section containing rice, pasta, and grains is the final section to search before consulting a staff member. Some stores keep all rice and grains together in the same area in an effort to make it easier for customers to find products.
If you search this section and are still unsuccessful in finding chia seeds, the only option is to ask a staff member where to buy chia seeds. Usually, a staff member can take you to them or point you in the right direction.
How to use chia seeds
Chia seeds are widely used in the kitchen. So, they can be eaten raw as a snack and added to salads, yogurts, porridge, or muesli. Ground seeds can be used to thicken soups or sauces or, when mixed with flour, are an excellent basis for your favorite pastries.
On the other hand, whole grains are perfect as an ingredient in salads, homemade muesli, or healthy desserts, and when added to coconut milk, they will allow you to create a delicious pudding.
Chia seeds are also used to prepare pancakes, pasta, or bread. For a drink, a cocktail with chia seeds is an excellent suggestion for people who want to take care of their figure. In the kitchen industry, the chia seed oil is also increasingly used to replace the more popular olive oil.
You shouldn’t eat more than two tablespoons of chia seeds a day. This is because they increase in volume up to twelve times when soaked in water or other liquids. Eating too much of them may make it challenging to absorb other valuable nutrients from the food.
In the European Union, the law states that food products found on store shelves must not contain more than 10% Chia seeds.
Scientific research shows that consuming chia seeds ground or in the form of oil increases the absorption of their lipids.
Whole chia seeds can be soaked in advance or added directly to bread, dough, or porridge. They also blend in perfectly with various types of cocktails and smoothies.
Chia seeds are very popular when added to:
- Cocktails
- Puddings
- Salads, omelets
- Muesli, cereals, porridge
- Bread, cakes, or pancakes
- You can make pudding from ground seeds
- Eat as a snack or sprinkle on sandwiches
- Crush and use as a powdered grain as a thickener for soups and sauces,
- You can add it to jams, porridge, yogurts, salads, and other preserves, hot or cold.
Nutritional value of chia seeds
Chia seeds are primarily rich in fats but also carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and minerals. Among the fats, we can find:
- Saturated fatty acids
- Monounsaturated fatty acids
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Omega-3
- Omega-6
We can also find:
- Folic acid
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Zinc
Such an impressive composition means that nutritionists or athletes recommend chia seeds as a product that helps the development of appropriate eating habits.
The grains do not contain gluten, which is an undoubted advantage in the case of people with Coeliac disease or gluten intolerances.
Chia seeds in weight loss
In order to discover whether chia seeds are beneficial in weight loss, we need to look a little deeper into what they contain. The fiber contained within chia seeds is ideal for weight loss as it provides a feeling of fullness long after eating. This helps to prevent overeating.
Only two tablespoons of chia seeds contain around 10 grams of fiber. This is almost half of the daily fiber requirement for an adult.
A diet rich in fiber helps to lose unnecessary kilograms and is associated with the reduction of dangerous visceral fat. Fiber regulates the work of the intestines and prevents obstruction. Chia seeds are also rich in natural vegetable protein, which is beneficial for slimming.
Chia seeds also contain Alpha-Linoleic Acid, an important nutrient in preventing heart disease. It also helps reduce inflammation and promotes immunity and physical activity, which is so important in weight reduction.
Chia seeds in cosmetics
Chia oil is an important component of many face creams, lotions, and body oils. It can also be used as an entirely natural fat emulsion that can be applied directly to the face or neck.
Chia seed oil is also used as an oily make-up base or an ingredient in regenerative masks. Pregnant women can also benefit from chia oil because it is the base of many products that prevent the formation of stretch marks.
Hair products containing chia seeds are mainly used to restore shine and regenerate damaged ends. Chia seeds can also be found in body lotions and hand creams.
What do chia seeds look like?
You would be forgiven for confusing chia seeds with poppy seeds. Both have a similar color, and both are tiny oval-shaped seeds. The color of chia seeds can vary from dark brown to black, and they are around 2 millimeters long.
Where do chia seeds come from?
They are the small, round seeds of the Salvia Hispanica plant, also known as chia. It is a species of plant from the mint family. It comes from Guatemala and the central and southern parts of Mexico. The Aztecs already cultivated Chia in the pre-Columbian period.
In those days, it was ground to make a powder and pressed to produce oil or added to drinks. The Mayans recognized that chia seeds had magical powers and gave them to wanderers to have more strength during long journeys. The Aztecs considered chia seeds sacred and used them in rituals and ceremonies.
conclusion
So now we know where to find chia seeds in the grocery store. The next time you visit your local supermarket and wonder what aisle are chia seeds in, finding them should be easy. As chia seeds can be found in most grocery stores these days, it is always possible to ask a staff member to point you in the right direction.
Chia seeds are a natural health cocktail because they contain many valuable ingredients. Among them are Omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, protein, calcium, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
They add an exciting variety to a healthy diet and are used primarily by people practicing a healthy diet or losing weight. The fiber in chia seeds expands in water or liquids in the stomach. This causes a greater feeling of fullness. In addition, they have healthy carbohydrates and more calcium than milk.
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