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Carrot cakes have been popular in the United States since the `60s, although...

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At the time of the Spanish conquest, Mesoamerica had among 29 domesticated botanical species, four that stood out from a nutritional point of view. The four crops used in the daily diet were: amaranth, beans, chia, and maize (corn).

Tenochtitlan, the Capital of the Aztec Empire, annually received up to 15,000 tons of chia as tribute from conquered nations. Chia seed was not just a food, but also used for medical as well as religious purposes, offering it to the Aztec gods.

The Aztecs and the Mayans, another great Pre-Columbian civilization that developed in Mesoamerica, considered chia one of their basic dietary components. Modern science explains why. Chia's composition due to its high omega-3, dietary fiber and antioxidant content, make it a very healthy food. This seed also provides an excellent opportunity for creating an agricultural industry which can offer a healthy "new, old crop" to the world.

Omega-3 benefits

What are the predominant beneficial effects of Omega-3 fatty acids?

Reduce the risk of CHD and stroke by a multitude of mechanisms:

• In blood: lowering plasma tryacylglicerol concentrations, increasing "good cholesterol" (HDL) and decreasing the agresive effect of "bad cholesterol" (LDL) over blood vessels.
• Reducing blood-clotting tendency.
• Decreasing risk of arrhythmia.

Reforce our nervous system, preventing:

• Learning and behavioral disorders like dyspraxia, dyslexia and hyperactivity.
• Decreasing of visual acuity.
• Mental disorders like post partum depression and dementia.

Reduce exaggerated inflammatory responses in human body:

• Preventing and improving the symptoms of inflammatory and autoinmune diseases (rheumatoid artritis, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, diabetes).
• Avoiding inflammatory vessel damages.
• Preventing and combating malignant cells, protecting against the onset and advancement of certain types of cancer.

Dietary fiber benefits

• Dietary Fiber consists of nondigestible carbohydrates and lignin by human enzymes. There are two kinds of fiber, and have different functions:

Soluble fiber

• Decreasing cholesterol absorption and thus reducing cholesterol blood levels.
• Increasing saciety because it delays gastric emptying.
• Decreasing the postprandial glucose response.
• It serves like food for "good" colonic bacteria.

Insoluble fiber

• Improving gastrointestinal transit (including regular gut function).
• Protecting against colon cancer.

Chia seed contains a high percentage of dietary fiber (38 %). Around 5% of this percentage is soluble fiber.

Antioxidants

ntioxidants beat the ageing and damaging both in food as well as in living beigns. Epidemologic studies indicate that a high level of food and drink consumption rich in antioxidants may protect against CHD, apoplexy, lung and stomach cancer. Besides, there is a growing evidence that suggests that other many diseases like arthritis, damaging of inmune system and brain dysfunction, are the result of the damage caused by free radicals.

Chia seed has high antioxidant levels. The most important antioxidants in chia are chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin and kaempferol. It have been shown that flavonols inhibit platelet aggregation, lipid oxidation and emergence of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Such a good food!!!

• Vegetarian Omega-3
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Soluble and insoluble fiber
• Antioxidants
• High quality protein
• Vitamins and minerals
• Gluten free
• Lactose free
• "Fishy" flavor free
• No toxic or antinutritional factors
• Ancient seed
• Natural superfood