Chia Seeds – Find out more about this amazing Superfood


Chia seeds

Chia seeds

As many of you will know I’m rather partial to what are called superfoods.  While, it seems, there is no formal definition of Superfood the terms is, typically, used to describe foodstuffs which have a high nutrient value.  Therefore offering greater health benefits than the run of the mill stuff we often eat.

In fact superfoods are still a bone of contention in our house.  My wife claims I secretly grated broccoli, which she hates, on her food while she was pregnant with our first child.

For more background on superfoods please have a look at https://patienttalk.org/?p=276 .  It includes links to pro and anti superfoods discussions.

But to return to the point of the blog.  Last week my wife returned home brandishing a copy of a magazine which gave a recipe for a dish which included something called chia seeds.  Which, according to the article, were superfoods?  “What on earth are Chia seeds?” I exclaimed.   To which I received the traditional “search me” look.

So I decided it was my duty, as a healthcare blogger, to find out more about the health benefits of chia seeds.  Indeed in America the chia craze has been going for a few years but it seems that Europe is about to catch up.

Chia is a member of the mint family which grows in Latin America.   Apparently   it was  a staple of Aztec and Mayan cooking. However it is the seeds themselves which are of particular interest.  Chia seeds contain:-

a)      More Omega 3 fatty acids than salmon.

b)      A great source of antioxidants.  You can read up on antioxidants here https://patienttalk.org/?p=252

c)       Very high in dietary fibre

d)      A source of calcium and iron and a number of B vitamins

e)      May lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease

Chai seeds are often used by athletes and a table spoon of the seeds has been described as the equivalent of a smoothie of salmon and spinach.

So how do you take it?  Well it is a common addition to smoothies and health drinks.  Have a look at https://patienttalk.org/?p=638 for more info.

The downside of chai seeds is the cost.  But if they take off we can only hope it will come down.

In fact today is going to be the first time I’ve tried chai seeds.  I’ll be using this recipe for BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH SUPER CHIA GARNISH for Stylist Magazine which can be found here http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/recipes/black-bean-soup-with-super-chia-garnish.  Once we have tried it I’ll give you an update.  Given that I love black beans I’m sure I’ll be a fan.

If you have used chia seeds it would be great if you can tell us how you found them using the comments box.  If you have any recipes then please share them as well

Many thanks in advance.


Rosanna Pink Onions – are they the onion worlds answer to a superfood? How can they help raise money for cancer research?


Okay the title of the blog is a bit odd but I don’t really know how else to start.

Rosanna Pink Onion

Rosanna Pink Onion

Actually I think I do.

Yesterday I sent an email to my wife to discuss the upcoming online supermarket shop.  One of the things on my list was “onions – lots”.  A couple of hours later she returned my email saying that she has just bought some Rosanna Pink Onions.

Not just that she thought I should write a blog on the subject knowing my readers in food, diet and health.

So when the truck with the Rosanna Pink Onions arrived I decided to start my research after putting them in the vegetable rack.  One thing which hit me is that they are not that pink.  To be honest they look pretty much like normal onions but I’ve not had the opportunity to chop them so inside might be a different story. I have to say the blurb my wife sent me yesterday was pretty compelling.

On their web site (yes they have their own web site http://www.rosannaonions.com/#panel-2) they feel the onions have the following properties:-

a)      They may help fight cholesterol

b)      They have anti-oxidant properties c)

And they have anti-inflammatory properties. However it is a bit difficult to find any data which supports this.  If the growers or distributors read this blog and have any other information we would love to publish a guest blog from you.  Please write to us at patienttalkblog@gmail.com if you are interested.

That being said according to the web site they donate 2p to Race for Life a UK based cancer research charity for each pack sold.  So that alone, I think, makes them a worthwhile purchase.

So over to you.  Are there any products which you think are great for health?  Use the comments section of our blog to let us know. Thanks in advance.