CHIA: The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Superfood

by Wayne Coates

For people trying to lose weight and enhance well-being, it's a little miracle: chia, a tiny seed that the Aztecs used for centuries as a super food, provides a complete source of dietary protein with more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon and more fiber—but fewer carbs—than rice, grains, and corn. In fact, chia is a gluten-free natural appetite suppressant that helps regenerate muscle, sustain energy, and balance blood sugar. This definitive work covers the history and benefits of chia, and features a comprehensive daily strategy for weight loss, plus delicious recipes!

Genres: Cookbooks, Health, Food, Nonfiction, Reference

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing wrong with this book. Overall, I think the advice about losing weight and exercising isn't harmful (although covered just as well in other books), and I'm assuming all the information about chia is accurate. I already knew a bit about chia but checked this book out from the library for the recipes in chapter 5.

What's put me off about the book and why I've given it 2 stars instead of 3 are the testimonials from chia users that are printed throughout the book. They include rather wild, unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of chia. Certainly, it's possible that daily chia intake could make one's dyed haircolor last longer (p. 15), but including those sorts of comments give this book the feel of bad science and of a marketing piece--perhaps for the author's AZChia retail operation.

So, read it if you want more chia recipes and to know a little more about chia, but be sure to read it critically.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I think I have officially jumped onto the Chia bandwagon.
I first heard about eating Chia about a month ago, when the technician at my daughter's orthodontist office mentioned that she had chia pudding for breakfast. I asked her if she meant chia, as is Chia Pets (Chi-Chi-Chi-Chia) which are advertised for sale every year at Christmas time.
Yes, she said, those same seeds could be eaten, and to make chia pudding you just mixed the seeds into soy milk or almond milk, let it sit over night, and you had a lovely pudding in the morning. Hmm, yeah, sure, I thought.

Then shortly after that there was a story in a newspaper I was reading about cooking with chia. Hmm, here we go again. What is this chia thing?

So about 2 weeks ago in the grocery store, as I was cruising the healthy food aisles, there in the Bob's Red Mill section, among all the healthy flours and cereals, were 1 pound bags of Chia seeds. So I bought one.

But then I didn't know what to do with them. And I had spend $11 for this bag of seeds! So I went looking for some recipes, and stumbled across this book, which was for sale for less than I spend on the bag of Chia seeds, so I figured I had better buy it for some recipes, so my original $11 purchase didn't end up rotting in my cupboard.

This book is very interesting. It has a very detailed history of Chia, with lots of nutritional information and uses for the seeds. Many recipes are included, from the very simple to more complex. Breakfast through dinner, drinks and snacks, it is all included.

So far I have had a glass of Chia Fresca (basically chia seeds stirred into water with some lemon juice which you let sit for a few minutes until they start to thicken), and I made some Chia pudding, using Chocolate Almond milk with Chia seeds stirred in. It thickened into a lovely, delicious pudding just sitting in the fridge. Fascinating! And apparently very healthy.

So I will continue experimenting with these recipes and ideas. And if I get bored, I will get out a piece of pottery, smear some wet seeds on it, and grow my own Chi-Chi-Chi-Chia!

[Kelly L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very readable and informative book. Whenever possible I believe that nutrition and lifestyle should trump drugs in altering our health. A few years back we used flax to lower Doug's cholesterol 30 points in 6 months time. Grant is running track and having a difficult time keeping weight on because of his body type. I was researching ways to get him the healthy fats he needs without adding a lot of sugar to his diet. I came across Chia. This superfood is absolutely amazing if it is all it claims to be. Doug and I have our physicals in a few months. I will be curious to see how our numbers look! Grant has added it to his diet too. I think he's going to also need to eat a peanut butter sandwich and some ice cream before bed too though! Wish I could eat like that!

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book with a lot of information on the nutritional value of Chia seeds and recipes and ways for incorporating them into the diet. I have made several of the recipes for the books--Basic Chia Pudding, Cacao Chia Pudding, Raw Chia Cacao Cookies, Green Super Smoothie and all were good. I'll be trying more.

[Ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and easy to read. Has recipes for food, drinks, health care and pet care.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A comprehensive guide on all things chia

My Review: Chia: The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Superfood by Wayne Coates and Stephanie Pedersen is a 2012 release.

About the Book: "This definitive work covers the history and benefits of chia, and features a comprehensive daily strategy for weight loss, plus delicious recipes!"

In My Own Words: A health forward, chia-positive info guide

My Favorite Content:

- The History of Chia
- The Chia Exercise
- Green Super Smoothie
- Protein Muffins
- Vegan Egg Replacement
- Pumpkin Bread
- Chia Snack Bars
- Raw Vanilla Coconut "Yogurt"
- Chia Coconut Spread
- Face Packs
- Staying Healthy with Chia
- Resources

My Final Say: This guide was an educational resource that proved to be very helpful to me. It was definitely what I was looking for as a reference book. It was easy to read and follow. I found myself referring back to it often. I plan to add this to my personal home library.


Other: Sprinkled throughout were bits and bites of beneficial information that further introduced health-related tips. I think readers will respond to it well.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: Educational
Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly interesting book! I never knew people actually ate chia seeds. They were the thing of my childhood that you soaked and spread over pottery to sprout. But they have been eaten for millennia and have so much to benefit us how could I not try them. I’m trying the first phase, one tablespoon a day for two weeks, to get my body used to it. I’ve tried it straight up in water and again stirred into water and allowed to soak & swell, which makes for an interesting “drink” that you have to chew as you drink LOL. I’m also intrigued with all the recipes and plan on trying a few in the next few days. Give it a try!

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered how there could possibly be an entire book based on the Chia seed, but this guy did it. Turns out he owns a Chia company so his empire is based on the little seed.

The cookbook portion is not all that inventive, it basically has you adding Chia slime or as they refer to it Chia gel to all the recipes. Ugh. I’m probably going to stick to my usual chia-egg substitute and chia yogurt.

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly thorough and readable book. Dr Coates explains the many and varied health benefits of chia seed in laymen's terms. Included are recipes and tips for adding chia into our busy lifestyles. An exhaustive bibliography is also included. A very good book to keep for future reference.

[Malina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recipes I've tried have been pretty good. Love the info about how good chia is for you!

[Deepa Va · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learnt Chia water ratio. But for that it is a book you can flip through in 30 minutes

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise. Well written and informative without being boring.

[Julie Schoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is chuck full of valuable health information about the wonders of chia seeds. It also includes great recipes and helpful tips on incorporating these seeds into your diet. I found the information very easy to understand and feel very hopeful in the ease of including these seeds into my daily diet.

[Cj Sime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive book answering: Why Chia? and How Chia?

There wasn't a whole lot of information that was new to me, but it was a great consolidation of all pertinent points while being extremely reader friendly.

[Carol Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skimmed a good bit of this book and lots of it is recipes but the basic information is good and I plan on trying to work some chia seeds into my diet. I've had several friends and coworkers recommend them so what they hey?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about Chia! What an amazing food.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a nutrition dork, this focus on chia seeds and their uses was really fascinating and eye-opening.