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I assume that if you are interested in healthful and natural eating that your drinks are both natural and healthy too. Some of the drinks that are faves include smoothies of all types, fresh juices, and kombucha. While all of these drinks are very healthy I found an extremely simple way to easily, (and tastefully) boost the nutrition value of ANY drink.

In fact my lemonade that I just finished drinking while I was writing this (I make with the juice of 1/2 a lemon and some stevia in pure water) contained 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of Omega 3 and many important but trace antioxidants. That is it did, after I added my secret ingredient. My secret ingredient did not change the taste of my lemonade either.

My secret ingredient is simply 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds! That's all it is. I added chia seeds to my morning beverage and now I am adding them to most of my drinks. These tiny seeds don't change the taste of your favorite drink but yet they pack a great nutrition punch.

I like to really enjoy what I drink, so I was very hesitant to add anything extra to my "plain" drinks. You can usually disguise most nutritious add-ons in smoothies, but just plain refreshing water based drinks such as my lemonade, well, I don't like to mess with the basics too much.

But I got to thinking and I just added a mere Tablespoon of chia seeds and could not tell the difference! You may have to use a straw to suck the seeds from the bottom but that is not a problem! Then you may chew a few but they have a satisfying crunch and a mild flavor. If you let them sit in your beverage for a few minutes, they absorb water creating a gel. In your stomach, this gel creates a physical barrier that slows the process of converting carbohydrates into sugar. This process enables your fuel our bodies without sugar fluctuations.

These tiny seeds were so important to ancient Aztec Indians that they were used as a currency. Chia seeds were a staple in their diets. This was a high energy endurance food sometimes referred to as the "running food" since some of the Indian runners and warriors would use chia seeds as their sole nourishment. Try this Indian super food in your next drink.

Adding chia seeds to your drinks is an experience that is good for you in so many ways. Try it with your next drink. YOU may become hooked like I just did!

Until next time...

Eat well,

Mary Jane

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