Is Cha Cha Cha Chia the Next Magic Food?

Nov. 10, 2010— -- We all remember the commercials: Ch-ch-ch-chia! Everyone knew someone who had the chia puppy, the chia dinosaur or the chia Bart Simpson. But what about the seed behind these green, furry novelties?

Chia, a grain that comes from the salvia hispanica plant, has received recent endorsements, with some saying it could become the next power supplement. A number of athletes, doctors and food manufacturers have come forward to encourage people to add some chia to their diet. The Chia Co. website calls chia "nature's complete superfood."

But is it? Some nutritionists have expressed open skepticism about chia's superfood claims.

"The scientific evidence is pretty clear ... that there is no one single food that is the answer to our overall health," said Connie Diekman, a registered dietitian and director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. "Chia has a nice nutrient package that I'd put in the category with flax seeds and walnuts. Those plant sources are always going to be a part of the answer, but not the answer."

Chia is a part of the family of mint, which grows around the world at latitudes 15 degrees north or south of the equator. The plant is bitter to the taste, so the seeds are often harvested. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, chia seeds contain high amounts of protein, fiber and ALA omega 3s.