
Remember those commercials chiming “ch-ch-ch-chia"? Those very same chia seeds used to grow “hair" on a terra cotta dog are useful for much more than home décor. Chia seeds are nutritional powerhouses and may be the perfect food for people looking to save animals and kick their health into overdrive!
Chia seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acids per ounce than salmon flesh does (as if we needed another reason to leave fish alone) and they're packed with antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damaging free radicals. They also contain five times more calcium than milk. If you're still not convinced, they're loaded with fiber: Just 2 tablespoons contain more than 30 percent of your daily intake. They're called a superfood for a reason!
Here are some simple vegan recipes that can help you add more chia magic to your diet:
It takes just five simple ingredients to create this delectable dessert, most of which you probably already have in your pantry.
2. Quick and Easy Falafel Salad
This gorgeous falafel salad, courtesy of Vegan Insanity, features a power trio of chia, flax and sesame seeds. If you're not in the mood for salad, you can always pair the falafel balls with pita bread and hummus or tahini sauce. You really can't lose with this Mediterranean treat.
Overnight oats are the best—they take just a few minutes of preparation and then the oatmeal makes itself while you're catching your z's. This recipe from Oh She Glows includes oats, mashed banana, cinnamon, almond milk, vanilla extract and our star ingredient, chia seeds.
4. Sautéed Zucchini with Toasted Chia Seeds
One great thing about chia seeds is that they can easily be added to many dishes, making whatever you're cooking up that much healthier. This recipe by Eat Drink Better calls for tasty toasted seeds.
5. Almond Sweet Potato Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy
Chia and vitamin-packed sweet potato are combined in this recipe, courtesy of The First Mess, to make a biscuit that's much healthier than average.
When you soak chia seeds in water, they take on a gel-like texture (“chia gel"), which serves as an easy egg substitute. This recipe from Versatile Vegan is so simple, we're convinced you're going to add scones to your baking repertoire.
7. Raspberry Banana Chia Smoothie
Bloggers at Oh My Veggies say that it took a while to get this recipe just right and we feel lucky to taste the benefits of their hard work.
8. Vegan Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
If you've always thought that making jam is too tricky or time-consuming, this super-simple recipe is for you. Vegan Insanity uses strawberries, but any of your favorite fruits can be substituted to make the jam of your dreams.
9. 3-Minute Vegan Maple Oatmeal Cookie
Oh She Glows also uses a chia seed mixture as an egg substitute for these scrumptious cookies, which make a great breakfast treat, if you ask us. Try them with peanut butter on top for an extra protein kick.
Using two tablespoons of both flax meal and chia seeds, Holy Cow Vegan makes waffles so healthy, they'll obliterate any possibility of carb-related guilt.
11. Kale and Farro Salad with Lemon and Chia Seed Dressing
This beautiful salad, courtesy of Conveganence, is jam-packed with healthy ingredients such as pears, kale, lemon, nutritional yeast and pumpkin, chia and pomegranate seeds.
12. 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cup Energy Bites
Minimalist Baker says these energy bites are “sweetened with dates and studded with oats, dark chocolate and chia seeds! Full of fiber, protein and healthy fats." And we say, how cute are they?
13. Strawberry Rhubarb and Rosemary Galette
Fettle Vegan has mastered the presentation of this gorgeous recipe with coconut whipped cream and a sprig of rosemary.
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Fertility issues are on the rise, and new literature points to ways that your environment may be part of the problem. We've rounded up some changes you can make in your life to promote a healthy reproductive system.
Infertility and Environmental Health: The Facts
<ul> <li>Sperm count is declining steeply, significantly, and continuously in Western countries, with no signs of tapering off. Erectile dysfunction is on the rise, and women are facing increasing rates of miscarriage and difficulty conceiving.</li><li>Why? A huge factor is our environmental health. Hormones (particularly testosterone and estrogen) are what make reproductive function possible, and our hormones are increasingly being negatively affected by harmful, endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonplace in the modern world—in our homes, foods, and lifestyles.</li></ul>What You Can Do About It
<p>It should be noted that infertility can be caused by any number of factors, including medical conditions that cannot be solved with a simple change at home.</p><p><em>If you or a loved one are struggling with infertility, our hearts and sympathies are with you. Your pain is validated and we hope you receive answers to your struggles.</em></p><p>Read on to discover our tips to restore or improve reproductive health by removing harmful habits and chemicals from your environment.</p>Edit Your Health
<ul><li>If you smoke, quit! Smoking is toxic, period. If someone in your household smokes, urge them to quit or institute a no-smoking ban in the house. It is just as important to avoid secondhand smoke.</li><li>Maintain a healthy weight. Make sure your caloric intake is right for your body and strive for moderate exercise.</li><li>Eat cleanly! Focus on whole foods and less processed meals and snacks. Studies have found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet is linked to increased fertility.</li><li>Minimize negative/constant stress—or find ways to manage it. Hobbies such as meditation or yoga that encourage practiced breathing are great options to reduce the physical toll of stress.</li></ul>Edit Your Home
<p>We spend a lot of time in our homes—and care that what we bring into them will not harm us. You may not be aware that many commonly found household items are sources of harmful, endocrine-disrupting compounds. Read on to find steps you can take—and replacements you should make—in your home.</p><p><strong>In the Kitchen</strong></p><ul> <li>Buy organic, fresh, unprocessed foods whenever possible. <a href="https://www.ehn.org/clean-grocery-shopping-guide-2648563801.html" target="_blank">Read our grocery shopping guide for more tips about food.</a></li><li>Switch to glass, ceramics, or stainless steel for food storage: plastics often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that affect fertility. <a href="https://www.ehn.org/bpa-pollution-2645493129.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn more about the dangers of plastic here.</a></li><li>Ban plastic from the microwave. If you have a plastic splatter cover, use paper towel, parchment paper, or an upside-down plate instead.</li><li>Upgrade your cookware: non-stick may make life easier, but it is made with unsafe chemical compounds that seep into your food. Cast-iron and stainless steel are great alternatives.</li><li>Filter tap water. Glass filter pitchers are an inexpensive solution; if you want to invest you may opt for an under-the-sink filter.</li><li>Check your cleaning products—many mainstream products are full of unsafe chemicals. <a href="https://www.ehn.org/how-to-shop-for-cleaning-products-while-avoiding-toxics-2648130273.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Check out our guide to safe cleaning products for more info</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>In the Bathroom </strong></p><ul> <li>Check the labels on your bathroom products: <em>fragrance-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free</em> and organic labels are all great signs. You can also scan the ingredients lists for red-flag chemicals such as: triclosan, parabens, and dibutyl phthalate. Use the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/" target="_blank">EWG Skin Deep database</a> to vet your personal products.</li><li>Ditch the vinyl shower curtain—that new shower curtain smell is chemical-off gassing. Choose a cotton or linen based curtain instead.</li><li>Banish air fresheners—use natural fresheners (an open window, baking soda, essential oils) instead.</li></ul><p><strong>Everywhere Else</strong></p><ul><li>Remove wall-to-wall carpet. If you've been considering wood or tile, here's your sign: many synthetic carpets can emit harmful chemicals for years. If you want a rug, choose wool or plant materials such as jute or sisal.</li><li>Prevent dust build-up. Dust can absorb chemicals in the air and keep them lingering in your home. Vacuum rugs and wipe furniture, trim, windowsills, fans, TVs, etc. Make sure to have a window open while you're cleaning!</li><li>Leave shoes at the door! When you wear your shoes throughout the house, you're tracking in all kinds of chemicals. If you like wearing shoes inside, consider a dedicated pair of "indoor shoes" or slippers.</li><li>Clean out your closet—use cedar chips or lavender sachets instead of mothballs, and use "green" dry-cleaning services over traditional methods. If that isn't possible, let the clothes air out outside or in your garage for a day before putting them back in your closet.</li><li>Say no to plastic bags!</li><li>We asked 22 endocrinologists what products they use - and steer clear of—in their homes. <a href="https://www.ehn.org/nontoxic-products-2648564261.html" target="_blank">Check out their responses here</a>.</li></ul>Learn More
<ul><li>For more information and action steps, be sure to check out <em>Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race</em> by EHS adjunct scientist Shanna Swan, PhD: <a href="https://www.shannaswan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available for purchase here.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ehn.org/st/Subscribe_to_Above_The_Fold" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up for our Above the Fold Newsletter </a>to stay up to date about impacts on the environment and your health.</li></ul>EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
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