ARIZONA CHIA - FAQ's
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What is Chia?

Section I - Essential fatty acids and omega-3

Section II –Chia Storage and Consumption

Section III –Chia and Safety

Section IV – Chia & Health

Section V –Chia Production

Section VI – Growing Chia

Section VII – Chia and Pets

Section VII – Ordering, Payment Shipping and Handling

What is Chia?

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed is the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids known and contains natural antioxidants. The plant is a member of the mint family and originated in southern Mexico and Guatemala. There are two seed colors, white and black. Some people are claiming that the white seeds are more potent but this is not the case. Both seeds contain essentially the same amount of omega-3, protein, fiber, etc. For a comparison go to: www.chiaseedandoil.com/blackwhite.html

Chia was virtually lost for five centuries after the Spanish conquest (due to both religious and agronomic reasons). This changed in the 1990’s as part of an effort lead by the University of Arizona to establish new crops in northwestern Argentina. This project led to successful commercialization of chia as a crop, making it more widely available today.

Section I - Essential fatty acids and omega-3

Does chia have essential fatty acids?

Chia seed is the highest known plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. *

What is an essential fatty acid?

Essential fatty acids are so called because they cannot be synthesized in the body and therefore have to be obtained from foods. Omega-6 and omega-3 are the essential fatty acids for humans and other animals. They are precursors of powerful hormones that affect many biological processes; they help maintain a healthy skin, and are involved in cholesterol metabolism.

What is the appropriate omega-6/omega-3 ratio?

The ideal ratio is from 1:1 to 5:1. During our evolutionary period, humans ate an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 1:1. Modern diets are very rich in omega-6, derived primarily from vegetable and animal fats. Typically today’s diets are greater than 15:1

 omega-6/omega-3. This imbalance increases the risk of coronary heart disease and also heightens the body’s natural inflammatory processes.

What are the other sources of omega-3?

In general, omega-3 is present in wild fatty sea fish and in green vegetables. Most oil crops have very little of this fatty acid. The following chart shows the omega-3 content of oil derived from selected crops.

Section II –Chia Storage and Consumption

How can I eat chia?

Chia seeds can be consumed directly and do not need to be ground. Most people mix them with foods such as yogurt, juices, broths, salads, omelets, cereals, etc. In addition, they can be mixed (ground or whole) with flour and used for making breads, pizza, etc.

How much chia seed should be consumed by day?

The omega-3 daily intake recommended is 4 grams. Approximately 0.7 ounces (20 grams or 2 tablespoons) of chia seed provides 4 grams of omega-3. A 1 gram chia oil capsule contains approximately 0.6 grams of omega-3, so 7 capsules provide 4 grams of omega-3.

How is the seed stored?

Chia seeds will stay in good condition at room temperature for several years. There is no need to keep the seed in the fridge, whether kept in sealed bags or not. Natural antioxidants in the seed provides this stability.

Should the chia seeds be washed?

Chia seeds do not need to be washed. Furthermore, their high level of soluble fiber will absorb moisture and form a gel (of up to 9 times their volume) if placed in water.

Is it necessary to grind the seed?

Chia seeds do not need to be ground for absorption, unlike flax.

Is it better to eat the seed or the chia oil capsules?

It depends on what you want to achieve. People who are interested in a rich source of omega-3, but also want a good source of fiber, proteins, minerals and vitamins will prefer to eat the seed. If the only interest is for increasing omega-3 on the diet, then the oil capsules will provide an excellent source.

Section III –Chia and Safety

Is chia safe?

Chia has been consumed by humans for a thousand of years. It was one of the main foods of the Aztecs and Mayas. The FDA has stated that chia is a food,** rather than a supplement, and can be consumed without restrictions.

Is your chia seed a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)?

The products that we offer are not Genetically Modified (GMO).

Is the chia seed organic, are there insecticides or fungicides used?

Our chia seed is not certified organic. However, its production can be considered environmentally friendly because:

-    Soil fertility is maintained due to crop rotation and other conservation practices.

-    Weed control is mechanical.

-    Chemical pest control is not carried out. Furthermore, it is counter productive since the chia plants need insects for pollination, and its stems and leaves have essential oils that repel damaging insects.

-    No fungicides are used.

-    No biologic control is carried out.

Why aren’t you offering certifying organic chia yet?

Commercial chia production needs to expand to new regions and farmers in order to make it more widely available, and lower its cost. This requires very complex agronomic projects which are underway in several countries. Given that chia seed production is actually non-intrusive and that the product safe, we think that it is not yet necessary to have a reliable source of certified organic chia seed. Additionally such a program will increase production costs, which must be passed on to the consumer.

Is the chia oil in the capsules expelled from seeds with chemicals?

To obtain the oil the chia seed is cold pressed, and no chemicals are added.

Section IV – Chia & Health

Can I loose weight eating chia?

Chia has high levels of fatty acids, which are high in calories, but essentially equivalent quantities of fiber, which is low in calories. It is not a dietary food, however the volumetric expansion of the seeds in the stomach can help to give a feeling of satiety or fullness, thereby making one feel less hungry.

Is chia good for persons with arthritis?

Omega-3 acts as anti-inflammatory agent.

Can chia be eaten by people suffering celiac disease?

Chia seed is gluten free, and can be eaten by people suffering from celiac disease.

Could chia cause problems in people with diverticulosis ?

In general, the chia fiber protects the intestines walls and improves the process of digestion. People with specific digestive problems should consult with their doctors to see what is best for them.

Section V –Chia Production

Where does the chia come from?

Chia is grown in most countries of the Americas, from Mexico to Argentina. Our seed comes from South America, with the seed stock originating in Mexico.

Which varieties of chia do you sell?

We only offer Salvia hispanica L. There are several chia species, but the only one that has high omega-3 levels is the Salvia hispanica L.

Section VI – Growing Chia

Do you have chia seed that will grow?

With appropriate conditions (soil, water and heat) the chia seeds will sprout.

Can it be grown in little pots outside, or under lights indoors?

It can be grown inside or outside. Growing the seed is easy, it will sprout in pots outside, or on a paper towel kept wet.

Will they produce edible seeds in an average growing season?

Producing edible seeds requires not only appropriate conditions (soil, water and heat), but also sufficient agronomic know how and experience. To flower and produce seeds, the plant needs tropical or subtropical weather, sandy soil and a relatively stable supply of water. Chia will flower only when the days are short, hence if planted outside the tropics, frost will damage the flowers and prevent the formation of seed.

Does the book give information on how to grow the seed?

The book has some information regarding seed production, although it focuses on the history of chia and its benefits for human health.

Can your chia grow on my chia pet planters?

Yes it can.

Section VII – Chia and Pets

Why is chia seed good for pets?

The omega-3 in chia is good for your pet’s skin and fur and will make the coat soft and shiny.

How do you feed it to animals?

You just add the chia seeds directly to the regular food of dogs, cats, birds, horses, etc.

Section VIII – Ordering, Payment, Shipping and Handling

How can I order your products?

Once you create an account by registering on our website, you can purchase our products. Should you have any special requirements or for large volume shipments you can contact us via e-mail so we can address your specific needs. You can also phone 520-455-5050 and pay by credit card if you prefer. Our website is secure, and using it ensures priority shipping and eliminates mistakes in taking down your address etc.

How can I order more than one bag, etc?

If you want to order more than one of any item, first change the number in the quantity column on the right side, then hit the update button at the lower left of the cart. You can then proceed to checkout.

How can I pay for your products?

We accept credit card (Visa, Mastercard, America Express using Authorize.net which is a secure server) as well as PayPal. Your credit card number is not stored on our site. We prefer that you use the Authorize.net since you will receive confirmation of your order, PayPal does not allow us to do this. We will accept money orders and checks when sent to Arizona Chia, P.O. Box 506, Sonoita, AZ. 85637, but this will incur delayed processing time.

Is it a secure site for purchase?

We use Authorize.net and PayPal and we do not see, nor do we have access to the credit card numbers sent to either verification service.

Which is your privacy policy? Do you store or share information or email addresses from purchases?

Our policy regarding our clients’ database is that we do not share anything with anyone. Your account is for your use only and is stored only so that you do not need to reenter your personal info every time you place an order.

How are the shipping & handling costs calculated?

After creating an account on the website and deciding what you want to buy, a number of shipping options will be given to you once you click the checkout button but prior to paying (NOTE: these costs are based on USPS prices and are calculated by our site linking to their website – you can go directly there if you want to look at the pricing – go to www.usps.com.

You then decide on price and speed of shipping for your purchase. For example, a 1.5 lb chia seed purchase will cost $5.50 (USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail) including handling. There are other shipping options available, and these have different prices depending on delivery speed and tracking. You will be given various options, and these apply to all products, even the 55 lb bags.