SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When you hear the word "chia," images of "Chia Pet" commercials from the '80s may be the first thing that come to mind—but today chia has become one of the most talked about functional health ingredients. From its mega-high omega-3 and fiber content to recent research published this year that touts its positive effects on heart and liver health as well as insulin sensitivity—chia is now considered a "superseed" by many of today's health experts and is being used to supercharge the nutrient profiles of everything from cereals and chips to cookies and beverages.
In response to this demand, Multiple Organics, Inc., a leading international organic ingredients supplier, was the first to bring black, EU and USDA certified organic chia to North America's health-minded consumers and organic manufacturers. In accordance with the Multiple Organics' Safety and Testing (MOST) program—one of the most comprehensive in the industry—each lot of organic chia is tested for food-safety at a third-party microbiological laboratory prior to being released and processing is audited by a national food safety expert.
Why This "Superseed" Supersedes All Others. When comparing nutrients, chia's benefits surpass all other seeds or grains on the market today. For one, studies have shown that chia contains more heart healthy omega-3s (α-linolenic acid) than any other plant-based source—even topping flax seed. Plus, unlike flax, chia seeds do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body, and because chia is rich in antioxidants, it can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid.
With 10.6 grams of fiber in each 1-ounce serving, chia also provides 42 percent of the FDA's Daily Value (DV) for fiber, which helps clear out waste and creates a sense of fullness. Additionally, one ounce of chia provides 179 mg of calcium (18 percent of the DV), totaling over 5 times more calcium per gram than milk. A single serving of chia is also packed with up to 19-23 percent protein and contains around 30 percent of the DV for trace minerals magnesium and phosphorus. Chia seed also is a good source of B vitamins potassium, zinc and copper.
New Chia Research. According to a study from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia published March 2011 in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, one teaspoon of chia each day can benefit heart and liver health and can help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. In the study, when chia was fed to obese rats along with a high fat, high carbohydrate diet, researchers found that chia helped reduce heart and liver inflammation and induced harmful transfats to move away from these vital organs, allowing other healthier fats to take their place and be used by these organs to create energy. Chia also helped bring glucose levels down to normal at a much faster rate, offering a great benefit to those with type-2 diabetes.[i] [ii]
Another unique property of chia is that it's highly hydrophilic and turns into a gel when exposed to liquids, which can help slow the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar. Additionally, the gelling quality makes it a great thickening agent for food processing. It can also be used in gluten-free formulations to provide moisture and a more pleasing texture. Chia gel has even been used by some to replace a portion of butter or oil in a recipe, offering yet another healthy benefit to incorporating this superseed in one's diet.
Multiple Organics Fair Trade Chia Seed Coming Soon. Multiple Organics recently announced that its high-quality organic chia seed will soon be available as fair trade, certified through IMO's Fair For Life program. Certification is expected to be complete by June. Additionally, these chia farmers will be part of the Multiple Organics' solar lighting project (www.multipleorganics.com/solarproject), which provides solar panels for farmers in remote areas of Peru with no access to electricity. This project has already provided light to 200 organic cacao and quinoa farmers and their families and will extend to chia farmers this spring. Clients who buy these products support this project and are welcome to share the story with their consumers.
From a health standpoint, chia is rapidly becoming known as a superseed because of its high levels of nutrients, including more omega-3 fatty acids than any other vegetarian source, up to five times the calcium of milk per gram, high protein and high fiber (one ounce meets 42 percent of the daily value for fiber). With its neutral taste profile, you can add chia to just about anything and boost the health benefits.
To download, high-resolution photos of our black chia, go to: www.multipleorganics.com/pressroom
About Multiple Organics Inc: Multiple Organics is a wholesale supplier of over 100 varieties of high-quality, certified organic ingredients—including everything from the superseed chia to perfectly-ripened organic dried mango filets and allergen-free chocolate products, as well as a long list of other cocoa products, dried fruits, edible seeds, beans, lentils, nuts, peas, specialty grains and sugar.
With an emphasis on strong supply chain management, food safety via its stringent, multi-level MOST (Multiple Organics Safety & Testing) program, and a devoted team of passionate professionals, Multiple Organics has been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in America by sources like Inc. magazine and the San Francisco Business Times.
Over the past ten years, Multiple Organics has cultivated strong, long-lasting relationships with some of the most dedicated organic farmers, processors and manufacturers around the world. By working together with the entire chain from farm to consumer, Multiple Organics believes that advances in sustainability and food safety can, and must, be accomplished. For more information about Multiple Organics and products offered, visit www.multipleorganics.com.
Contact:
Jacqueline Marinho
Marketing & Customer Service Specialist
Multiple Organics, Inc.
415-482-9800
[email protected]
[i] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286311000088; "Lipid redistribution by α-linolenic acid-rich chia seed inhibits stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 and induces cardiac and hepatic protection in diet-induced obese rats;" The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, In Press, Corrected Proof, March 2011
Hemant Poudyal, Sunil K. Panchal, Jennifer Waanders, Leigh Ward, Lindsay Brown
[ii] Multiple Organics previously attributed certain improvements in cardiovascular risk factors in Type 2 Diabetes to chia in general (newhope360.com, Feb. 24, 2011), when, in fact, the earlier research that was published was conducted on only specific varieties of chia, Sahi Alba 911 and 912. Hence, we retract the previous reference in this updated release. The current release is on the benefits of all varieties of chia and supersedes our prior release on chia.
SOURCE Multiple Organics, Inc.
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