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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A famous gag gift is also a good-for-you food.
Who knew the Chia Pet could provide nutritional value?
Before you go and eat your plant, it's actually the tiny seeds that are being touted as the new super food.
"I recommend them to my clients," said Keri Anderson, a nutritional expert and physical trainer at Lifetime Fitness. "They have a lot of protein, Omega-3, healthy fats, and oils."
That's not all. Nutritional experts also claim the seeds provide fiber and can be a substitute for whole grains.
Anderson also points out Chia seeds retain water and can make you feel full. "It's the new food to obsess about," she said. "You can add it into yogurt, you can add it into soups, you can add it into pudding."
Even athletes are starting to use them. Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice swears by them.
The tiny little seeds are sprouting up on shelves all cover the country. Chia seeds can be found at places like GNC and Whole Foods.
