Super Fuel? Baltimore Running Back Preps for NFL Season by Eating…Chia Pet Seeds?
- Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:10pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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You may or may not be familiar with Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, but chances are you’re definitely familiar with “Chia Pets.”
Put the two together and you have one bizarre story to use as a conversation piece this weekend.
Rice, who pumps iron and is not a fan of supplement shakes, works diligently to prepare for his grueling days with the NFL. But, aside from a healthy diet of his preferred proteins, chicken and fish, there is one form of superfuel Rice has quietly begun mixing into his diet: spoonfuls of an obscure Bolivian-grown seed known as Salvia hispanica, or chia seeds/
Rice believes the seeds replenishes his energy and keep his digestive system running smoothly.
Chia seeds, which reportedly date back to the ancient Aztecs, are now best known as the main ingredient that gives Chia Pet models like Chia Pet Elvis, Chia Shrek and Chia Obama their thickets of “lustrous green mossy hair.”
WSJ adds:
Rice, who will meet the New England Patriots Sunday in the AFC Championship game, said he was skeptical at first when a friend, Jesse Itzler, an investor in a chia venture, turned him on to the idea. “When you think of seeds, you think of a bird,” says the 212-pound two-time Pro Bowl running back. “They looked like bird seeds.”
Rice said the reason he finally decided to try chia seeds was their colorful back story.
survey of Baltimore’s locker room after a practice this week turned up another chia devotee—star linebacker Ray Lewis. “I put them in my shake every morning,” he said.
Experts say chia seeds, which have almost no taste, can absorb 10 times their weight in water—which may help speed digestion. The seeds contain nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants, protein, iron and electrolytes.
To read the full report visit WSJ, but first:
The original. The best:
Later models included the Chia Obama:
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Ramv36
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 12:11amBorn to Run is where I first heard of Chia seeds as well. Also inspired me to start using them, a decision I have not regretted. I use them in almost everything I cook now.
Report Post »They’re great in chili!
gmoneytx
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 6:54pmIt’s gonna be a short prep, if they play as bad as they played against the Texans, the Patriots will wipe the floor with them…I guess we’ll see tomorrow!
Report Post »NewAge_of_Reason
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:29pmNot a big surpize here. Just look towards nature and the animal kingdom. Bears main staple in preperation for winter are seeds and many many pounds of them each day. Seeds and nuts will help you gain muscle weight, and keep it.
Report Post »AnAppealToGod
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:25pmChia Seeds are really good for you. Nothing wrong with that.
Report Post »armywife987
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 4:52pmI want to try the Chia seeds as long as I don’t turn into Obama. Go Ravens!!! I love my home team.
Report Post »The1stDave
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 7:46pmThey aren’t bad at all. You can get completely ripped off if you aren’t careful. You can find a pill type bottle in with the supplements at a pharmacy or the like for around thirty bucks. Yeah, roughly thirty dollars a pound. I found some on amazon last year and bought five pounds for the same price. Vacuum packed it and haven’t finished it all yet. Five pounds is a lot of chia seeds, they are very small.
They have lots of fiber, omega oils, and several complete protiens which is rare in plants. Just research the source and price.
They won’t turn you into a progressive.
Report Post »Vic Balducci
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:16pmThis is a hybrid. This is a cross, ah, of Bluegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Featherbed Bent, and Northern California Sensemilia. The amazing stuff about this is, that you can play 36 holes on it in the afternoon, take it home and just get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on this stuff.
Report Post »SafeLibraries
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:32pmI eat chia seeds. I got them as a present! They figure largely in the Tarahumara ability to run super long distances, and with ease. See Christopher McDougall: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, (Knopf, 2009. ISBN 0307266303)
Report Post »db321
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:01pmIf someone sent me some chia seeds as a present – I would water them – to see if they grow!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:54amI thought the energy drink of the Ravens was Natty Bo.
Go Patriots
Report Post »black9897
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:13pmBOOOO the pats and crybaby overrated Brady!!!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:25pmHow many SUPERBOWL RINGS??
Go Pats
Report Post »VintageChick
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 9:23pmThat would be Natty Boh. Go RAVENS!
Report Post »Conservative New Yorker
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:53amYep, another Chia seed devotee here, Put it in our breakfast smoothies or oatmeal. Excellent source of protein and fiber, essential fatty acids and the gel has no taste.
Also give the gel to our pets- helps with their digestion and keeps them hydrated, esp important for cats who tend to be arid creatures.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 6:49amOne thing is for sure… if you use Chia seeds in your diet your likely to lose your sense of humor or become extremely sensitive and fell your being attacked.
Get a grip people and laugh at the funny picture in the story. (Yes.. even the one of Chia Obama)
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:08amOh my! The Patriots are going to poop out those chia seeds!
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 9:25amHe’s trying to be the Chia Obama.
Out of his arse
Report Post »Grew a fine carpet of grass
And his balls were all covered with weeds.
Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:21amChia seeds are great. We eat them at my home everyday. Don’t knock what you know nothing about. Do some damn research before you open your pie hole. You sound like a bunch of idiots.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:52amI use chia seeds in my morning protein shake, I have lost 150 pounds and kept it off for 8 years now. Paleo nutrition rocks!
Report Post »wifezilla
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 9:32amChia seeds are very nutritious and have a very interesting history. Before people mock them, they may want to read up! Go paleo!
Report Post »netmail
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:15amI put them in a protein shake twice a day. Let it sit for a minute and Chia seeds resemble a crunchy tapioca. AWESOME and chia seeds are a bonafide ‘super food’.
Report Post »txn4justice
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 3:22amWho cares besides the makers and manufacturers of Chia Pets, Inc?
Report Post »Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:25amYuck it up moronic “The Blaze.”
Chia is the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 and dietary fiber currently known to man.
Promotes Cardiovascular Health:
According to the American Heart Association, Omega-3 fatty acids can normalize blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, while helping promote healthy heart and blood vessels.
Assists Joint Function & Mobility:
With six times more calcium than milk, and with greater amounts of high-quality protein than the one found in soy, Chia also helps strengthen muscles and bones.
Improves Digestion & Natural Detoxification:
Chia can absorb a whopping 12+ times its weight in water – flax seed only absorbs 6-8 times its weight. Chia´s insoluble fiber reduces digestive transit time and removes toxins as it passes through the digestive tract.
The Blaze is just getting dumber and dumber…. Everything’s a joke!
Report Post »Californiasodbuster
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:40amChia seeds have been used by the Aztecs and Mayans for years, for their energy supplements, and they are for real.
Report Post »Sad to see this web site mock herbal products, and certain presidential prospects.
I thank God i was given the brains to see through all the Bull sh:t.
NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 7:52am@LIBERTARIAN-Change the newspaper in your cage and relax,shouldn’t you chia-eaters be tweeting instead?
Report Post »Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:24pmNOBAMA201258 Since we’re being rude… Take your thumb out of your @rse and get the cr@p out between your ears.
Report Post »RisetovotesiR
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:25amGo RAVENS!
Report Post »4321
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:09amI’m With ya Go RAVENS!!!
Report Post »fangbanger
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:57pmas a steelers fan im going to add GO RAVENS!!!! stomp the patriots!! ill also be looking into the chia seeds, it has my curiosity peaked.
Report Post »jdpm4020
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:04amthe fact that a thug like rice is in the headline is a problem in itself….he does not deserve a CHAMPIONSHIP! only a respectable champion….humble in himself deserves it! screw Baltimore…they are a THUG TEAM that will lose it all….and deserve it!
Report Post »VintageChick
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 6:23am@JDPM4020. Ray Rice is a thug? Are you kidding me? Please provide some facts to back this up. He’s a great kid.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 7:49amJDPM4020 I don’t know about rice,maybe you are thinking about ray lewis and his posse or the very articulate mr suggs ?
Report Post »Hkitty
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:04amI know we don’t share a lot of recipes on this site but I learned about chai fresca from the book “Born to Run”
Ingredients:
about 10 oz of water
Report Post »1 Tbsp dry chia seeds. (cha-cha-cha-chia)
a few teaspoons lemon or lime juice
honey or agave nectar, to taste (optional)
Stir the chia seeds into the water; let them sit for about five minutes. Stir again, and let sit for as long as you like. The more it sits, the more gel-like the seeds and water become. Add citrus juice and sweetener to taste.
db321
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 5:04pmThere is a fricken receipt for Chia Too?
Report Post »ike3387
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:54pmChia Obama!!!!!! That is a classic!!
Report Post »shadylady15
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:48pmI just discovered chia myself, and I love it!
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:40amMarijuana seeds make chia seeds look like little rat turds in terms of nutrition and essential fatty acids.
Ma- Marijuana!
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:27pmchia357mag
Report Post »TheSoundOf Truth
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:15pmChia Seeds are loaded with nutrients and have a nice crunch to them. Too bad the american population only knows of these seeds as a gimmick.
Try “Chia Goodness” for breakfast. It comes in several varieties, and is an excellent source of fiber for those who have issues with regularity.
Funny how a dude named “Rice” east Chia seeds…. ;)
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