The many-faced chia seeds: heres how to use them!

Chia seeds are a truly unique treat, and there's a good reason why they're known as "Aztec gold". The tiny, approximately 1 mm diameter, brown, black, gray and white colour seeds can absorb up to ten times their weight in liquids. When soaked in water, they assume a swollen, gel-like state. This is good news because they provide a long-lasting sense of fullness, which significantly decreases your hunger.

They're filled with nutrients (mainly omega 3 fatty acids) which have a beneficial effect on you health. Chia seeds are great additions to breakfast which you can add to fruit shakes or rice milk or you can even sprinkle a teaspoon of the seeds on fruit salad. Be creative, since chia seeds are practically tasteless and due to this neutral flavour, they suit almost any kind of dish. Due to their gel-like nature when soaked in water they can be used as an egg replacement in biscuits, breads or crèpes. They can be used to make pudding, chia gel or porridge, yet you can also use the seeds to thicken soups.

Chia seeds can also make a lovely hot beverage perfect for autumn evenings. Add 1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds to herbal tea of any temperature. Wait a few seconds for the seeds to sink to the bottom and open up. Sip the tea and then nibble on the soft chia seeds. An added bonus is that these precious seeds loose none of their nutritional value when heated.

They're veritable vitamin bombs which are perfect for strengthening your immune system in the autumn: they're rich in fibre, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium and Vitamin B.