Chia seeds are a tiny superfood that pack a big punch. These small, mildly-flavored seeds are packed with antioxidants, support a healthy digestive system, and lower cholesterol. They can even help you shed pounds! Chia seeds have been part of pop culture since the 1980s My first interaction with chia seeds was actually through Chia Pets, terra cotta figurines that sprouted the seeds to give the effect of hair or fur. The seeds come from the Salvia hispanica plant, a member of the mint family. [1] The plant is native to Central America, and the Aztecs and Mayans regularly consumed the seeds as an energy booster. [2] Today, the humble chia seed has taken on a life of its own. Though people still know the seeds in the context of that Chia Pet they bought back in 1982, we now think of them primarily as a health food. Chia seeds have maximum nutritional effect in minimalist packaging Unlike some of the more ostentatious superfoods on the market –the avocados, acai, and cacao– chia