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Dehydration is a very real thing for those of us cleaning roofs in the Hot Sun.
Not only in Florida, but anytime you spend a lot of time on a hot place like a roof, you open yourself up to Dehydration.
I would like to turn all RCIA Members on to  an accidental discovery I made about a food called Chia Seeds.
I order 14 lbs of the Chia Seed at a time off Amazon.com  for about 90 dollars.
This lasts me about 4 or 5 months.
Chia Seed is about the BEST Food known to man.
It is also extremely Hygroscopic, meaning it will hold 9 TIMES it's weight of Water !!!
The Chia Seed will give you untold energy, you will feel 10 years younger.
It will also STOP, or greatly reduce your chance of Dehydration.
Roof Cleaners, READ about this.
I PROMISE, if you take it everyday, it will change your life for the better.
I put about 2 heaping scoops of the raw seed in a glass , fill the glass with water, stir, and chug it down.
It has NO taste at all !
You CAN use Apple or Orange Juice if you prefer, but I didn't want the extra calories.
Once I drink it, I drink an additional 2 to 3 glasses of water.
This makes  the seed expand in your stomach, and you feel full for 4 to 6 hours!
The Chia Seed has COMPLETELY replaced Lunch for me.
The result is I have lost 20 lbs in three months !!
And NEVER feel hungry!
My energy level is unreal, compared to what it was.
Read the info below, or Google Chia Seed.
Just wanted to share this with my roof cleaning brothers.

Chia has the highest levels of Omega-3 in any plant. Chia is not just for people but dogs, cats and even horses will benefit by the elements found in the seed and oil.

CHIA SEED CAN BE USED IN ANY FLAX SEED RECEIPE BUT CHIA SEED DOES NOT NEED TO GROUND!!! EASIER TO USE THAN FLAX AND WITHOUT ANY KNOWN ALLEGENS!!

Chia Seed -A new Entry to the Omega-3 Market?

An Ancient Food Source Recently Rediscovered. Chia seeds have been a staple food source for the American Native people for centuries (long before the Chia Pet hit the market). Aztec warriors would eat chia during hunting trips, and the Indians of the Southwest would eat only chia seed mixed with water as they ran from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean to trade products.

The Richest Source of Omega-3

Chia seeds and oil naturally contain more than 60% Omega-3 fatty acid, this is the highest percentage of Omega-3 of any commercially available source. The body converts Omega-3 from chia into EPA and DHA. Chia has no odor, doesnt go rancid, easy to store, easy to use, has very little flavor/taste and is not contaminated with pesticides, chemicals or heavy metals.

Percent of Omega-3 per same size serving

Name: Genus species % Omega-3Chia Salvia hispanica 62.3Flax Linum usitatissimum 54.6Hemp Cannabis sativa 19.9Borago officinalis 0.5Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis 0.4

High in Protein Chia seed is a complete source of dietary protein, providing all the essential amino acids. Compared to other seeds and grains, chia seed provides the highest source of protein, between 19 to 23 percent protein by weight. One of the unique qualities of the chia seed is its ability to absorb more than nine times its volume in water or other liquid. This ability can prolong hydration and retain electrolytes in body fluids, especially during exertion or exercise. Normal fluid retention ensures electrolyte dispersion across cell membranes, maintains fluid balances, and aids normal cellular function.

Source of Fiber

Chia seed produces a thick mucilage in water, absorbing up to 30 times its weight in water. This soluble fiber cleans the intestines by binging and transporting debris from the intestinal walls so that it can be eliminated efficiently and regularly. A daily dose of chia seed provides an excellent fiber source and most people notice a different in less than a week.

Energy/Antioxidants and no Gluten

Chia contains the usual Vitamin C, ferulates and Vitamin E but the real secret is the Cinnamic acids that guard the omega-3 oils from oxidation. This is why chia is a stable product for years! With no gluten, virtually no sodium, nor reported allergic reactions, grown without pesticides or toxicants. Chia has a high energy to weight ratio (more than wheat, corn, rice or oats) that makes it a favorite choice of long distance runners and other athletics .

A Dieters Dream! The gel-forming property of chia seed tends to slow digestion and sustain balanced blood sugar levels, which can be helpful in preventing or controlling diabetes. Whole, water-soaked chia seeds can be easily digested and absorbed. This results in rapid transport of chia nutrients to the tissues for use by the cells. Chia also facilitates the growth and regeneration of tissue during pregnancy and lactation, and aids the regeneration of muscles for conditioning athletes and bodybuilders. For the dieter, this means feeling full with no more peaks and valleys in blood sugar levels.

The fastest and easiest way to take chia seed is to add one tablespoon chia seed into an eight-ounce glass of water or juice, stir to break up any lumps, let sit about five minutes, stir again, and then drink. Since chia seed is an USDA approved food product, you can do this as often as you prefer just as you can eat more than one apple or other fruit per day. You can also use it to make a versatile gel, which can be added to jams, jellies, peanut butter, milkshakes, nut spreads, smoothies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, mustard, catsup, tartar sauce, barbecue sauces, etc. as a fat replacer, for energy and endurance, or for added great taste. Heres how to make the gel, which has a slightly nutty flavor:

Put nine parts water in a sealable plastic container. Slowly pour one part seed into the water, then mix with a wire whisk or fork. This process will avoid any clumping of the seed. Wait a few minutes and stir again to break up any clumps, let stand ten minutes, and stir again. Store up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Add the gel, between 50 to 70 percent by volume, to any of the above-mentioned foods, mix well, and taste. You will notice a very smooth texture, with the integrity of the flavor intact, but you have added 50 to 70 percent more volume to your food and have displaced calories and fat by incorporating an ingredient that is ninety percent water!

Chia gel causes a slow release of carbohydrates and an equally slow converting of carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar) for energy. The outer layer of chia seeds is rich in mucilloid-soluble fiber, intended to keep the seeds from drying out in desert air. When chia seeds are mixed with water or stomach juices, a gel forms that creates a physical barrier between the carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down. The carbohydrates are digested eventually, but at a slow and uniform rate. There is no insulin surge or spike needed to lower the blood sugar level after eating chia.

Other benefits of chia gel include:

Helping to control weight: mixed with orange or other fruit juice, the gel-like seeds make a nutritious breakfast that leaves one feeling full and without hunger until noon.

Research is being conducted to show how chia may prevent and/or overcome Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

Chia seeds contain high levels of both ornega-3 and omega-6 oils, needed by all people, but especially by pregnant women or those with PMS.

Chia seeds contain greater alpha-linolenic acid concentrations than any other seed or grain. This substance lowers the risk of heart disease, blurred vision, and numbness.

Native people have used chia gel on wounds, for colds and sore throats, for upset stomachs, body odors, prostate problems, and even constipation.

Chia seed contains larg