I have to admit, I am not a fan of jam. I usually find it too sweet, and for obvious reasons: most jams are laden with processed sugar. In order for jam to get that jelly consistency, the fruit has to be boiled with sugar so that pectin can be released.
You can buy your own pectin to reduce the amount of sugar used, but let’s be real here — the less sugar the better. That’s why this recipe is so amazing! Chia seeds can hold 9 times the weight of the seed in water, causing a bead of gel to form around them when soaked.
This allows for our jam to gel without adding sugar. Better still, chia seeds are incredibly nutritious and promote digestive health.
A 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains (1, 2):
- Fiber: 11 grams.
- Protein: 4 grams.
- Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s).
- Calcium: 18% of the RDA.
- Manganese: 30% of the RDA.
- Magnesium: 30% of the RDA.
- Phosphorus: 27% of the RDA.
- They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.
This superfood is loaded with antioxidants and is high in fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids. (Click here to learn more about the other amazing benefits chia seeds provide.)
Not only are chia seeds enough to rave about, but blueberries deserve the attention too!
A 1 cup serving (148 grams) of blueberries contains (1, 2):
- Fiber: 4 grams.
- Vitamin C: 24% of the RDA.
- Vitamin K: 36% of the RDA.
- Manganese: 25% of the RDA.
- Then it contains small amounts of various other nutrients.
Blueberries are considered the ‘king’ of antioxidant foods, and the antioxidants in this fruit tend to accumulate in areas of the brain that are essential for intelligence. They appear to interact with aging neurons, as a six year study of 16,010 elderly participants has evinced. They found that blueberries and strawberries were linked to delays in cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years.
Pairing these two together seems like a no-brainer to me!
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh blueberries
- 3-4 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste (or other liquid sweetener)
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
1. In a medium-sized non-stick pot, bring the blueberries and 3 tbsp of maple syrup to a low boil. Stir frequently, and reduce heat to low-medium to simmer for about 5 minutes. Lightly mash the blueberries with a potato masher or fork, leaving some for texture.
2. Stir in the chia seeds until thoroughly combined and cook the mixture down until it thickens to your desired consistency, or about 15 minutes. Stir frequently so it doesn’t stick to the pot.
3. Once the jam is thick, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Add more maple syrup to taste if desired. Enjoy on toast, English muffins, oatmeal, vegan overnight oats, oat bars, tarts, cookies, banana soft serve, smoothies, and more. The jam should keep for at least a week in an air-tight container in the fridge.
This fantastic recipe was provided by Oh She Glows.
We have some other amazing chia seed recipes as well, like Vanilla Bomb Chia Pudding, Cardamom-Kissed Pistachio and Chia Seed Pudding, and Apple Chai Granola , just to name a few!
Let us know some of your chia seed or blueberry recipes, or if you have a traditional jam recipe you’d like to share!
Become A Health Practitioner
Are you ready to take control of your health and help others while making a good living?
This course teaches you over 100 health modalities plus business skills so you can become a certified practitioner,be healthyand make a good living at it.
We hooked up with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to bring you a FREE class to get you on your way.
Source Article from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Collective-evolution/~3/W-7QuOhuvGY/
Views: 0