It turns out that the chia seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acid and other nutrients that rejuvenate the heart and brain.

As a result, they’re turning up in nutritional drinks, snack foods, and cereals.

They’re also being sold whole and milled, like flaxseeds, for use in baked goods and as additives for yogurt and smoothies.

“Chia seeds are really good sources of omega-3 fats, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and minerals,” Vandana Sheth, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells Newsmax Health.

What you may not know is that chia seeds have been used as medicinal products for thousands of years, going back to the Aztecs, who believed they boosted health and energy.

Janie Hoffman was one of the first people to recognize chia’s potential as a health food. She sells a line of fruit juices called Mamma Chia that contain the seeds.  Hoffman says that many people are switching from flaxseed to chia. Chia is almost tasteless and it doesn’t go rancid as easily as flaxseed.