chia

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a traditional food crop belonging to Lamiacea family, native of Central and Southern America. It is widely consumed for various health benefits especially in maintaining healthy serum lipid level contributed by phenolic acid, omega-3 and omega-6 oil present in the chia seed. It is a plant of great economic importance to many Native American tribes in California, who have long used chia for food and medicinal purposes.  Salvia hispanica L. acquired the common name chia from the indigenous South American people of the pre-Columbian and Aztec eras due to its medicinal uses.