Alternative Flour Made from Chia Seeds Takes Center Stage for Celiac Sufferers: Is Certified Gluten-Free

Original Chia Seed Flour can be used to create gluten-free recipes. Each serving delivers powerful antioxidants and vitamins, along with a full day's supply of omega-3 fatty acids.

10/10/08 Nuchia Foods Corporation announced that its Chia Seed Flour is certified gluten-free, perfect for people with Celiac disease or anyone looking for healthy holiday recipes. The flour, made from chia seeds, is an alternative to highly processed wheat flour.

"Nuchia Foods' alternative flour can replace wheat flour one-to-one in most recipes," said Homer Hartage. "It brings good taste back for those with Celiac, but the whole family can enjoy this. Our flour is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, calcium and fiber. What's more, it tastes good."

Original Chia Seed Flour can be used to create gluten-free recipes. Each serving delivers powerful antioxidants and vitamins, along with a full day's supply of omega-3 fatty acids, 9.4 grams of fiber and a wide variety of naturally occurring minerals like biotin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, niacin, and zinc. That high omega-3 content and fiber mean Chia Seed Flour can promote a healthy heart, weight loss and offer relief to those suffering from arthritis and osteoporosis.

Talking about traditional recipes, some of the foods that have been made using Chia Seed Flour include a Louisiana Chicken Gumbo Guinness Beer Soup with a roux base, a holiday favorite -- red velvet cake, cookies, fruit cobblers, frostings and rich chocolate brownies to die for. It can also be used in raw cooking, added to smoothies and as a thickener in a wide variety of dishes. In each recipe Chia Seed Flour was used as alternative flour to highly processed wheat flour.

Though the history of chia seeds shows that it was a staple of the Aztec and Mayan diets, the small desert grain called chia is now better known as the "hair" of a popular line of terra cotta pet figurines. But it turns out chia is actually packed with vital nutrients -- and, thanks to Nuchia Foods Corporation, chia seeds are now available again as an alternative flour to health- and taste-conscious consumers.

Jan Matsuno, Director of Commercialization at the Center for Culinary Development, said, "Who knew the seeds used to grow 'hair' on those funny Chia pets is actually super-nutritious? Nuchia Foods Corporation has developed a process to produce Chia Seed Flour which performs similarly to bleached wheat flour, but provide a full day's supply of omega-3 fatty acids, 9.4 grams of fiber, and a wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants -- all gluten-free! Move over Spelt and Quinoa, Chia is here!"

Homer L. Hartage, president and CEO of Nuchia Foods Corporation, is a graduate of Seton Hall University. Hartage frequently holds product demonstrations on the use of their alternative flour and is available for lectures and seminars. Nuchia Foods Corporation is certified gluten-free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization.