Wednesday
10Jun2009
Salba
“Is salba flour for real or this another one of those miracle food scams?”
Despite all the glowing reviews popping up around the internet, Salba® is neither new nor all that amazing. As you suspect, it’s just another miracle food with a whole lot of hype attached to it. (And a good share of controversy, as well.)
Salba begins as the ground seeds of a Latin American grain known as chia. Botanically, it is known as Salvia hispanica and has been used for centuries in Latin and South America as a food source. It gets its name, chai, for and old Aztec word, chian, which means “oily”.
And that’s not a misnomber. The seeds are as much as 30% oil, especially linolenic acid. This makes chia (and the Salba products produced from it) rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also high in antioxidants.
In respect to its alleged health benefits, much of what companies like Core Natural claim is true. Chia contains no gluten so it’s safe for celiac disease patients. And it is a very good source of fiber.
It’s also very expensive, especially when you get into name-brand products. Core Natural sells a 9.5 oz. jar of ground seed for $19.95 plus shipping. Various distributors will try to convince you that their particular variety of Salba is somehow better than other varieties of the same species. We’re not so sure. And even if there was a difference in the nutritional quality of the various varieties, we’re not convinced the price difference would be worth it.
Is Salba a scam? Well, there’s a lot of hype surrounding this product but very little to convince us that it’s somehow better than the ground chia seeds and flour you can find at any big natural health food store.
But you tell us. Do YOU think it’s worth the money?
Despite all the glowing reviews popping up around the internet, Salba® is neither new nor all that amazing. As you suspect, it’s just another miracle food with a whole lot of hype attached to it. (And a good share of controversy, as well.)
And that’s not a misnomber. The seeds are as much as 30% oil, especially linolenic acid. This makes chia (and the Salba products produced from it) rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also high in antioxidants.
In respect to its alleged health benefits, much of what companies like Core Natural claim is true. Chia contains no gluten so it’s safe for celiac disease patients. And it is a very good source of fiber.
It’s also very expensive, especially when you get into name-brand products. Core Natural sells a 9.5 oz. jar of ground seed for $19.95 plus shipping. Various distributors will try to convince you that their particular variety of Salba is somehow better than other varieties of the same species. We’re not so sure. And even if there was a difference in the nutritional quality of the various varieties, we’re not convinced the price difference would be worth it.
Is Salba a scam? Well, there’s a lot of hype surrounding this product but very little to convince us that it’s somehow better than the ground chia seeds and flour you can find at any big natural health food store.
But you tell us. Do YOU think it’s worth the money?
Wed, June 10, 2009 | Lisa Barger
Reader Comments (1)
I have no diea when you posted this article, so I might be years late in replying, but I think it's worth it.
In the form I get it in - the seed form, from North Star Nutritionals - it is very easy to transport with me wherever I go. Furthermore, while you mentioned only a very small number of the benefits it has (especialyl in whole-food form), you missed a lot more. The magnesium, calcium, protein, several B vitamins, folic acid, iron, selenium, copper, etc., etc. - all are very comparable and even superior to any health food/supplement, and the best part; they're in whole-food form! As anyone [should] know, that is the very best way to get your nutrients. They work together best this way, as it is the most natural form of getting your daily supply of vitamins/minerals/antioxidants, etc.
I have no ties to this company, but have gotten other things from them. Just had to throw that disclaimer out there.
Have a good one,
Matt