For centuries, Native Indian Peoples in the Americas have used chia seed as a staple food. Aztec warriors subsisted on chia seeds during battles and hunting expeditions. Indians of the Southwest would eat as little as a teaspoon of chia seeds during a 24-hour march. Indians ran from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean to trade turquoise for shells, carrying only a pouch of chia seed for nourishment.

There are two colors of chia seeds, white and black. Some claim that the white seeds are more potent but this is not the case. Both types contain essentially the same amount of omega-3, protein, fiber, etc.