Are you looking for a healthy fruit snack for your kids with no added sugar, gluten, or artificial dyes? We have just the snack for your whole family and are excited to announce our new product, Probiotic Fruichias! These fruit snacks contain 2 billion probiotics, and 4g of dietary fiber per serving all from combining two superfoods - real fruit and chia seeds! At Nature’s Garden, our mission is to elevate your snacking experience, one delicious, better-for-you bite at a time. In this article, we’ll explore the health and nutritional benefits of chia seeds, one half of the super duo that makes up our FruiChias, and share some easy ways to add them to your diet.

What are the Ingredients in FruiChias?

We have three flavors of our probiotic FruiChias - raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry with a short list of beneficial ingredients!

• Fruit puree
• Chia seeds
• Citrus fiber
• Citrus pectin
• Natural flavors
• Microencapsulated Probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG

With no gelatin, wheat, dairy, or other processed ingredients, you can feel good about eating FruiChias as a snack. 

So, what makes FruiChias stand out from other fruit snacks out there today?  The addition of chia seeds and probiotics!

What are the Health Benefits of Chia seeds?

Chia seeds have been known to improve blood lipids, lower blood pressure, stabilize blood glucose, and have immune and metabolism-boosting properties!

Chia seed health benefits come from their high fiber content and omega-3 fatty acids which are good for heart health. To learn more about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and mental health check out our recent article where we discuss the role of omega-3 fatty acid consumption in treating depression.

Nutritional Breakdown of Fruichias

• Chia seeds are very nutrient-dense. There are about 486 calories in 100g of dry chia seeds. Chia seeds have a macronutrient breakdown of about 30-33% fat, 15-25% protein, and 25-41% carbohydrates.
• Chia seeds contain high amounts of B vitamins such as niacin, folic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin.
• Chia seeds are also an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins, vitamins A, E, D, and K.
• Chia seeds are rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium as well as polyphenolic compounds: phenolic acids and flavonoids.
• Chia seeds contain 34-40g of dietary fiber per 100g (~10 tablespoons) which is 100% of the daily recommended intake for fiber for adults.

With the high fiber content of chia seeds, chia seeds can protect against constipation by stimulating intestinal peristalsis and providing feelings of fullness. The fiber is also very beneficial for the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

The dietary fiber in chia seeds has also been proven to help prevent diverticulitis, and some types of cancer, and help slow down the release of glucose in diabetes.

So ditch your morning cereal and milk, and start implementing chia seeds as they have a higher content of calcium, magnesium, and potassium than a standard bowl of cereal and milk. Chia seeds also have 2.5 times the amount of iron per serving than spinach and liver. So, what are some good ways to add chia seeds to your diet? Keep reading below for our top 10 ways to eat chia seeds!

10 Ways to Eat Chia Seeds

• Make a chia seed pudding with your milk of choice and topped with fruit for more fiber
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds to your overnight or stovetop-cooked oatmeal
• Add a serving of chia seeds to your afternoon smoothie!
• Sprinkle some chia seeds over a piece of toast with almond butter and banana
• Add chia seeds to a salad
• Make energy balls with chia seeds
• Add chia seeds to a bowl of yogurt
• Make a berry chia seed jam to spread on toasts
• Add chia seeds to salad dressings
• Use chia seeds as a vegan egg replacement in baking

Benefits of Probiotics

Like these new Fruichias, many of our other products, such as our Probiotic Apricots, Probiotic Tart Cherries, and Probiotic Yoggies also contain probiotics!

There is growing evidence to support the claims of probiotics’ positive effects, which include improved intestinal health, increased immunity, lower serum cholesterol, and a lower risk of cancer.

Recent reviews of randomized trials have found that regular probiotic supplementation can also decrease waist circumference which implies the potential for probiotics to help reduce cases of metabolic syndrome.

More than improving gut health, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic supplementation has shown potential in improving cognitive function and reducing stress-related behaviors. Current research is underway to understand the extent of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG’s positive influence on mental health via the gut-brain axis.

These FruiChias are easy, healthy, high-fiber snacks for kids, parties, work events, and even suitable for camping and road trips! Whichever flavor you choose, you can feel good knowing that this is a snack that will make you feel energized and promote digestive wellness! Snack With Purpose, and make sure to order some of these high probiotic FruiChias today!

Probiotic Fruichias

$22.99