I got a question this week on LinkedIn (yes, you can find me there!) about chia seeds so let’s take a look:

What are they?: They are small black seeds from the chia plant which is native to Mexico and Guatemala.   They look a little like poppy seeds but are larger.

What’s the benefit of eating/using or cooking with them?
Chia seeds are a source of fiber, omega 3-fatty acids, and protein.  

The one micronutrient that most all would do well to increase is fiber.

“Fibermaxxing” has had a moment on TikTok with people conducting fiber challenges to see how much they could consume.

Most Americans don’t come close to getting sufficient fiber in their daily diet.

Two of the trends/fads that you can expect to see reflected in products on the shelves at your local Ingles Markets are callouts for protein amounts and callouts for fiber amounts.  

Both protein and fiber are macronutrients. 

Most people think about protein coming from meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy products and fiber coming from fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  

Dreaming of spring? Beat the winter blues by planting native seeds.

Late fall and early winter are the perfect times to sow many native species, which benefit pollinators, wildlife, soil and water quality — all while being low-maintenance in your garden.

Right now, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel throughout November. The discount applies to the first $500 for all new orders, up to a $100 discount. 

One of the most underappreciated parts of some of the foods we eat is fiber. Fiber can:

• Make us feel more full and satisfied.

• Help with digestion and gut health.

• Reduce "bad" cholesterol 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Extension office is hosting a workshop to teach people about the preservation of heirloom seeds.

Heirloom seeds help to ensure future generations maintain a reliable food supply, support financial self-reliance, preserve agricultural heritage and reflect cultural traditions. 

There are many places and things that you can bank on in our world. You can call bank on a basketball court or pool table. You can carve a bank on a skateboard. You can donate food to a food bank or blood to a blood bank. You can upload data to a data bank that runs on multiple levels of memory banks. You can climb down the riverbank to take a dip.

Question: I have been having issues with constipation and my doctor told me to get more fiber in my diet.  What foods have fiber and how much should I get? 

Learn how to grow plants from seed with a program slated for 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center in Waynesville.