So...what are chia seeds and why is everyone so obsessed with them? We ask the experts.

Chia seeds.

You’ve seen them in those cute little pudding pods at your local supermarket and sprinkled over glorious, colourful acai bowls on your Instagram feed.

You’ve probably heard your fitspo friends talk about them and for some reason there’s a packet of them lurking in the back of your pantry (your housemate went through a phase).

They’re quite literally everywhere – not just when you accidentally knock over the packet when scrounging around for spaghetti in the cupboard.

With the above considered, we’re slightly embarrassed to ask this question but, erm, what actually…are chia seeds? And how exactly are they good for you?

Well, so we can all be brimming with expert nutrition knowledge at our next brunch date with that friend who’s always in active wear, we approached a dietitian and naturopath to answer all our chia-related questions.

Tanya Kumar, accredited practising dietitian at TherapyCare, clued us in on just where these tiny little seeds came from.

What are chia seeds?

Surprisingly, the chia plant comes from the mint family.

“Chia is a flowering plant in the mint family, native to Central America,” Tanya explained.

“The common name “chia,” derived from a word meaning “oily,” was given by the Aztecs and inhabitants of pre-Columbian South and Central America. They come in black and white varieties — both of which are now produced in Australia.”

What is the nutritional value of chia seeds?

“They are a rich source of plant-based Omega 3 fats, high in fibre and minerals, and packed with antioxidants,” says Tanya.

“Two tablespoons of chia seeds contains about 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fibre, 7 grams of unsaturated fat, 18 per cent RDA for calcium, and trace minerals including zinc and copper.

“Chia seeds are a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids that cannot be made by the body. This is what makes them stand out from other seeds.”

Woah – and they’re so tiny!

Do they have health benefits?

Like anything of the health-food variety, Tanya says chia seeds in a balanced diet of someone with a healthy exercise regime can assist with disease prevention.

"Chia seeds do not act alone to benefit human health, but may contribute to disease prevention when incorporated into a balanced meal and other healthy lifestyle behaviours including regular exercise.

"I’m a firm advocate for holistic health," she added.

"Chia seeds would be part of my recommendation to improve health, but in order to achieve real health benefits, you need to be willing to commit to eating the right foods consistently and exercising regularly."

Got it.

So...how do we eat them?

"The taste of these seeds is bland which means you have a lot of room to get creative!," says Tanya.

"The bland taste also makes it easy to sneak them into anything you like without affecting the taste. This is particularly useful if fussy eaters are in your care."

Chia seeds can even be used as an egg replacement for your vegan friends, Tanya says.

Here are some great ways to incorporate them into your diet:

Chia Gel: Chia seeds absorb water quickly (up to 10 times their weight in liquid). Place 2Tbsp seeds in 1/2 cup liquid stir well, and cover. Allow to sit for about 15-20 minutes until the texture changes to a soft gelatin. Store in refrigerator for up to one week. Use this gel for smoothies, soups or gravies.

Chia Pudding (makes a nutritious breakfast or healthy dessert): Mix ¼ cup of seeds with one cup of liquid such as milk (almond, soy, or dairy). If you’re looking for a little more flavour, add a dash of vanilla extract. After whisking well in 30 second increments (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off) over five minutes, leave the mixture in the fridge overnight to set. Add nuts, fresh fruit, coconut flakes and cinnamon the next morning before serving.

Chia Egg (great egg-alternative for those wanting to bake a vegan dish): Simply add 1 Tbsp chia + 2.5 Tbsp of water, whisk briefly and and leave to rest for five minutes. Use this instead of eggs to make your baked products egg free.

Topping: Simply sprinkle chia seeds over, or mix them into your meal. They makes great extras on breakfast cereals, yoghurt, bread, salads, soups and smoothies.

So while Tanya has given us the low-down on exactly why chia seeds are so popular, and how we can cook with them ourselves (thank you!), Sydney naturopath Victoria O'Sullivan adds that they may not be for everyone.

She warned that people with auto-immune conditions may have adverse reactions to chia seeds.

But for those who don't have any issues eating chia seeds - Victoria seconded that they are a rich source of minerals like calcium, magnesium and maganese, and are high in essential fatty acids.

She added they can also have benefits to your digestive system.