It's no wonder the power of chia seeds as a kind of runner's "food of the gods" is a secret. It's mostly used (and has been for hundreds of years) by the Tarahumara, a tribe of barefoot long-distance runners who live in a series of nearly inaccessible deep canyons in Mexico.

The Tarahumara might not be known by the general public, but among barefoot runners they are legendary: an entire tribe of barefoot runners, from children to 90 year olds, who often run hundreds of miles without rest, from sunup to sundown. The women of the tribe are long distance barefoot runners too, and hold their own races in the canyons. It seems like a story out of an adventure book; but it's true. And chia seeds are the fuel of choice for these incredible barefoot runners.

Chia seeds almost seem too good to be true as well. A little smaller than sesame seeds, dark grey in color, chia seeds have been shown to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have no gluten and only trace levels of sodium. They are also a great source of amino acids and antioxidants. So what's the drawback?

Well, for some, it might be the form that most long distance runners take them in: a drink that can only be described as a liquid resembling frogs eggs. Once you put the chia seeds in water, each one forms a little "pillow" of gelatin-like substance around it, so the dark seeds themselves float suspended in the thick liquid. There is no real taste to chia seeds; some put a squirt of lime and sugar in their chia drink to give it some flavor.

Personally I prefer not using lime or sugar, because I have found that it can cause indigestion when running more than 10 miles at a stretch. But that is my preference. I like to make up a Nalgene bottle full of chia seeds mixture, then drink it before and during my barefoot runs.

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I first read about chia seeds in Christopher McDougall's book, "Born To Run," but I soon changed my mind. I had been using the usual supplemental bars and sugar-based drinks to keep my energy up while on my long barefoot runs, but after trying chia seeds just once I decided it would be my running drink of choice.

Chia seeds not only made me feel stronger and more energetic, the feeling they gave me lasted for hours, instead of getting a quick burst of energy which quickly faded (like sugar based energy foods). Plus there's the added benefit of knowing you aren't putting tons of sugars and artificial colorings into your body when you consume it. It makes you actually feel good. It made me feel like a god.

"Feeling like a god" is one of the things people often have said about using chia seeds, and as history shows, maybe they're not far off. The thousand-year-old plant was grown by the Aztecs in pre-Columbian times, and chia seeds were considered so valuable they were presented like gold to Aztec rulers and priests as a tribute.

If you are a barefoot runner or would like to start barefoot running I highly suggest you look into using chia seeds as a part of your running routine. You can find them in most health or natural food stores, or if your local grocery has a diet or health section you may find them there. In any case, just be sure to read up on how to prepare the drink properly before you mix it up, and you'll be ready to start drinking "the food of the gods!"