The exceptional thing about chia is not only its nutritional content, but the unique absorbability of those properties, which include omegas, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, antioxidants and calcium. Unlike other seeds, the shell around the chia seed is completely penetrated in the digestive system, opening it up for absorption. To get all the nutrients from, say a flax seed, you must crack or grind it to break that protective hard layer guarding its center. But watch, as chia seeds sit in a glass of water, and you will see it change before your eyes.