The word chia is derived from the Nahuatl word chian, meaning oily. It is an annual herb growing up to 1.75 metres tall. Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, since the seeds yield 25-30% extractable oil, including linolenic acid (ALA Chia seeds are a rich source (>20% of the Daily value, DV)) of the B vitamins thiamine and niacin, and are a rich source of the dietary minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. Chia seeds are also a good source (10-19% DV) of the B vitamins riboflavin and folate.