Chia seeds are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the health food scene. And if you’re someone who makes an effort to eat healthier, you may have dabbled in a chia seed recipe or two. These tiny black seeds are tasteless — and undergo a really cool gelatinous transformation when wet — so they’re easy enough to incorporate into your diet. But do you have any idea why you should actually be doing so?

As much as we like chia seed pudding, we wondered if chia was really worth all the hype so we investigated — and what we found was a resounding yes. If you’re looking to add more good-for-you foods into your diet, chia is a great ingredient to incorporate. Here are the five main reasons why: