Chia seeds led Olivier Cloutier to his first-place award at the Hydro-Quebec Science Expo in mid-April. This week he’s competing in Canada’s national science fair, and in July he will attend the science fair in Belgium.
It all began when his mother brought home some chia seeds, touting their nutritional value and health benefits. The 18-year-old from Rimouski, Quebec decided to investigate.
He analyzed the composition and molecular structure of chia seeds. And being a well-rounded scientist, he then explored the history of the chia seed and its role in Aztec and Mayan cultures more than 5,000 years ago.
“I found that my mom was right and that chia seeds have not only some amazing nutritional value, but there was a special type of molecule in chia seeds that can be extracted and tested to treat cancer,” Cloutier said.
Cloutier discovered certain extracts from chia seeds have cancer-fighting characteristics, as in they can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and can enhance cell-death, particularly in the case of chemo-resistant colon cancer cells called HCT116.
Clouriter’s Hydro-Quebec award also provides free-tuition at any Quebec univesity he may want to attend.
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