Chia seeds are an excellent source of vitamins of B complex, especially Thiamine (vitamin B1), Niacin (vitamin B3), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and Cobalamin (vitamin B12).
Lastly, the vitamins that encourage healthy nails and hair such as vitamin B2, vitamin B12, niacin, and thiamin can also be found in chia seeds. They may not offer us every single vitamin and mineral our body needs but they sure do have quite a lot to offer.
Fortified cereals such as bran and whole wheat oats are high in vitamin B12 as well as folate, iron, and vitamin A. regular intake fortified cereals helps to increase vitamin B12 levels in your body.
Clams. Other body benefits: Not only do clams have the highest concentration of vitamin B12 of any food, they're also filled with potassium.
Studies also confirmed the presence of some vitamins, mainly vitamin B1 (0.6 mg/100 g), vitamin B2 (0.2 mg/100 g) and niacin (8.8 mg/100 g) [33,35]. Chia seeds are also a rich source of particularly interesting groups of phytocompounds characterised by high biological activity [36,37].
Chia seed consumption may offer health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and improving digestive health. However, certain individuals may experience side effects if they eat large quantities of chia seeds, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure, and allergies.
There are certain foods that also need a cut-down in case of vitamin B12 deficiency. “Some foods and drinks can interfere with vitamin B complex intake like alcohol, caffeine and processed foods, etc should be avoided completely,” Shah added.
If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
Methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is the most bio-available type of Vitamin B12 which means the body absorbs it more easily. Naturally occurring, it is found in animal-based foods such as meat, fish, milk and eggs so Methylcobalamin B12 is readily available in many people's daily diets.
Milk and milk products are good sources of vitamin B12. Many ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin B12. Fish and red meat are excellent sources of vitamin B12. Poultry and eggs also contain vitamin B12.
Oatmeal: Fortified breakfast cereals are a good source of vitamin B12, according to Femina news. Oatmeal, cornflakes, buttermilk, and other dairy products are high in vitamin B12. Animal Products: According to Healthline, vitamin B12 is abundant in animal products such as meat, eggs, and so on.
Almonds are a great source of plant-based protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Although they do have Vitamin B 12, they are not rich in it, but you can include other foods rich in vitamin B12 to meet your daily requirements.
If you're taking medication for hypertension or diabetes, talk to your doctor before adding chia seeds to your diet, as they may affect your blood pressure and blood sugar. In addition, if you have preexisting GI issues, you may also want to use caution when adding fiber-rich foods, like chia seeds, into your diet.
However, dry fruits like almonds and peanuts have higher levels of vitamin B12. Other dry fruits do contain vitamin B12, but only in trace amounts, so they don't contribute much to your daily intake.
Whole chia seeds can support digestive health, he explained, but the external fiber can shield other nutrients from being released and absorbed.
Conditions affecting the stomach
Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B12. For example, a gastrectomy, a surgical procedure where part of your stomach is removed, increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency.
How to raise your B12 levels fast. The most common way to treat B12 deficiencies is by adjusting your diet. If this is unsuccessful, vitamin supplements may be recommended. If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.
In the stomach, hydrochloric acid and enzymes unbind vitamin B12 into its free form. From there, vitamin B12 combines with a protein called intrinsic factor so that it can be absorbed further down in the small intestine. Supplements and fortified foods contain B12 in its free form, so they may be more easily absorbed.
(B) It is hypothesized that exposure to excess folic acid (via supplements and fortified foods) causes exacerbation of vitamin B-12 deficiency by binding to folic acid receptors (FR; red triangles) in the bone marrow and the renal proximal tubule cells.
Coffee also seems to impact on the metabolism of some B vitamins like thiamine. Vitamin B12, though, looks like being a possible exception – indeed, caffeine's stimulation of stomach acid production may actually assist, instead of compromise, your body's B12 absorption.
Consuming chia seeds with water in the morning helps in giving your digestive system a boost and improves bowel movement. Healthy digestion is a prerequisite to weight loss. The best time to eat chia seeds is when you wake up. Consumption of chia seeds aids in a feeling of fullness and thus a reduced calorie intake.
Do you HAVE to soak chia seeds all the time? No, you don't. If you are serving more than a sprinkle or not mixing it through food, then yes, it is probably a very good idea to soak them so they are easy to swallow. Anything that can stick together and become claggy or hard to swallow should be avoided.