Chia seeds are highly nutritious, boast a long list of health benefits and can be a healthy dietary addition for most. However, moderation is key, as eating too many may cause side effects. To prevent this, start with 1 ounce (28 grams) daily and assess your tolerance before slowly increasing your intake.
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.
A common dosage recommendation is 0.7 ounces (20 grams or about 1.5 tablespoons) of chia seeds twice per day. Remember to drink plenty of water to prevent any digestive side effects. Chia seeds are easy to prepare and often used as an egg substitute and added to oatmeal or smoothies.
Chia seeds may provide several benefits as part of a healthy diet. There is no RDA for chia seeds. Still, they can be safely eaten in amounts of 50 grams daily, which is about five tablespoons.
Medicines: Avoid taking chia seeds if you are taking medications like anticoagulants and antiplatelets (prevent blood clots), anti-hypertensive (treats high blood pressure), anti-cancer, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, as chia seeds might interact with these medicines.
Soak the seeds in almond milk or water (1/4 cup seeds to 1 cup liquid) until they take on a chewy texture reminiscent of tapioca pudding, about 20 minutes. Soaked chia seeds can be refrigerated for up to 5 days, so you can make a big batch at the start of the week.
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.
Since they contain a lot of insoluble fiber — the kind that helps bulk up your stool while still keeping it soft — chia seeds can help get things moving in your gut. Hence, the current trend of drinking chia seed water to help promote a bowel movement.
The rule of thumb is: 15 grams of chia seeds per day are fine and healthy. It should not be more than this, otherwise the unpleasant side effects of chia seeds can occur. With this balanced amount of chia seeds, the gastrointestinal tract is not overburdened, but supported.
Chia seeds serving size
If you can begin adding chia seeds to your diet, it's best to adhere to the recommended serving size. The serving size for adults is 15grams (2 tablespoons) daily. For children and teens ages 5 to 18 years the recommended amount is 1.4 to 4.3 grams daily.
There are no hard-and-fast guidelines on how many chia seeds you should eat daily. But some doctors and institutions offer reasonable recommendations, such as Columbia University, which suggests eating 20 g (or a bit under 2 tbsp) of chia twice per day.
Can you eat chia seeds without soaking them first? Yes, as it won't hurt to eat them straight, but if you soak them, then you “sprout” them, which releases the enzyme inhibitors that are used to protect the seed.
Chia seeds can absorb up to 10X their weight in water, and so it is not recommended to eat a large quantity of them dry. Eating a tablespoon or more of chia seeds dry from a spoon can cause them to swell in your esophagus, which may cause a blockage.
Chia seeds are packed with essential omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, protein, antioxidants, and minerals such as calcium. These nutrients give it a range of benefits, such as boosting weight loss to controlling blood sugar levels. They also support bone and tooth health, boost metabolism, and reduce inflammation.
Studies have shown that chia seeds consumption reduces visceral adipose tissues, also known as belly fat.
Dry chia seeds can also be added whole or ground to smoothies and juices, mixed into yogurt and oatmeal, or sprinkled on top of a salad. If you're adding the seeds to a drink or a "wet" dish like porridge, they'll swell up slightly while you eat but retain a slight crunch.
“Chia and flax seeds should be stored in the fridge to extend their life and to prevent their volatile oils from becoming rancid or from oxidizing.”
Chia seeds may help you sleep
Chia seeds are tiny bundles of tryptophan, according to sharecare.com, and that amino acid raises melatonin and serotonin levels. These are the hormones that support stable sleep. (Doing this one thing every night might help you sleep, too!)
Because they quickly swell after absorbing liquid, it is advised to eat chia seeds that have already been soaked in liquid or are served with a moist food, such as oatmeal or yogurt. Do not eat dry chia seeds by themselves.
Why aren't my chia seeds gelling? Time: Gelling chia seeds takes time! Recipes like chia pudding are best when chia sits in liquid for a few hours, or even overnight. If you want your chia seeds to have that gel-like consistency, they need to sit for a minimum of 20 minutes to absorb the liquid.
“Just combine 1 tablespoon [tbsp] of chia seeds with a glass of water (optional: add lime) and drink 30 minutes before meals,” she says, in addition to explaining they increase feelings of fullness.
However, if you eat dry chia seeds, without giving them any liquid to absorb before ingesting them, they'll absorb the water within your system and potentially cause a blockage.
Water daily: The drought-tolerant, mucilaginous seeds of the chia plant benefit from daily light watering until the sprouts establish roots. Once they have reached the height of alfalfa sprouts or microgreens, natural rainfall should be sufficient. 5.
Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber, which can improve heart health, reduce cholesterol levels and promote intestinal health. Fiber takes longer to digest and makes you feel satisfied longer, which is how it can help with weight loss and decrease your risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.