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.
Because of their high fiber content, eating too many chia seeds may cause constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. Chia seeds may also cause flare-ups with inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease. Potential Choking Hazard. Dry chia seeds absorb water, which causes them to swell up and become gelatinous.
04/6Allergies
Chia seeds hail from the mint family, so in case you are allergic to mint or related foods. Make sure you avoid the intake of chia seeds as it may lead to allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, itching of the lips and tongue.
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.
Whole chia seeds can sometimes get stuck in the intestinal lining, causing discomfort and bloating, although in theory they are cleansing the system and getting into every nook & cranny this also can be uncomfortable whilst it occurs.
The truth is – they can. Chia Seeds absorb 15-20 times their weight in water. When chia seeds move through the gut, they draw water from the intestine area, like a sponge. These seeds expand in your stomach, which leads to bloating.
You may lose weight.
For example, high protein intake has been shown to decrease appetite as well as obsessive thoughts about food. So, regular consumption of chia seeds, in addition to other protein-rich, plant-based sources, could curb your appetite and may lead to weight loss.
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.
Chia seeds are a great source of fibre. 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.
Drinking chia seed water in the morning can help with digestion and bowel movement. Excellent for protein consumption, heart health, bone health, blood sugar regulation, and digestion.
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.
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.
Chia Seeds:
Traditionally, researchers believed that small particles like nuts and seeds may increase the likelihood of developing Diverticulitis by getting trapped in the pockets of the small intestine. Research has proven this theory wrong.
Chia seeds act as a blood thinner. This leads to lowered blood pressure and may result in bleeding. Blood sugar control drugs overstimulation. On their own, chia seeds can help maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Hence, the formation of stones is avoided due to a good intake of calcium. Have a diet abundant in calcium. Calcium-rich foods include Greek yoghurt, beans, lentils, almonds, poppy seeds, sesame, celery, and chia seeds, which you can add to your regular diet to prevent kidney stones.
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.
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.
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.
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 are demulcents, and help to build and repair the mucosal layer in your gut. We need this gel-like layer in the gut for immune defense — to support a diverse community of intestinal microbes, to prevent leaky gut, to quell inflammation, and for normal digestion/elimination.
The quickest recipe is to just add a tablespoon of chia seeds to 8 to 10 ounces of water or juice. You can drink it right away, but letting it sit for about 10 minutes will let the seeds start to gel.
7) Nuts & Seeds
Adding almonds, flaxseeds, and chia seeds to your diet may increase the strength of the LES and prevent stomach acid from leaking into the esophagus.
All that fiber in chia seeds is mostly insoluble fiber, which doesn't dissolve in fluids. Instead, it absorbs fluids and helps create bulky, soft stool. So yes, chia seeds have the right kind of fiber to loosen your poop and give you some constipation relief.
“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.”