Facts and Fantasies About Chia Seeds

By : | Comments Off on Facts and Fantasies About Chia Seeds | On : April 24, 2015 | Category : Caveat Emptor, Diet, General Information, Health Benefits, Marketing

Bowl of chia seeds

Want to lose weight, boost your energy level, and be a stud or goddess in bed?

Add miracle chia seeds to your daily diet.

Bowl of chia seeds

That was a recent claim by  a “nutrition expert.” Just add a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie or oatmeal and you can expect miracles.

Chia seeds are also thought to make you feel fuller and therefore help you lose weight by eating less. One tablespoon contains 4 to 5 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein and 60 calories.

Bowl of chia seeds

Feel Fuller Claim Doesn’t Hold Up

In one study where 76 people were told to add chia seeds for breakfast and dinner for 12 weeks, no one lost any weight.  Almost anyone can lose some weight in 3 months. Not losing any weight in 3 months is pretty conclusive that chia seeds are not a secret weight loss miracle.

Add Chia to Everything!

Adding chia seeds to your diet adds protein and fiber. But it is not as easy as the nutritionist claimed. She simple said to add a tablespoon of chia seeds to smoothies, oatmeal, and other foods.

She did not mention soaking chia seeds before adding them to a smoothie. If you add chia seeds to drinks like smoothies without soaking, you’ve have a gritty smoothie with lots of little chia seeds that could play havoc if you wear dentures.

Even the supplier recommends soaking. Your quick morning smoothie will take 5 to 10 minutes longer when you add chia seeds.

Chia Seeds

 

This blueberry smoothie made with un-soaked seeds was like drinking a smoothie with sand in it.

Chia Seeds-3

 

Add 1 tablespoon to oatmeal? Here’s a serving of oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of chia seeds. Image what it would look like with 3 times as many chia seeds? Chia seeds adds a gelatin like consistency (see photo above about chia seeds producing a “nutritious gel.” If you like jellied oatmeal, pack in the chia seeds.

Quick cooking oatmeal with chia seeds.

 

If you want, or need, to add fiber and protein to your diet and like the taste and texture of chia seeds, add them to salad dressings, smoothies (soaking first), soups, muffins, and yogurt.

You can try adding them to baked goods without soaking, but keep in mind they will absorb moisture. If you soak them, adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe. It will take some experimenting to obtain the right taste and texture.

Chia seeds add fiber and protein and may make you feel fuller longer, just ignore claims you’ll loss weight.