Maylin Rodriguez-Paez, RN

Once a staple of the Aztec diet, chia seeds fell out of favor when the Spanish conquistadors took over the “New World.” Since then, chia seeds have seemingly made a comeback.

First, they surfaced in the form of the bizarre “Chia Pet,” but now they’re being hailed as a formidable health food. Interesting progression, isn’t it?

These days, just about every “health foodie” out there has taken a liking to these seeds, making them a staple in their own diet.

But in the end, are they really worth all of the hype? Let’s take a look.

Below, we’ll discuss the known health benefits of chia seeds so that you can draw your own conclusion.

Chia is a Good Source of Omega-3s

There’s a decent chance you’re eating chia seeds because you heard they’re a good source of omega-3 fats. If so, you’re on the right track. They’re unquestionably good for that reason!

Chia seeds are one of the richest sources of omega-3s on the planet, with about 60% of their oils coming from alpha-linolenic acid¹ (ALA), a type of omega-3 found in plants. Chia seeds don’t contain DHA or EPA, the omega-3 fats found in fish and algal oils.

You don’t have to grind the chia seeds before eating them. Unlike flaxseeds, you can eat them whole and still absorb their nutrients. Also, the fats in chia seeds don’t easily oxidize, making them an ideal food to store all year around.

The omega-3s in chia seeds are highly absorbable. In one study, 25 grams of chia seeds taken for 7 weeks increased blood levels of ALA significantly after one week, and with 138% by the end of the study period².

Chia Seeds are Nutrient Dense

Apart from being a good source of omega-3s, chia seeds are also extremely nutrient dense. They’re a great source of calcium, protein, manganese, and fiber.

A serving contains about 11 grams of fiber, which satisfies close to 40% of your daily needs.³ They also contain valuable antioxidants⁴ including the following:

• Chlorogenic acid
• Flavonols
• Quercetin
• Caffeic acid

Do Chia Seeds Satisfy Your Appetite?

Chia seeds have a great capacity to hold water.⁵ If you put them in a glass of water, the fiber in the seeds expand and form a viscous gel after several minutes. This could potentially happen in your stomach, helping you to feel full.

Overall, studies show fiber helps to satiate one’s appetite.⁶ This is due to their ability to expand in the stomach, signaling to the brain that there’s little room left for food.

All of us could use a little more fiber in our diets. Don’t you think?

Chia is Heart Healthy and Helps Maintain Blood Sugar Levels

Chia seeds may one day be called a heart healthy food. In animal studies, they’ve been shown to reduce heart inflammation⁷ and prevent the onset of dyslipidemia,⁸ the condition of having abnormal amounts of fat in the blood.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, 12 weeks of ingestion lead to positive changes in the following factors associated with heart disease⁹:

• Systolic blood pressure
• C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation)
• Fibrinogen ( a blood coagulation marker)
• HBA1C (a test that measures blood glucose control over several months) 

Not bad for a tiny little seed!

Recipe: Pomegranate Lime Chia Fresca

Finally, we’ve included a recipe for you to try. This is a spin-off of a traditional drink called “chia fresca” that we think you'll love!

Chia Fresca:

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 1/2 c. water
• 3/4 c. pomegranate juice
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Instructions:

Place chia seeds in a glass. Pour water, pomegranate juice, and lime juice over seeds. Let sit for 15 minutes. Whisk to break up any clumps of seeds, then serve and enjoy!

The Bottom line

Currently, there really isn’t much research on the health benefits of chia seeds. In fact, only a handful of studies have been conducted on animals and humans.

This was quite surprising, since chia seeds have quickly become a veritable “holy grail” for health enthusiasts. But, overall we’re pretty sure that future studies will help substantiate their benefits.

So, are chia seeds worth the hype? We’re not overly excited yet, but for now they seem worth the eat.

References:

1. Available at: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2012/171956/. Accessed March 6^th, 2013.
2. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2012 Jun;67(2):105-10.
3. Available at: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3061/2. Accessed March 6^th, 2013.
4. Available at: http://www.hevoise.com.br/media/files/chia.pdf. Accessed March 6^th, 2013.
5. Food Sci Technol Int. 2010 Feb;16(1):89-96.
6. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Sep;19(7):498-503.
7. J Nutr Biochem. 2012 Feb;23(2):153-62.
8. Br J Nutr. 2009 Jan;101(1):41-50.
9. Diabetes Care. 2007 Nov;30(11):2804-10. Epub 2007 Aug 8.