Has anyone ever heard of eating chia seeds? Yes...like Chia Pet seeds. I have a coworker who started eating them a couple months ago and claims that he eats them because they are an energy booster. I thought it was weird (and definitely gross) and just kind of forgot about it. Well today at lunch he was eating them again and we were asking him questions about them (taste, texture, serving size, etc.) and he mentioned that they are beneficial for people with diabetes. That got me interested! I googled it and found a lot of information (most of it I haven't been able to read yet). Here's a link to a site that describes whey they are beneficial to people with diabetes:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html
It is kind of a long article and I haven't read the whole thing, but here is one reason why I think it might help:
"The gel that is formed in the stomach creates a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar."
The gel that it is talking about is made by mixing the seeds with water and letting them sit for 30 minutes.
It seems like an interesting concept, and besides the fact that it claims to slow carb digestion, chia seeds also have a wide range of other health benefits. Has anybody heard of this? Do you think it's worth a try?
They have absolutely no flavor and absorb a lot of water (which makes your tummy feel fuller for longer). They are loaded with fiber and omega-3s. Because of the slow digestion of them, they work similarly to foods with fat and protein. They will slow down the rise and spike in blood sugars, potentially helping with better control. The health benefits are similar to those of flaxseed, except you can consume much less chia seeds in a day and still get the same effects.
You don't have to make a gel with them if you don't want (it's kinda gross looking). You can just stir them into soft foods like yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce or even when you're baking bread, muffins, cakes, etc. Like I said, they have no flavor so it won't alter the way anything tastes - it will, however, alter texture because they are seeds.
If you choose to take chia seeds (usually 1 scoop or 2 tbsp a day), it's important to remember to drink plenty of water as well. They also have quite a bit of fiber in them, so you may want to introduce them slowly into your diet to avoid having some tummy issues (gas, bloating, lotsa pooping...). Even if the chia seeds don't help you with your blood sugars, they have multiple other health effects you will benefit from. Chia seeds even have calcium in them, which flaxseed doesn't.
Did that answer your question? I <3 chia seeds :D I sell quite a bit of them at work. People seem to really love them!
Thanks! I figured they would be comparable to fatty/high protein foods. I thought it was SO WEIRD at first, but now that I am reading and learning about the benefits, I just might try them! I was told that amazon.com was the cheapest place to get them (3lb. bag for $15). Do you know if I can get them cheaper any place else?
3lb for $15 is pretty damn cheap! I'm not sure where you live, but at my work we have one can (about 15 oz) for $9.99. You're definitely getting a deal over Amazon (don't tell my work I just told you that!) ;o) You can price compare at various on-line retailers and stores in your area before you purchase it, just to double check. They're fairly shelf stable, so if you find a good price you can stock up for a bit.
Ok! Thanks for your help! I think I'm going to start out with a smaller package just in case I don't like them! With all of those great health benefits though, I might just suck it up and eat them, even if they are gross!
Erica: I would love to send you a sample of our chia seeds (www.runningfood.com). Our seeds are micro-milled (tm). Micro-Milling™ is a very unique and proprietary milling process that doesn’t apply any crushing pressure or heat that could degrade the nutritional value of the chia. The worst thing about the other milling processes of chia is that it ruins the seed. It expels the oil out of the natural structure of the seed and exacerbates oxidation, reduces shelf life, degrades the nutritional value and can create rancidity. Our Chia has been Micro-Milled™ by expert technicians that Micro-Mill the seed so that it precisely unlocks the incredible nutrition within the husk of the seed. It is the result of 6 years of research, over a half a million dollars in investment, trial and error with seed from farms around the world, that has created Micro-Milling™. We have processed seed from all over the world and our experience and knowledge is the most comprehensive in the industry. I love them and eat 2 tbs daily (sometimes more). I cook with it and eat the seeds raw. The milled chia is also a great thickener for soups and stews! Send me an email at amy@natures-chemistry and I would be happy to get you some samples!
This made me seriously LOL. That sounds so weird, because aren't Chia seeds really little? I've never had a Chia, but this is definitely interesting. I clicked on it because I didn't believe what you were saying. :D :D
I didn't think it was possible either, but it is amazing to compare our chia to others "ground" chia which disperses the important oils throughout, causing a product that is more probable to become rancid!