Ch-Ch-Ch Chia!
October 29, 2009
What do you picture in your mind (or maybe on your coffee table) when you hear that? A leafy green pet? A bust of George Washington with green hair? Or are you up on the best source of Omega 3 fatty acids and a food that’s high in antioxidants and calcium? Stay tuned and I’ll give you a rundown of my experiences with chia seed.
You can Google it and find all sorts of information so I’m not going to give you a research paper. My intention is to tell you what I know about it firsthand.
I’d bought some seed years ago and had no idea how to use it. It eventually got bugs in it and I threw it away. Then I bought some more a couple of years later. It was a tiny amount I got at the organic market—tiny because it was so horribly expensive. I still didn’t know what to do with it and I don’t even know where it is. It’s been so long, even with its long shelf-life, it’s probably gone bad. Up pops Shari with the news that she bought 50 lubs of the stuff. Well, if it was that good, I’d have to try it again. I was on Amazon checking on my subscription for agave nectar when the picture of a packet of chia seed caught my eye. Compared to what I’d paid before, it seemed to be a very reasonable price so I ordered it on a subscription basis. The beauty of that is it comes with free shipping, a cheaper price, and I can opt out any time.
It wasn’t long at all until the package arrived. I emailed Shari for ideas and told her I’d read that it needed to be soaked in purified water at a 9:1 ratio. She emailed back that that sounded “whack”. She likes to mix it to a consistency of bread pudding. I might add here that she had once commented it reminded her of tapioca. That sounded good to me because I always loved “frog eggs”. She didn’t have time to send me any recipes so I was pretty much on my own for my first venture into Chia-dom.
There was some information, nutritional and otherwise, on the package.
When the package is empty, I’ll try to remember to scan it so the back can be read but it would be hard to make it legible in a picture.
The seeds themselves look like little bugs but, up close and enlarged, they resemble tiny beans.
I followed the instructions I’d read on the WWW except I used an 8:1 ratio. As I slowly added the seed, I whisked the water briskly with a fork. One thing you definitely don’t want is a clump of seed. Each seed should be surrounded by water.
After five minutes of sitting, I stirred it again. Another 10 minutes and here’s what it looked like. See the gel that has formed? That’s supposed to be good for mixing with food for diabetics because it coats the food and slows the absorption of sugars. At least that’s what I read. I can’t vouch for it since I’m not a diabetic.
I’ve tried it in my tomato/mango soup two different ways. With this batch, I added the seed directly to the already blended soup using the lowest speed so it simply stirred it in and didn’t break it up.
I also tried it with the seed mixed with purified water. I really couldn’t tell the difference between the two and adding it directly is easier. Oh! I did find out why it’s stressed that purified water should be used. Chia seed doesn’t have any taste of its own and if it picks up an “off” taste from water, that will be transferred to the food it’s mixed with.
I sprinkled some on my salad yesterday, too, and it was okay but I like it in the soup better.
There are a few people at work who aren’t afraid to try new things. I took three of them tablespoon samples. One of them still hasn’t tried it, another mixed it with a container of yogurt and pronounced it “cool” and the third sprinkled some on her salad and cottage cheese. I had her put a pinch in the liquid part of the cottage cheese and it wasn’t long until it looked like it had curds in it, too. She was fascinated.
Some of my experiments turned out better than others. Today, I decided I would use it to extend my Matt’s Dip. I love to put it on my salad but I get overly enthusiastic with it and use too much. I figured with the chia seed, I’d eat less of the dip and get more nutrition at the same time. I mixed the seed with water like I did before and blended the ingredients for the dip/dressing. It was thicker than I had thought it would be and I had meant to make it runnier so the chia seed would thicken it. I went ahead with the next step. I put about a cup of the chia mixture in with the dip and ran the blender on low until it was stirred in and lo! it made it thin and runny! I don’t know how much I put on my salad because it kept running off and sinking to the bottom. I don’t know if the lemon caused it or what but I won’t try that again. Before I put the rest away, I blended in some of the plain seed and it was thickening so maybe it wasn’t the lemon.
There are sites out there that will tell you that chia seed is the best food on the planet and while that may be true, most say there are absolutely no side effects. However, if you do a search on chia seed side effects or chia seed dangers, you will find that there are some caveats. One is that it is high in B-17. That’s good but if someone is taking B-17, they can overdose if they add too much chia. Then, large quantities of chia seed can cause a drop in blood pressure. People on anti-coagulant therapy should avoid them because they can increase the risk of bleeding. I also read that heart patients shouldn’t eat them because they can be addictive. Now, that is puzzling to me. If they are addictive, wouldn’t they be addictive for anyone and not just heart patients?
Many recipes have them mixed with fruit but I’m not so sure that’s a good combination. Fat and protein shouldn’t be mixed with fruit and chia seed has both. I’ll have to think on that and do some more reading before I put them in my smoothies. In the meantime, they make a killer cup o’ soup!
Posted in Tips for Raw Foodists
on 
on 
content rss
October 30th, 2009 at 8:52 am
hi , i love this blog,i have a question, i want to know about the effect of chia seeds on constipation or hard stools.You are doing good research so I thought may be you can help me .Thank you
October 30th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’m so glad you posted this because I had recently read something where a guy used chia seeds to thicken up his marinara sauce because he didn’t have, or didn’t want to use, sun-dried tomatoes. So THAT’S how it works, huh? And it tastes good?
October 30th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Wow, those look so cool! I will have to try them sometime. It is great to find more cool raw foods! Thanks for the post.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
lakshmi, from what I read, it helps with constipation. Can’t say for myself because I don’t have that problem. If you try it and it works, leave me another comment.
Nanna, the chia seeds don’t have any taste at all so the taste your food has already is the taste you get. Some people say they enhance the flavor. I haven’t noticed that but maybe it’s the way the others incorporate it.
Sophie, you’re welcome!
October 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
If you use coconut milk instead of water it makes a nice chia coconut pudding!
October 31st, 2009 at 6:36 am
I’ll bet that would be tasty. Are you talking about milk from a mature coconut or water from a young one? I know Shari uses coconut water but I haven’t had a young coconut in the house for months and months. They aren’t readily available here.
December 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I am 72 and recently put on blood pressure medication along with beta blockers for heart arrhythmia. I started taking the chia, possibly too much, and not only did my blood pressure drop, but my energy improvement was amazing. I thought I found the secret of youth, but my heart arrhytmia is more frequent now and I’m concerned it’s the seeds. I have giving up them up because of the positive qualities they have. I ‘m going to stop for a few days and see if they are the cause.
December 24th, 2009 at 10:58 am
That’s interesting, Eva. Let me know how it goes.
July 19th, 2010 at 9:39 am
I have to tell everyone. I am a tennis coach.. I had a mother who was giving this as a supplement to her son every morning. For months and months this boy would come to practice and be vomiting and ill. She was so convinced it couldn’t be this little seed making her son sick. Until I found information on its side effect and number of testimonials of other who were becoming very ill ingesting this. Finally she stopped giving him the seeds and he hasn’t been sick since. Chia seeds can make some people very very ill and have dangerous side effects for people with low blood pressure. IF you want to see how sick they can make you… just consume 5 or six table spoons and drink a large glass of water. They can absorb up to 14 times their weight in water. I hope no one else become ill. Google chia seed side effects. Almost all the information on Chia is by sellers but there are a number sites that show the known side effects as well as benefits. I hope that no one else becomes as ill as my student.
July 19th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Thanks for your concern. I’m sure there are many people who are allergic to chia and shouldn’t eat it under any circumstances. “One man’s food is another man’s poison.” That doesn’t alter the fact that it can be beneficial for others.
September 17th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I just made a raw apple pie. It is producing too much moisture so I was wondering if you have ever heard of anyone using it in a raw apple pie. I am going to try it and hopefully I do not destroy my pie!
September 17th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
No but you could report back with the results!
January 11th, 2011 at 9:19 am
I believe in everything in moderation. I would think that 5-6 tablespoons of just about anything is too much and would certainly cause one to not feel very well. It sounds like chia seeds may affect the water equilibrium in the body and if that’s the case, taking that much may very well lead to, at minimum, some form of dehydration. And I also read that information about becoming addicted and I am curious to know why one would become addicted. It may be good to do a little more investigation and find out what it is that could potentially cause addiction. Most addictions are caused by euphoric feelings that achieved by some activity or ingesting some substance. What are the feelings of euphoria associated with chia seeds? If anyone should find out, please share.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:01 am
I have chia seeds in my fridge but I’d be hard pressed to tell you the last time I used them. If they are addictive, I haven’t fallen under their spell. I agree that moderation is key. As for the euphoria aspect, maybe I should try them again.
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Thanks for the info about Chia seeds.
I planning to buy some at a bulk food store that has no packaging so the instructions on your scans will be useful. I’ll just try a bit at a time.
Eva wrote about her heart arythmias. I have that too but it’s mostly gone since
I increased my intake of potassium, such as with orange juice, low salt tomato juice and raisins and a banana. So I hope this helps her.
I also take a magnesium citrate supplement before bedtime mixed in with my cottage cheeze to help my heart.
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Do we have to crush them like flax seed?
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Thanks for your comments, Mark. No, don’t crush them. When they are mixed with water or other liquid, they create a little sphere of gel with the seed at the center. A serving is 2 tbsp. There are other sites that have nutritional information. To be honest, I forgot about the scan (sorry) and the package I have now is too full to do it.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Thanks for the quick reply Tommie.
It’s good to read your practical info and no sales pitch like other websites
April 10th, 2011 at 11:07 am
I have a general belief in the health benefits of Chia, but since begining to add them to our diets (1-2 tbls day), my wife and I are both having VERY hard & painful stools. I sent a message to Dr. Coates, the Chia guru and his reply was simply to drink more water. We have been drinking a lot of water already but it does not seem to help. We would like to keep using them because of the health benefits but the effects are beginning to wear on us.
April 10th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Are you soaking them before ingesting? I never eat them without soaking but I rarely even do that. I’ve put them in salad by just sprinkling them on but I have so much moisture on the greens, etc., that they “bloom” there.
April 18th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Are you still taking chia seeds? I enjoyed your article and all the comments, but I got the impression that you are no longer taking them. If not, why not? I try so many things that slip by the wayside, but am keenly interested in chia! Thanks for your thoughts/comments! Cheers!
April 18th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Hi, Kathy! I never really “took” chia seeds. I use them occasionally IN things but not on a regular basis. My friend in the nursing home used to put it on some of her food but I’m not sure she still does. Chia has wonderful properties but so do lots of other things. All raw fruits, veggies, nuts & seeds have their good points.
July 11th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
I started using chia seeds about a week ago. make sure to drink plenty of water because i dont use the 9:1 ratio, that often,but will try to do more so now. the reason is tummy will get upset a little bit. stools became regular and often after first 2 days. I make sure not to consume more than 2tbs per day, not per use. they give me a calm feeling afterwards and really help me with food control which i have a problem with. my bp(blood pressure, which was high before, has lowered and is great now, and i had an electrolyte imbalance before which in which i got edema all over causing my bp to go up. with the minimal amount of chia in my diet, it has already made my legs, feet and arm edema(water swelling) go down to more normal levels without dehydrating me. its really wonderful for me and love that I’m getting great nutrition on top of improving health conditions. dont go beyond the recommend amount which is i believe 1-2 tablespoons per day. children and thin people should eat even less or problems can most likely develop.
July 11th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for the info, Melanie. I’m sure there are readers who can use it.
September 5th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I need to know about drug testing and chia seeds I was told that they are a form of salvia which is banned by my state, Indiana, I am on Probation and surely do not want to go to jail because I am trying to get healthy!
September 5th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I’m sorry, Kasey. I don’t know anything about whether or not chia would compromise a drug test. You might try Google. I do know that the salvia people use to get high is divinorum. I don’t have any experience with it, myself. I do know I’ve never had any “buzz” from chia seed.
September 15th, 2011 at 10:26 am
I have been using Chia seeds for about two months. Certainly not 5 or 6 tablespoons though! And always with protein drinks or grapejuice in the early part of the day. What have I noticed? My energy levels and strength have greatly improved. And it’s not just my imagination either. I’m a bodybuilder and my workout partner has accused me of taking steroids! That’s when I realized that the only difference is the chia seeds. They really work. Side affects? Yes, my blood sugar levels (i’m also type 2 diabetic) have slowly lowered to where my doctor wants them to be. I need to start checking my blood pressure. I am not on BP meds because they cause me to be lethargic and blood flow goes to low (cold extremeties). I have nothing bad to say about chia seeds except – don’t put them down the sink! Imagine what they could do to your plumbing!
September 15th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
David, your results are wonderful! I haven’t been using chia on a regular basis but you have inspired me to get them out and start some gelling. Thanks for the tip about the plumbing! That could be disastrous!
November 17th, 2011 at 12:55 am
I have been using chia seed in a fruit smoothie for the last two weeks. For the last two days, I have had swelling in my feet. It started with just my left foot, but yesterday both my feet and ankles were swollen. Today they were swollen too. I think that perhaps I am not drinking enough water. I’m going to not use it for a couple days and see what happens.
November 17th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Depending on how much you have been using, that could certainly be the problem. Whenever you add something to your diet that “soaks up” the moisture in your body, you do need to drink more water to compensate. It will be interesting to see what you find out. Keep me posted!
December 9th, 2011 at 7:47 am
What a fabulous article and comments!! I found it in a Google search for “chia, constipation”. My love affair with chia started in 1960 when it was discovered as a Hunza food, and it was plentiful and cheap. My mother invented a seed mix incorporating chia. We ground it up, about 2 T of the mix per day, which probably contained less tan a teaspoon of the chia, and put it in yogurt or oatmeal. It made me feel so good I named it Seeds of Rebellion, which my mother for some reason found hilarious. Am I allowed to say here that my current recipe for it can be found by googling Seeds of Rebellion Recipe? I used to sell the mix but it got to be too much work.
I forgot about Seeds of Rebellion for about 25 years, and when I wanted to use them again nobody knew what chia was except for the Chia Pets. After a 5-year search (pre-internet) I found a tiny jar of chia at a health food store. They were $22 a lb!! After I had internet I looked for chia seeds online one day and found them in ten minutes. I cried.
I recently was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I’m convinced my use of chia over the years, plus supplements, accounts for the very slow progression I’m experiencing. Constipation is a feature of this for me, so since I don’t take pharmaceuticals I googled for natural constipation remedies, and lo and behold, up popped my old friend chia. I had never tried the gel idea, but since I always have at least 5 lbs of chia on hand I started to experiment a couple of days ago, making gel with water and also jiuce, 1 T seed per 8 oz liquid. Today I’m going to try mixing 2 T chia in 8 oz raw goat milk. Maybe I’ll add a little xylitol and vanilla and get pudding??
Too soon to tell if it will help the constipation or not but the experiment is fun. BTW, I know flax is a popular remedy, but it is apparently thyroid suppressive in the amounts I probably need, which would not be good for me. Chia I trust.
Thanks again for your inspiring review and all the comments.
December 9th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Since you have your link with your comment, there’s no need for people to Google. I went to your article and found it fascinating. Thanks for stopping by and letting everyone in on your secret!