Chia seeds - all hype?

deb1ray

You see a lot of posts on Facebook about people taking chia seeds as a weightloss tool. I know they are healthy for you but do they really help you lose wight? They suggest soaking 2 Tbsp in water and drinking it once or twice a day. Is it all hype? Some crazy fad? What are your thoughts?

AnvilHead

You lose weight by consuming less calories than you expend.

If eating chia seeds reduces your intake of other foods, it could help create the calorie deficit necessary to lose weight. Otherwise there's nothing magical about chia seeds which defy the laws of energy balance (CICO).

kimny72

No foods cause weight loss (or gain) specifically. It's all calories. Where foods come in is whether or not they fill you up in appropriate proportion to the calories they cost you. Different people find different foods filling. I guess because chia seeds have fat and fiber, they could be filling for some one. Having said that, they become gelatinous when soaked in water and the thought of just drinking that makes me gag.

If you wanted, you could try it, or try incorporating some chia into foods/meals you eat and see if you find yourself less hungry throughout the day. But log them, because just like everything else, they have calories. Or you could just increase the fat and fiber in your diet through other foods, it would be the same deal.

rsclause

I used to put them in my oatmeal back when I ate oatmeal. They act like a thickening agent. I didn't do it for any reason other than it sounded like a healthy food to eat and they are cheap. I think the hype is they provide energy. The package had some story about the Aztec warriors eating them for energy before and during running long distances. They are light enough for that.

joaquinmorisb2

I usually eat 1 or 2 teaspoons of chia seeds with my breakfast (in my yogurt or scrambled eggs) and it helps me to feel full until lunchtime. A teaspoon is about 20 kcal and is packed with no sugars and a lot of fiber. I also make sure to log it, everything adds up.

yukfoo

"Over a 12-week period, we did not see a change in appetite or weight loss" in study participants who consumed chia seeds, says researcher David Nieman, DrPH, a professor at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. "Our study showed no reduction in body weight, body fat and no improvement in traditional cardiovascular markers from 50 grams of chia per day.”
Chia seeds are fairly high in soluble fiber (about 11 grams per ounce) so it could help with daily fiber intake.

cwolfman13

deb1ray wrote: »

You see a lot of posts on Facebook about people taking chia seeds as a weightloss tool. I know they are healthy for you but do they really help you lose wight? They suggest soaking 2 Tbsp in water and drinking it once or twice a day. Is it all hype? Some crazy fad? What are your thoughts?

There is no magical food that aids in losing weight. They are high in fiber which might help you feel more full. They are also a good source of soluble fiber which is beneficial if you have cholesterol issues. They are also packed with all kinds of other good nutrition and there are a lot of awesome things to say about them...but they don't magically cause you to lose weight.

kshama2001

I soak a half tablespoon of chia seeds in water for a few hours and then add it to smoothies.

I use chia seeds to help me meet my fiber goal. Fiber helps me feel fuller, which makes it easier to maintain a calorie deficit, which makes it easier to lose weight.

deb1ray

Thank you so much for your input friends :-)

laurabini

They help being more regular if you know what I mean

ghudson92

I can't deal with the texture of them, they remind me of frog spawn

missysippy930

They have a decent amount of protein, fiber and amino acids. They thicken food. As with all foods, they have calories. Your choice what you choose to eat. I like them in my yogurt, salads and scrambled eggs.

ghudson92 wrote: »

I can't deal with the texture of them, they remind me of frog spawn

lol, true. Kind of like tapioca.

evileen99

yukfoo wrote: »

"Over a 12-week period, we did not see a change in appetite or weight loss" in study participants who consumed chia seeds, says researcher David Nieman, DrPH, a professor at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. "Our study showed no reduction in body weight, body fat and no improvement in traditional cardiovascular markers from 50 grams of chia per day.”
Chia seeds are fairly high in soluble fiber (about 11 grams per ounce) so it could help with daily fiber intake.

Yep. I put them in my oatmeal for a fiber boost.

kshama2001

ghudson92 wrote: »

I can't deal with the texture of them, they remind me of frog spawn

Sure, they absolutely look like frog eggs when soaked

But this is not noticeable when mixed in my smoothie.

AudreyJDuke

Great info and ideas!!!!

nicsflyingcircus

I make "jam" with them. 40oz bag frozen raspberries, like a cup of chia seeds and maybe 1/4 cup of sugar. Makes a lovely, thick spread and my kids love it. You don't noticed the texture of it some much in raspberries due to the seediness.

Eta: makes a great addition to plain yogurt, oatmeal, vanilla or chocolate ice cream, works in pb&js

Phoebe5164

Chia seeds are almost all fibre.. they go in and then they go out , kind of like corn .

I believe they make me feel full ,but who knows really ...

rebeccaann01

I love chia seeds. They help me feel fuller and keep me from over eating. When I am craving something sweet I make chia seed pudding. Soak them in a little milk overnight and it will be a thick pudding like texture), add cocoa and a little sweetener like honey, or fruit and you have a little dessert that will fill you up and keep you satisfied.