What Effect Do Chia Seeds Have on You?

candykoated

My coworker has been trying to get me to try chia seeds in my food/water for the longest. I’ve tried chia pudding before and the texture just messed me up all the way, so I couldn’t do it. I refused to try them again after that. Since then, I’ve been reading about the benefits of these miniscule buds and decided to give them another shot. I put two tsps in my water and let me tell you… I felt like I had taken a laxative. Anyone else have this happen to them?

DaddieCat

Added Fiber.

stephaniek511

I put them in my overnight oats because, well, most of the recipes call for them as a thickener. I enjoy the little crunch they add but haven't noticed quite the effect you have.

MikePTY

In my opinion, food is just food. I don't buy into the idea of "superfoods", which seems to be a changing title bestowed on whatever is the hip new food at the moment. There is no food that is so amazing nutritionally that you have to eat it if you don't enjoy it or you don't agree with it. Chia seeds are nutritious, sure, but you can get nutrition from a lot of other sources.

Chia seeds are high in fiber, which is good for you, but people react to fiber different and for some people, too much fiber at once can cause a laxative like effect. I experience similar if I eat too much fiber in a short period of time. That is likely why you felt that way.

nooshi713

I know some people who have told me that chia acted like a laxative for them. This can happen with any high fiber food when you aren’t used to eating much fiber.

Chia gives me energy. I put it in my green juice. I already get 35-40 grams of fiber daily so it doesn’t have a laxative effect on me.

cbstewart88

I put them in my smoothies for texture mostly (One tablespoon). Don't see any effects from them....good or bad...

MelanieCN77

Make me check my teeth after.

missysippy930

At first they had a kind of laxative affect, but my system got used to them.
I like them for a little added fiber and protein. I’ve never had the pudding. I sprinkle them on my oatmeal, salads, eggs and yogurt. I’ve been eating them for about 7 years. They were pretty hard to find when I first started eating them, but you can find them everywhere now.

kshama2001

I use powdered vitamin C to keep me regular and after I started adding chia seeds to smoothies cut back the C 25%.

I do like how chia seeds in smoothies helps keep me fuller longer.

Best price I've seen is the giant Badia jug at Walmart.

vxcross

I'm fairly "regular" now that I've upped my fibre. I stir them into my oatmeal every morning and into my overnight oats if I'm away from home and want a healthy pre-made breakfast. Hopefully your body will get used to their awesome benefits

Gisel2015

They would probably send me to the ER with an acute case of diverticulitis

Mcwi3681

I eat about 3 tablespoons of them a day on average, in my breakfast smoothie and sprinkled over a salad for lunch. I never noticed a difference except they make me need to floss after lunch!

seltzermint555

I've only had them in chia pudding, which I love...the overnight whole kind as well as the chia pudding you blend in a Vitamix for instant pudding consistency.

Have not noticed any ill effects or any specific effects at all, but I already eat a lot of fiber and am "regular". Honestly until this thread I'd never considered just eating them on a salad or in oatmeal, etc.

Luke_rabbit

Do other small seeds bother you? Examples might be raspberries, fennel seeds in sausages, sesame seeds, etc.
Some people can't handle them. Usually these are people diagnosed with IBS, but not exclusively.

k8eekins

candykoated wrote: »

My coworker has been trying to get me to try chia seeds in my food/water for the longest. I’ve tried chia pudding before and the texture just messed me up all the way, so I couldn’t do it. I refused to try them again after that. Since then, I’ve been reading about the benefits of these miniscule buds and decided to give them another shot. I put two tsps in my water and let me tell you… I felt like I had taken a laxative. Anyone else have this happen to them?

I'd first enjoyed chia seeds in a stuffing and mostly as an egg substitute when we ran out of eggs. Taking it like a herbal concoction like the old days, especially when you're opposed to its texture, necessitates a change. Think of it as you would a condiment.

If you consider adding it to your breading or opting for it as a crust for any of your vegan/meat dishes or hopefully for when you're inclined to try some homebaking, starting with your favourite breads and savoury crackers, might help. Personally, my favourite is flaxseed bread because the flavour profile is similar to a specific tribal bread favourite.

Its effects are normal, nothing extreme, for I don't use it excessively, neither is out of the box for me, much like the use of pumpkin seeds.

jgnatca

It does nothing for you so if I were you I’d give it up. It’s just an extra absorbent soluble fiber.

Try an apple a day instead.

JeromeBarry1

I add chia seeds to my eggs. I don't notice the chia seeds after that.

whitpauly

just_Tomek wrote: »

Weight gain.

They can have alot of cals if you're just tossing them in😬

kshama2001

I used to have them dry in this or that and they do stick in my teeth like that. Now I soak them in a little water. I'd read you only need to do this for 15 minutes, but I soak for at least a few hours and preferably overnight.

Properly soaked, I have no issues with them getting stuck in my teeth or digesting them. They remind me of frog's eggs.

missysippy930

kshama2001 wrote: »

I used to have them dry in this or that and they do stick in my teeth like that. Now I soak them in a little water. I'd read you only need to do this for 15 minutes, but I soak for at least a few hours and preferably overnight.

Properly soaked, I have no issues with them getting stuck in my teeth or digesting them. They remind me of frog's eggs.

Great tip! How much do you use for both water & chia seeds? I’m going to try this!

BuddhaBunnyFTW

I hide them in things but a serving is 2 tblspns so be careful, also seeds can affect some people with intestinal issues. There are so many wonderful seeds out there, if this doesn’t work for you try some sesame seeds or other. 😄

icemom011

I like them as a snack sometimes, they will usually divert my attention from junk food, and when I'm hungry, and they will satisfy my cravings. I don't soak them, i love the dry crunchy texture. I take teaspoon or so.

Cahgetsfit

I put mine in my oats or pancakes or banana bread. I also dislike the gluggy gross texture thing that they have when they are soaked overnight or made into a pudding. BLEH!!! But baked or a spoonful in my porridge or pancake mix - nice.

Lynzdee18

They get stuck in my teeth. Hate them.

nuzziek

They are really good for you! I eat them all the time. Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, iron, and calcium. A 28-gram, or 1-ounce, serving of chia seeds also contains 5.6 grams of protein. I'm vegan so I need things like this for protein, calcium, omega-3, etc.

Gisel2015

nuzziek wrote: »

They are really good for you! I eat them all the time. Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, iron, and calcium. A 28-gram, or 1-ounce, serving of chia seeds also contains 5.6 grams of protein. I'm vegan so I need things like this for protein, calcium, omega-3, etc.

No, they are not good for me! Food that causes health problems are not good for you, or in this case me. Please don't generalize, but happy that you can eat chia seeds without problems.

amusedmonkey

I don't eat them often. No digestive issues (I'm used to high fiber), but they're higher in calories than similar alternatives. I like them as pudding, but I find myself choosing regular, rice, or semolina pudding over them because I get to eat more of them for the calories.

kshama2001

Lynzdee18 wrote: »

They get stuck in my teeth. Hate them.

When I presoak them, they do not get stuck in my teeth.

kshama2001

missysippy930 wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

I used to have them dry in this or that and they do stick in my teeth like that. Now I soak them in a little water. I'd read you only need to do this for 15 minutes, but I soak for at least a few hours and preferably overnight.

Properly soaked, I have no issues with them getting stuck in my teeth or digesting them. They remind me of frog's eggs.

Great tip! How much do you use for both water & chia seeds? I’m going to try this!

1/2 T (7 g) seeds in about a half cup water.