Thinking about CHIA SEEDS.. what do you think?

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Replies

  • MeeshyBW
    MeeshyBW Posts: 382 Member
    I use milled Chia as a thickener in sauces (Being Gluten free and a super food).

    I sprinkle it on porridge sometimes too. I do't really use it to fill me up, just for the nutritional benefits.

    I've gotta say though, if your hubby is going into a diet with the frame of mind he has, it's not going to give him the best results. You can't cheat your body into thinking it's full, it's not a way to loose weight effectively in my opinion.

    Tell him to eat protein, cut fats and sugar and to lift heavy. :)
  • rai8759
    rai8759 Posts: 296 Member
    I use milled Chia as a thickener in sauces (Being Gluten free and a super food).

    I sprinkle it on porridge sometimes too. I do't really use it to fill me up, just for the nutritional benefits.

    I've gotta say though, if your hubby is going into a diet with the frame of mind he has, it's not going to give him the best results. You can't cheat your body into thinking it's full, it's not a way to loose weight effectively in my opinion.

    Tell him to eat protein, cut fats and sugar and to lift heavy. :)

    Yea... I know he is going into it with the wrong mind set, but at least he is going into it!!!! I can't change him. He has to come to his own conclusions. I've tried to talk to him just about eating right and exercising, gradual weight loss and a healthier life style, but he doesn't want to wait. I tell him he will "have trouble" (aka it will not work!) if he uses weight loss supplements because as soon as he comes off he might gain the weight back.

    I imagine he will fail a few times and come around to it. He's kind of stubborn.
  • rai8759
    rai8759 Posts: 296 Member
    THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY!!!

    I will look into these things!!!:happy:
  • kellyallday
    kellyallday Posts: 137 Member
    I eat chia as a source of nutrition. Chia is no more a super food then is oatmeal or blueberries, and it's not a weight loss silver bullet. Chia contains 500 cals per 1/2 cup.

    If you want a food source to fill you up try melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.

    Uhh... not sure which ones you're using, but definitely try another brand. Mine are white, and are 50 calories for 2TB. Since there are only 16TB in a cup, that would be 200 cals in a 1/2 C and 400 cals in a whole. Anyhow... you need very little... maybe about 2TB for 8-10C of water.

    Duh....would you believe I made the same mistake just the other day regarding this? LOL Thanks for lookin out for me!

    BTW I had about 1/2 cup of low sodium pinto beans with a lot of juice left over. I added some chia and let it thicken....very good!

    Anytime... no worries. :smile: I LIKE your bean idea. So far I've only used them in Refrigerator Oats, but since the chia seeds don't really have a taste, they may be my new "go to" solution for a thickener. I was thinking of this yesterday while eating some soup that was too thin. I prefer it chunky. :wink:
  • nje444
    nje444 Posts: 62
    I'm new to Chia seeds too. Do they really keep you fuller longer? How many servings do you recommend per day? I made vegetable stuffed eggplant with dinner tonight and tossed 2 servings into the vegetables while they sauteed. They didn't change the taste and my husband didn't even notice (he fears change:tongue: ) so I thought I may have a win.
    Is that even the proper way to use them? I see a lot of porridge recipes, which seems like a good idea too, but I don't know if I am a porridge or pudding for breakfast kind of gal.

    I'm open to all tips, suggestions, recipes, etc!
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    I like them. I add them to my smoothies and they really do work. They keep you full and are a great source of protein and healthy fats.
  • WAHMto5
    WAHMto5 Posts: 375 Member
    I have them in my oatmeal every morning, love them!
  • mistyislosingit
    mistyislosingit Posts: 32 Member
    I've just started eating chia seeds, because of all the touted health benefits (omega 3s, etc), but I also feel they help make me feel fuller ... so for me a natural appetite suppressant. I have a big sweet tooth, so anything that helps curb my sweet cravings is a lifesaver. I was introduced to chia pudding at a Whole Foods demo. Wow. Here's the recipe and I try having it on hand all the time now.
    2 tablespoons chia seeds
    1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
    1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/2 tablespoon honey (or agave or maple syrup)
    1 cup coconut milk (can also use almond, soy or cashew, but I found almond milk did not thicken up as well as coconut milk - besides coconut milk made it very yummy)

    Sounds really good, I'll have to try it!
    Makes 1 serving, so I triple the recipe at least. Lasts 2 weeks in frig. Mix all together, chill for 4 hours (allows chia seeds to absorb liquids and thicken). Stir every hour during those 4 hours to prevent clumping. You can also top with fruit, coconut flakes and/or nuts, but I eat mine plain. Enjoy!
  • glitteredgrave
    glitteredgrave Posts: 194 Member
    Remember Chia Pets? Those things were cool. Anyway.

    I put chia seeds in my smoothies; at first I thought they were slimy and freaky little things but I don't mind them now. I have a feeling they are keeping me feeling "full" longer after those smoothies but I'm not sure. It's not a huge difference but still noticeable.
  • amyoliver85
    amyoliver85 Posts: 353 Member
    I just started chia seeds today. But they're actually making me bloat really bad. And I didn't use that much. I only did a tbsp. Plus, I haven't quite decided if they're really worth it. I am taking an Omega 3-6-9 so I don't know that I can really get any appropriate benefits from the chia seeds except for the fiber. Has anyone else found this to be a problem?
  • blissfulself
    blissfulself Posts: 193 Member
    I was just thinking about using them too! I actually just downloaded a chia cookbook off amazon so I could get ideas of how to use them! I'll let you know what I think when I try some recipes. They are actually having a free download deal today!

    http://www.amazon.com/Chia-Seed-Cookbook-Nutritious-ebook/dp/B00BA5FIW4/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359998382&sr=1-5&keywords=chia+seed+cookbook
  • cklowery36
    cklowery36 Posts: 151 Member
    I just found out about the benefits of chia seeds this weekend when I read Women's World magazine. There's a book coming out "the Aztec Diet." I might not get it, but I definitely got the seeds! I've only had about 2 shakes between yesterday and today and I must say that I wasn't hungry so far...I had a shake, a 1/2 salad at my job's cafeteria, 2 squares of dark chocolate (it's chocolate - c'mon!) and I had plenty of water. I'm still not hungry even after my workout! We'll see what happens as my metabolism kicks up: this is my first day back working out.
  • Great ideas here, I'm gonna stop at Sprouts for some on the way home from work!
  • Meg_Shirley_86
    Meg_Shirley_86 Posts: 275 Member
    The stated benefits of chia seeds are absolutely not bunk. They are genuine nutrition facts. I use them, and I love them. I get them in the Health Food section at Hy-Vee and use them in oatmeal, cereal, salad, and even a scone recipe. You may want to buy kosher, because chia seeds can't be washed, so they need to be grown cleanly. Some people have a hard time with the texture, but I like it! Enjoy!
  • LifeChanged2000
    LifeChanged2000 Posts: 176 Member
    I've just started eating chia seeds, because of all the touted health benefits (omega 3s, etc), but I also feel they help make me feel fuller ... so for me a natural appetite suppressant. I have a big sweet tooth, so anything that helps curb my sweet cravings is a lifesaver. I was introduced to chia pudding at a Whole Foods demo. Wow. Here's the recipe and I try having it on hand all the time now.
    2 tablespoons chia seeds
    1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
    1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/2 tablespoon honey (or agave or maple syrup)
    1 cup coconut milk (can also use almond, soy or cashew, but I found almond milk did not thicken up as well as coconut milk - besides coconut milk made it very yummy)

    Makes 1 serving, so I triple the recipe at least. Lasts 2 weeks in frig. Mix all together, chill for 4 hours (allows chia seeds to absorb liquids and thicken). Stir every hour during those 4 hours to prevent clumping. You can also top with fruit, coconut flakes and/or nuts, but I eat mine plain. Enjoy!

    Sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing!
    I agree!! I think I might need to try this :)
  • Ecce_Signum
    Ecce_Signum Posts: 226 Member
    ...snip...
    If you soak them for a few minutes in liquid they get this gel coating around them, and I guess they could make you feel fuller, but I only use 1 Tb so that isn't enough for me to tell any difference in how full I feel.

    I soak them in water overnight and drink it before/during a run as somebody suggested it would stop my stitch and it seems to work :) If you run and have never read 'Born to Run' you should, it talks about a Mexican tribe that (apparently) can run 100's of miles on a few handfuls!!