Do Not Eat Chia Seeds!!!

sunnyn73 wrote: »

Well, thanks for creating a thread on the effects of chia seeds. I also have a few queries. I was so excited to find the multiple benefits of chia seeds, but i also got worried after reading a few side effects over many places

like : http://www.healthy-drinks.net/side-effects-of-chia-seeds/

where chia seeds are found to be linked with prostate cancer, blood sugar, Diarrhea and other things.

Any kind of relevant information will be appreciated.


Thanks!

I will say that relying on that WordPress article for information on chia seed consumption is not a good place to start. The majority of their "warnings" are in relation to actually positive effects that occur from eating a diet rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, two nutrient groups that are very densely represented in chia seeds.

The prostate cancer "link" is not about chia seeds, but in loosely correlated information regarding ALA's (a certain type of omega-3) and slightly elevated prostate cancer risk. If you follow their source material link, even that source article states that the studies in question appear to have some publication bias, and that the general medical consensus regarding prostate cancer is that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has at most a minimal effect on the increased risk of cancer... That is, it is unlikely to have a significant causative impact to your existing risk level.

The comments on blood sugar, diarrhea, and other things are all due to the *positive* impact of eating chia. Chia is something that people use to prolong satiety and hydration, and can help people to delay hunger impulses. You WANT lower blood sugars. You WANT lower blood pressures. Diarrhea is going to occur if you eat a ton of it after eating an inadequate amount of fiber... That happens regardless of your fiber source. Chia is one of the most effective ways, in my experience, to end a constipation stalemate through food and water consumption.

You can't let poorly researched articles inform your decision. I'm not going to say that it's right for everyone, because it's not. For example, people with a history of diverticulitis should not eat things like chia and flax, because the small seeds can get caught in the diverticula. However, generally speaking, it should be safe for consumption. They are sold as a supplement as well as a food, and I would say that if you are concerned because you take BP meds or cholesterol meds, or because you have diabetes or other conditions for which you take maintenance medications, you could always send a quick message to your physician and ask if chia would be okay. It is by far one of my favorite foods to keep around, personally.

nosajjao wrote: »

OP you still believe that eating chia seeds will plant a garden in your stomach? Do you understand how a stomach operates? Got similar theories on vaccines causing autism?

Well, see, the thing about this post, as it was outed about 2 years ago, is that this is a snark post. At the time, there was a slew of forum posts about how you shouldn't eat sandwiches, you shouldn't eat fruit, etc. etc. and so, I decided to write an article, and I also created the journal it cites. The whole point was to do what it did, for most people, which was to get people who were unfamiliar with using chia to learn more (because they are amazing) and for those that enjoy snark humor, give them a laugh. Generally, I accomplished this, and I was quite happy with that.

I tried to make the side effects claims as scary-sounding good things as possible, specifically so that people paying attention would key into the fact that it was a joke. It's also why I didn't post in any of the forums specifically for real nutritional advice.