No. The fruits are naturally acidic and the seeds are rich in anti-oxidants which prevents natural oxidisation. Bugs and insects don’t like the plant oils present in the Salvia Hispanica plant so they leave it alone and once the forest canopy is established, it shades out the weeds so pesticides are not needed.
Very few side effects are known. Those most likely to have a mild reaction to Chia Seeds are individuals who are known to be allergic to mustard or sesame seeds.
People with certain bowel conditions eg: IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or Crohn’s disease should start taking small amounts of Chia Seeds initially to adjust to the high fibre content it contains; this should always be taken with plenty of water.
Yes, studies show that Chia Seeds can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, since it contains alpha-linolenic acid, which reduces plaque build-up in arteries. Chia contains less than half the amount of sodium than in Flax Seed.
Yes, so long as you drink plenty of water with the seed. Chia Seeds absorb up to 10 times their weight in water so the water would be drawn from your body, this could lead to stomach cramps and cause you to dehydrate.
The only issue we are aware of is if an individual is taking prescribed blood thinners like Warfarin. Omega-3 is a natural blood thinner so may affect your medication.
If you are on any type of medication you should always discuss this with your doctor before starting taking Chia Seed in your diet.
If you are a new user of Chia seeds, your intestine may not be able to adapt in the sudden increase of fibre into your diet which can cause bloatedness. It is highly recommended that you start with a small dose of Chia seeds and slowly increase it. (See the Beginners Guide)
The high fibre content of Chia seeds is the reason why their consumption can cause flatulence. Fibres are substances that we can’t digest because we lack necessary digestive enzymes. They are, however, beneficial to our body because they aid in digestion and normal bowel movement; they also help prevent constipation and other diseases of the digestive tract. Unlike us, intestinal bacteria have the needed enzymes to break fibre into tiny units. During fibre digestion, gases like carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane are released into the gut.
Bloatedness is due to individual differences in terms of fibre metabolism and composition of intestinal microorganisms. For example, you may have higher number of bacterial species that digest fibre compared to the general population, this will result in a higher rate of fibre metabolism and higher volume of gas produced.
Try reducing the amount of Chia seeds you take every day until you reach the amount that will give you less serious gas problem or no gas problem at all. You could then try introducing Chia slowly back into your diet as your body becomes accustomed to the increased fibre.
No. Chia Seeds are one of the few seeds that our body can naturally break down.
Yes. The Omega-3 within Chia Seed acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Once opened, there is no need to keep your Chia Seed in the fridge; it can be stored safely at room temperature for several years. The natural anti-oxidants in the Chia Seed provide the stability. Storing Chia Seed in a closed container will help extend its shelf life.
Chia seed can be used in a variety of ways, it can be added to drinks, salads, soups, yoghurt even into sandwiches or just sprinkled onto cooked food. It can also be added to any type of baking, bread, cakes and cookies; you can now find Bread on the supermarket shelves with Chia in.
Chia seeds are very versatile in cooking; it can be baked, ground, drunk, sprinkled etc, but frying is not advised.
Just add the Chia Seed to your pets’ usual diet.
All of our Chia Seed has an expiry date clearly shown on the packet.
This can vary dramatically, depending on your circumstances. Please see the Beginners Guide for more details.
Yes. Chia Seed is suitable for everyone, from pregnant women right through to old age. Chia is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet.
Yes. As a plant based source of Omega-3, Chia Seed is Cholesterol Free.
Yes, Chia Seed helps stabilize blood sugar levels by regulating the rate at which the complex carbohydrates are digested into the body. This reduces blood glucose level swings which helps control hypoglycaemia and diabetes.
The Omega-3 content helps condition your pet’s skin and fur, making it soft and shiny.
Yes. Chia Seeds are naturally gluten-free, unlike most other grains.
No. They will immediately start to absorb water, becoming sticky and forming a gel.
Simply put, Chia is the single most versatile and nutritious whole food in the world. Chia seeds are the richest whole food source of Omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, antioxidants and dietary fibre.
Chia is a wholefood, which means it is a food that has been unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible before being consumed. It comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, (part of the mint family) and originates from the equatorial regions of South America dating back to Mayan and Aztec cultures in 3500BC.
There are many benefits of Chia, all of which have been extensively covered in our Benefits section.
Chia Seeds have very little taste; if eaten plain there is a mild, nutty flavour.
Once the Chia Seed reaches the digestive fluids in the stomach, it swells and becomes gel like in texture. This has the effect of slowing down the rate at which the digestive enzymes turn carbohydrates into sugar.
There is very little nutritional difference between black and white Chia seeds; dark Chia has slightly more protein whist the white has marginally more linolenic acid (Omega-3). The main reason for taking black Chia Seed is that it contains more antioxidants that protect the essential fatty acids. Both come from the salvia hispanica plant, the black Chia seeds come from the purple flowering plant when grown, whilst white flowering plants produce the white Chia Seed.
Yes. Chia Seeds are hydrophilic; absorbing more than 10 times their weight in water. As they pass through the digestive tract fluid is released helping to keep the colon clean and well hydrated. This helps with digestion and regularity.
