Chia Seed Recipes and Ideas
Looking for chia seed recipes? All our original and tested chia seed recipes are quick to make and easy to follow. We aim to get you started using chia seeds with confidence and also to give you some ideas on how to be more creative using them in your own recipes..
If you want to know how to use chia seeds, this site will give you information, techniques, recipes and plenty of ideas.
New recipes are being added frequently as we continue to try new ways of using these healthy little seeds.
Cooking with chia seeds is easy, fun and very healthy.
Chia seeds are tiny, hard and have a subtle nut-like flavor when chewed, but they have the unique property of absorbing liquid. When stirred into liquid they soften and absorb 9-12 times their own weight of the liquid. They take on the taste of whatever liquid they are placed in, which makes them ideal to use as a thickener in all sorts of recipes.
The high omega fat content of the seeds makes them useful as a substitute for butter or eggs in baking, which can cut down on calories and adds to their versatility.
If you have already bought chia seeds, then I invite you to try some of our recipes. If you have been thinking of trying them, the best place to buy is online, where you can often get a good price for 1lb to 5lb packs.
You can use black, white or mixed seeds, although its often easier to get black seeds. You can also purchase milled seeds, which are whole ground chia seeds. The nutritional value is roughly the same, no matter what colour seed you buy.
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Nutrition
When you add chia seeds to your diet, you will soon begin to see the results. They are a true superfood, a powerhouse of nutrition. Most people soon notice an increase in energy, clearer thinking and a calmer, happier mood. The high fiber content aids regularity in a natural, gentle way.
After a couple of months you should notice clearer skin and more glossy hair, a result, I believe, of the high omega 3 content of the seeds. Because chia seeds digest slowly they make you feel fuller longer which can be an aid to weight loss.
The video below gives in-depth information on the nutritional value of these little seeds and also demonstrates how to make chia gel, which is the basis of many of the recipes on this site.
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One to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds per day is a good amount for an adult. Children have less, say half to one tablespoon per day. As with any new food, its best to start off with a small amount and gradually build up. There are no known allergic responses to this food.
What do chia seeds taste like?
Chia seeds have a slightly nutty flavor when eaten on their own. When incorported into a recipe they do not have a noticeable taste. When chia seeds come into contact with the moisture in a recipe, be it a pudding, soup, cookie or smoothie they absorb that moisture and take on the flavor of what they are put into. This makes them a wonderful healthy addition to any recipe, whether sweet or savory.
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.About our recipes
In this site I will tell you how to make and use chia gel. In general you will need to hydrate the seeds (ie make a gel) before adding the seeds to any recipe or when adding to a liquid dish, such as a soup, pudding or smoothie, allow the mixture to stand for at least 10 minutes so the chia seeds can expand, soften and take up the flavor of your main ingredients .
There is also information on how to make chia puddings of various kinds and chia drinks including chia fresca and smoothies.
There is information on how to make and use ground chia, how to make cookies and pancakes using ground chia, plus recipes for main courses, soups and desserts.
I have also included some of my own favourite recipes, including chia pinole, and a chia pan bread for you to enjoy, together with simple ideas on how to use chia seeds in your everyday cooking.
There are recipes for both sweet and savory dishes. and many recipes are suitable for vegetarians, vegans and raw food enthusiasts.
Please enjoy these chia seed recipes.
Can I get the benifits of Chia seeds by just taking a tablespoon full and swallowing them with liquid?
Absolutely Mickey. The only reason not to have them like that is that most people like to icorporate their chia seeds into some kind of recipe purely for the taste benefit
The chia pudding sounds good! Personally, I like to add chia to my energy drinks or water. It’s also really good mixed in with quinoa as a breakfast cereal, then you get amazing protein and omega-3s. To get an in-depth nutrition profile on chia to go along with the recipes check out: Health Benefits of Chia Seeds.
Hi i have given up smoking, i have started eating more food and am putting on weight. I have decided i am starting a healthy eating program using the Chia seed, what would be the recommnded amount to start with
Hi Karen, Always start small when adding a new food to your diet, say 1 or two teaspoons. Gradually build this up to 2-4 tablespoons a day. For weight loss its good to put the chia seeds into a low calorie soup and have this throughout the day. This will help stop hunger and food cravings.
Hi I am from Melbourne and we have no probs buying Chia seeds being that it is grown in Australia!
What a wonderful website which I just found this afternoon – I am looking forward to trying many of your recipes especially for Breakfast – for lunch today I added 1.5 tsps white chia to my reheated chilli con carne beans and only just waited the 10 mins required time to eat it but am intending to use them all the time as am mostly vegan, grain free – what a godsend you are! Thank you for all your efforts you are truly appreciated all around the world – TG for the internet!
light and love and…laughter!
Thank you for your kind words Verity. White chia seeds in chilli con carne – yum! Chia seeds are a very good addition to a mostly vegan grain free diet. There are so many ways you can use them in your recipes.
I buy my chia seeds and all other hard to find organics at http://www.nuts.com. They have great mahjool dates, diabetic candy, and other health foods
I used a recipe for a cold oatmeal cereal using chia seeds that sits over night in the fridge and now I cannot find it. Any chance you could help?
Thanks for letting me add my two cents! Blessings!!
I tried chia seeds and had a problem so checked with a knowledgable friend. She said not everyone can take chia seeds because their body for some reason can’t handle it. Will try it again in small dose to see if I have same problem. Was really sad that I may not be able to use chia seeds. Glad it helps others though. Just wanted to let others know that some people may not tolerate it.
I have a son that has a rare epileptic disorder…his immune system is low,among many more difficult things he has to deal with.i am always looking for new natural ways to help his health and well being ( it is not an option to not take pharmacy ducal meds) the only thing he can take his meds with is applesauce. I was wondering I I could add seeds to the applesauce? I would probably have to add more water when I make it no? What ratio of water to seeds do u think so as to keep the applesauce consistency? Thnx. I love chia seeds and want so much to share with him so maybe he can get some benefits as well!
Hi Beth. Yes, you would need to add more water or juice to your apple sauce recipe. I suggest adding 1 teaspoon of chia seeds to 3 tablespoons of water to about a cup of apple sauce to maintain the original consistency . You can always add a little more water if the consistency is too thick or a a little more chia if it is too watery. You know best what your son likes. White chia seeds will be less visable in apple sauce. Alternately, you could use milled chia seeds. If you use a blender, you can add the seeds and extra liquid and blend with your apple sauce. Allow the mixture to stand for at least 10 minutes so the chia seeds can gel. Good luck Beth.
Hi, very informativesite, LUV IT!!!
I had just had my first dose of Chia yesturday and it was amazing!! Had it for breakfast and amazingly enough my sweet tooth was under control, I am a CHOCOHOLIC!
My first Chia breakfast receipe:
1/2 cup Grape Nut Cereal
1 cup Silk Almond Milk
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
1 tbsp ground Flax
Mix all ingredients together, place in refrigerator and let soak up liquid. Enjoy!!
Looking for more delicious receipes to enjoy the Chia benefit. Thank you again.
Your recipe sounds great Milagros, and chia has been shown to stabilize blood sugar and help take away those sugary cravings. I’m sure you will notice more health benefits over time
Yes, I have notice quite a decline on my unbearable cravings. I have managed to maintain my caloric intake and portion control during the first week using Chia Seeds; about to make Chia Fudge Brownies.
That’s wonderful to hear Milagros
Just wondering…I have been incorporating chia seeds into my diet and I feel that it is making me retain water. Could this be true?
I have not heard of this happening with chia seeds Rebecca. From what I have read about fluid retention, it can be a sign that you are not having enough water in your diet. Have you tried having more water? It’s always wise to drink plenty of water when adding chia seeds to your diet as the seeds do absorb fluids -(just eat a teaspoon of raw chia seeds and you will end up with a very dry mouth). If you are worried about your fluid retention, do seek medical advice.
Hi, very impressed with your site and video, having just found out about these seeds today, and found I can get them here in New Zealand through the Asian food outlets ! Thanks very much !
Thanks for your kind comment Miriam. I’m so glad you have chia seeds available in New Zealand.
Hi Miriam
I’m not sure whereabouts in NZ you are but I got my first lot of Chia seeds from Countdown Henderson in Auckland.
Regards
yes you can get them at Countdown in Welly too
Bin In also stock Chia Seeds. I purchased some at the weekend from the Rangiora Store.
I should like to know any reliable and reputable bulk suppliers of both chia seeds and also quinoa in ireland, we live in West Cork.
Hi Shakti. I hope our readers can help you.
Contact: Ireland’s Raw Kitchen, Unit 8, Westside
Hi Shakti (March 20th)
This company may be able to help you…
Enterprise Centre, Westside, Galway
Tel: 091-394359 Email: info@irelandsrawkitchen.ie Copyright © 2011 Ireland’s Raw Kitchen
http://www.irelandsrawkitchen.ie/chia-seeds-p-84.html
Website shows
250grm is Euro 7.35
500 grm is Euro 11.95 and
1kg is Euro 21.45
I just got a 2-lb. bag of chia seeds at Costco for just under $14.
Hi Beth, I purchased a 2 lb bag at Costco in NJ for under $10. Just FYI.
While it isn’t cheap, I find that the Navitas Naturals website isn’t too badly priced. Plus they are organic and raw (which is best). But, Amazon has good prices for them as well. Hopefully you’ll find this helpful.
Try nuts.com. They are very fast with shipping and you get a free sample of a random product from them as well. Very great company.
Shakti you can get them in health food store also chiabia brand in supermarket
You could try Nourish Foods an Irish based health food chain which is now also online or I see them in my local Dunnes Stores in Dublin,Ireland in the health food section where gluten free products are. They have them whole or milled at €9.99 for 400grams. Nourish have the Infinity brand for €6.25 for 250grams.
I made the awesome breakfast mix I got from here a few days ago using the chia, hemp, goji berry and sunflower kernels. It was amazing! Now, I cannot find it or the author to say thank you so much for the wonderful recipe. If you see this note, Thank you so much!
Trying these for the first time today. I need to lose at least 10 lbs (gained half of that after I quit smoking in Nov). Me and a gal at work are trying them. Thanks for all the suggestions
Good luck to you and your friend Bones. I would love to hear how you go.
Hi! I just purchased my first 1 pound of chia mixed seeds, and am excited to get started using them. However, I have Type II diabetes, and I’m worried that the seeds might make my Blood Glucose Level (bgl) raise. Have you found any issues with this?
Also, would I have to alter any measurement amounts because of my diabetes? What recipes would you most recommend for someone with this problem? Thanks so much!
Hi Type II worrier. The good news is that chia seeds digest slowly which tends to even out spikes and troughs in blood sugar level. As long as you are eating sensibly for your condition, adding chia seeds to your diet should not cause any problems and may be of benefit to you. With any new food its wise to start slowly ( say, 1 teaspoon) and gradually build up to 1 or 2 tablespoons per day. If you are taking any medication for your condition, see a doctor if you regularly eat chia seeds as your medication may need to be reduced. Chia seeds are a healthy food, used by humans for hundreds of years, not a fad, herb or a supplement. I would love to hear about your experience with chia.
I have found doing my own studies that Chia Seeds is one of the best things for Diabetics I have several students and friends that take chia seeds and it has lowered the amount of insulin intake. Good luck to you I think you will find Chia will make you feel better overall
I’m also type II and follow a really strict low carb regiment (A1C is now 6.1 YAY!) to avoid taking more medication. I don’t eat anything with flour, or starch etc since it makes my blood sugar spike – a lot. I’ve found that chia seeds, flax and almonds/nuts really help keeping my blood sugar balanced and avoid cravings, not to mention the fatty acids and other good nutrition they provide. I don’t feel deprived of anything. I use them instead of cereal for breakfast, and they help keep moisture (and stability) in cakes/breads made with almond flour – and the puddings are delicious. I just discovered this website and am really excited to try out the recipes!
Hi Type 2,
My mother is Diabetic and has through changing her diet got to the point where she does not need any medication.
Chia Seeds, Pinto beans and Buckwheat are a big part of her diet as she is allergic to Gluten, corn and potato. She tends to avoid rice as it pushes the blood sugar levels up, however if you add chia seeds to a recipe that has something that pushes your blood sugar up then it will balance it out, same with the beans and Buckwheat.
When she was told she was diabetic she went through alot of strips testing different meals and her blood sugar levels 3 hours later. She kept a journal and converted it into a spreadsheet so that she could track what was good and what she should cut out or have very little of. Her last test indicated Negative on being Diabetic.
I hope this information can help others, but please remember that everyone is different and can react in different ways to the same methods
I was diagnosed with Type 2 a year and a half ago. I discovered chia seeds 6 months ago and have been taking 2 Tbsp everyday (usually mixed into my oatmeal in the mornings). Last month my doctor dropped my medication dosage in half and said if I can keep dropping my A1C and keep my blood glucose in a healthy range he will consider taking me off the medication altogether. I sincerely believe it is the chia seeds that helped me to equalize my blood sugar because I struggled so much before trying them.
hat do u have a newsletter?????
I don’t have a newsletter Uncle Jed, but I do keep in touch with my readers by answering queries and comments.
I made a great breakfast/snack today.
In a pint sized jar or bowl with sealable lid add
I sliced banana. In a seperate bowl mix 1T. Chia seeds,1/4 C. fruit (I used blueberries)1/2 C. almond milk and 3 T. wholegrain oats mix together and pour over banana. Seal and put in frig over night.
Next morning open and eat!! Its one of the best things I have ever eaten and sooo healthy!!
Sounds great Jackie!
Sounds yummy Thanks!
Can I put some in my morning coffee? If so, should I do the gelled seeds or dry?
Always add dry chia seeds to a liquid Melissa and stir it between sips to keep the seeds from clumping in the bottom. However, I don’t think chia seeds in coffee would be very nice. I would rather have a coffee flavored pudding.
FYI — I love my coffee concoction: Soak 1T chia seeds in 1/2 filled mug of coffee, plus a little sweetener. Wait til seeds are puffy, at least the size of tomato seeds. Them I fill the cup with almond milk.
So glad to hear from you again Julie
Your chia coffee drink would be very filling, nutritious and sustaining. I love the flavor combination of almond milk and coffee, and its great that you have found a way of having chia seeds that you love. I still think I would prefer to add more chia seeds, chill it and have it as a chia coffee pudding though – I like my coffe hot, strong and black!
I have put chia in my coffee before! Any time that I feel that super-low blood sugar feeling or the afternoon exhaustion–I know I need to eat some chia. I mix it with any liquid I have and eat it as a cereal. Some days I only have coffee left from the morning and it is better than mixing with water–needs to take on some flavor. I need now to find recipes to sneak it in to my family’s diet–they are not so into new foods
I just purchased my Chia seeds at Bobs Red Mill here in Oregon. The first (and so far only) thing I have tried them with is peanut butter. I add about 1 teaspoon dry seeds to 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter and use it for an apple dip as my afternoon snack. Goodness! I was full for hours. I don’t need to lose weight, but like most 50+ women, I do have to exercise self control to keep the pounds from creeping on. Late afternoon and evenings are my “cruise the kitchen time and eat whatever is easy” and chia seeds took that habit right out the window! I do notice the seeds stick between my teeth, so I am excited to try some of the gel recipes.
Hi Randa. I love chia fruit juice gel over plain yogurt. The puddings are also an easy way to have chia seeds. Before chia seeds, I was carrying around an extra 20 pounds due to the “50+ factor” . I lost it easily and it has not come back. You will find it much easier to exercise self control by adding a little chia to your diet plus having the fun of trying new recipes.
Using lukewarm tap water and recommending a Tupperware for storage? I think I am on the wrong site. Please, do some research before advertising.
I just started taking chia seeds yesterday. I was just wondering, if I add them to something like pudding, soup, or similar foods, is it better to add them dry, in the gel form, or does it really matter?
Or lets say I wanted to make brownies from a box. How do I add the chia seeds, gel or dry, and how much?
If you add dry chia seeds to a brownie mix it would tend to dry out your finished brownies, so in this case adding in gel form is better. Many people substitute chia gel for the egg in packaged cakes. Try a thickish gel first, say 1 tablespoon of seeds in a quarter cup of water. If your misture is too watery you ca add a little more chia seeds. Experimet with different amounts of seed and water to get the results you like.
Chia seeds absorb liquid Jennifer. Add them dry to wet foods, such as puddings and soup. If you add a gel to these types of food, you dish will be diluted in flavor and it will not thicken.
One thing I have noticed that noone has mentioned, and that is that the seeds are supposed to be grinded first in something like a coffee grinder. The author of “The Aztec Diet” states that using whole chia seeds will not be as effective as grinding them first. This is the method I use, and I am getting great results with the diet.
Interesting comment Tracie. The research I have read on chia seeds is very clear that itis not necessary to grind chia seeds to get the full nutritional value. This is one of the advatages that chia seeds have over flax seeds. I and many other people have had great weight loss results using the whole chia seeds. Grinding chia seeds may help people with weak digestion absorb more of the nutrients. I feel that its possibe the whole seeds may take a little longer to digest, thus keeping you feeling full a bit longer which would help with weight loss, but I have not read any acientific evidence to support this theory.
this morning i made a microwaved banana muffin in a coffee cup: 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1 beaten egg, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 packet of splendia, 1 Tbp. butter, & 1Tbsp. vanilla, 1/2 banana mashed, mix microwave approx. 55 seconds, flip over on a plate and enjoy! you can experiment with whatever you like- blackberries, raisins, dried cherries, nuts, etc.
I read your comment with trepidation: exceptionally healthy chia seeds combined with Splenda and cooked in a microwave turns into a proper junk food.
First: Splenda metabolizes into formaldehyde (unless you try to embalm yourself alive, please throw it out!).
Second: microwave denatures protein, destroys EPA and turn good food into a dead food).
Good luck in using your chia seeds !
Thanks for your comments Beata. Although I agree with you, I like to think that we are all somewhere along the path to improving our diets. For some people, trying chia seeds is a first or early step in this process.
Try using Stevia as an alternative to Splenda. I use Stevia In The Raw brand. Stevia is no calorie and is a plant.
I just tried a meatloaf with chia and flax seeds for the simple reason I was too lazy to go to store for more eggs today. I normally use 2 pounds ground venison and one pound of venison sausage, bread crumbs or a cup of oatmeal as a binder. I think my meatloaf thus far looks to be too liquidy.
I like to be able to slice mine . I just poured off some liquid and added a teaspoon of chia on top and the poured my BBQ sauce over them. I have 2 loaf pans full .I always add chopped carrots, celery and 3 good sized white chopped onions. Sometimes 1/2 pack of taco seasonings oregano, bayleaf,& garlic. My husband prefers a good barbq base rather than tomato based sauce, but I added one small can of stewed tomatoes today as well. It all has another 45 mns in the oven , wish me luck..
Well Jalane, I hope your meatloaf recipe turned out well. From reading what you put into it, I feel it would have been less “liquidy” with more chia seeds in it and having the seeds mixed through your meatloaf rather than on top. The chia seeds would then have soaked up the excess liquid without changing the taste of your recipe. Full marks for trying the experiment though
Thanks this sounds delicious!! I just wrote it down. I use splenda instead of sugar to sweeten cut up fruit. I may experiment and replace the egg with egg beaters and maybe less butter. i cant wait to try it
Can I add Chia seeds to my ground beef recipes? Such as meatloaf & hamburger?
Yes you can Staci. You can use ground chia seeds or whole chia seeds for this. Experiment a little to get the mixture you like. Too much ground chia seed will make your mixture dry so start small. Good luck
I absolutely love chia seeds… especially for breakfast
this is my favorite recipe https://healthyrevelations.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/healthy-chia-seed-breakfast/
It’s sooooooo good and really unique plus it gives me tons of energy for the day
Thanks Kelly. I love your recipe.
Do they have to be ground or soaked to get the benefits? I like them sprinkled over my salads but not sure if they breakdown this way.
Keep enjoying chia seeds sprinkled over your salads Sarah. Unlike flax seeds, they do not have to be ground for you to absorb the nutrients. Its not necessary to soak them either. Many people like their chia seeds chrunchy.
If you drink chia seeds with water, is you body still able to absob the water to hydrate you?
Hi Taylor. My golden rule is “If you eat chia seeds dry or in baked goods, make sure to drink extra water, but if you drink chia seeds in liquid it’s not necessary to drink extra water.” This works well for me.
Hi,
I’m new to all this and bought some chia seeds but haven’t done anything with them yet. please can you let me know if I was to put them in homemade pineapple and passionfruit juice, how long would it keep as gel in the fridge.
Thanks
Mei-Yee
Hi Mei-Yee. It should keep for a couple of days in any juice in the fridge. You can store dry chia seeds for up to 2 years in the cupboard, but once they are in any sort of juice or pudding they should be used more quickly.
I have a three year old who likes smoothies. Just wondering how much chia seeds I should add to his smoothie?
Always start small Cristy. To start with, add half a tespoon of chia seeds to his smoothie. If your child accepts this, then you could increase it to one teaspoon over time.
I’ve been using them for the last couple months. So far only in my morning oatmeal (usually 2 tbsp). I prefer them to flax as they don’t have a strong flavour and add more of a crunchy quality than glutenous. I have struggled with constipation most of my adult life and find that chia has been amazing for this and I’m now looking for more ways to incorporate it into other meals throughout the day. So, that’s why I’m here. Thanks to the person who mentioned buying it Costco. I’m gonna check out my local Costco cause right now I’m buying smaller bags of it from Whole Food stores and I go through it pretty quickly.
Hi Tricia, have you looked to see if your Whole Foods has a bulk aisle. You can get a pretty good deal on certain items there plus you can choose what quantity you want. You scoop what you want in these plastic bags. I love that they started to do that. It makes trying new things out cheaper. That’s how I got my chia seeds. Good luck
Hi there, I’m not sure if this is still a working site but I figured i’d try. I am just learning about chia seeds just tonight from a documentary called “Hungry for Change” (which I haven’t even completed yet due to them talking of chia seeds and me immediately looking up information.) I was just curious about taking them with a glass of water. Is that all that is recommended for any reason, or can you have more? And can you just add them to the water and drink it right then and there? I kept hearing to put them in water and let them soak over night. Is that necessary just to drink it in water, or is that just to make the gel to add in recipes? I just want to be clear on it. Thank you for your time.
Hi Ken. Chia seeds are a food and they can be used in many ways. The easiest way to take them is in a glass of water – no need to soak them. However, it gets rather boring to just drink them in water when they can be added to soups and casseroles or made into fruit juice gels and various puddings, smoothies etc. Soaking the chia seeds for more than 10 minutes will make a gel and thicken whatever liquid they are put into. This is the basis of many recipes. I hope this clears things up for you. I know I was very confused when I first started using them.
haha I’m not the big cooking type, but am just looking for more healthy things to eat. Being that I’m not a cook, the glass of water thing seems just right for me. But if I do start getting the cooking thumb, I will remember to give it a whirl. Thanks for the response!
I bought both packets that were on the shelf at PnP Boksburg South Africa yesterday and was reading on here how to use it as I am not a cook myself and I eat most things raw anyway being a health freak. I saw that one lady here mixes her chia seeds with peanut butter; so I soaked them first in some hot water and when they were like jelly I mixed in a teaspoon of macadamia nut butter. It didn’t taste bad at all, but tomorrow I shall try and just mix the dry seed with the macadamia nut butter. I am also going to add it to my veggie juice in the mornings. We only get them in very small packets of 100g and is very expensive at about $4 per packet. I also just tried to give my cat Mr. Biggelsworth some, but he didn’t like the macadamia nut butter smell I suppose so he did not eat it. Hmmmm,,,fussy little fur ball. Greetings from South Africa.
Hi Marietjie from South Africa. I found that as more people began using chia seeds, the packets became bigger and cheaper in the shops. I hope that happens for you as well. You will find that if you put dry chia seeds in a nut butter, it will remain crunchy. (Which many people like, including myself). Chia seeds are a wonderful addition to vegetable juice and also fruit juice, especially in the morning for an energy boost.
Hi, I used to drink chia seeds in the morning with hot honey in empty stomach. Please advise any suitable time to drink chia seeds?
You can have chia seeds any time Elain. If you have them before a meal you will be less hungry.
I am a type 2 diabetic and thought chia would help blood sugar and elevated LDL. When I was taking them in broth on their own my blood sugar spiked. I have since added them to food and find that they do indeed help blood sugar in the long run. I even make an almond chia breakfast bun. I don’t know yet whether or not they help my LDL but they do definitely help the blood sugar.
Hi,
I ground my Chia seeds straight from the package then add a teaspoon to my yogurt. Is that a beneficial way of taking them?
Yes Mary its fine to have chia seeds that way. When I have yogurt with chia seeds, I have a plain unsweetened yogurt and add a fruit gel chia seed topping. Its very nice as well as being healthy.
I live outside Washington, DC in the United States. I just found chia seeds in a small middle eastern market. I’m excited to try them, as I’m reading Born To Run, which references the amazing health benefits of chia.
I loved “Born to Run” too Kellen, and so pleased to hear you have discovered chia seeds near you.
Kellen, you can find 5lbs of chia seed at costco for only 7.99
Mili,
In what department at Costco did you find them?
Thanks!
I found them in the grain isle, right next to the quinoa and rice.
Costco has them but in MN they are in a 2 lb bag for 13.79. Boy I sure wish we had the large bag sold at your costco.
I am a little confused on how much chia should be consumed each day. This post recommends one to two table spoons each day. However, the lady in the video, make the chia gel with just one teaspoon, and suggests to place it in various items. If using the chia gel, how does the one teaspoon used equate to the one to two tables spoons recommended? Thank you kindly.
If you want to drink chia gel, then a teaspoon in a glass of water, juice or tea 3 times a day makes 1 tablespoon. However, I use whole or ground chia seeds in most of my recipes Annette. I often make a fruity chia gel to have over yogurt and make it much thicker by adding a tablespoon of chia seeds to half a cup of fruit juice – sometimes more, sometimes less, as the mood takes me. There are no rules to follow. My main focus is to enjoy what I eat while getting 1 to 2 tablespoons of the seeds per day, which gives noticeable health benefits. I hope that clears up any confusion.
hi
i am from india.in india curries form an important part of daily food.they are cooked at a temp of more than 100c. can we use chia in curries?.please reply
thanqq
prasad
Hi Prasad. I love curries and I have used whole chia seeds to thicken curries. I like to add the seeds at the end of the cooking time and let the dish stand for 10 minutes or so to allow the seeds to absorb the curry sauce and thicken it. This metyhod works for stews and casseroles too.
I wish to manufacture Chia health products in order to establish an income for our children’s home here in Zimbabwe.
Please can you send me Recipies for sweets/candies that will be healthy and attractive to children. I’d love to produce a Chia Lolipop or a Chia seed bar. My main problem is the amount of sugar that usually goes into candies.
Any ideas?
Hi Des. I don’t have any recipes for this sort of product, but maybe our readers can help. Regarding sugar, there are some substitutes that are healthier, for example, dried fruits, stevia (a natural plant that is 6 times sweeter than sugar and comes in powdered or liquid form) and my current favorite substitute – coconut palm sugar, which is full of vitamins and minerals and is low GI. Good luck with your project.
I was very excited to read this post’s reference to ‘coconut palm sugar’. I am sugar free but still use artificial sweeteners and am looking for ways to get away from that. Stevia, I find, has a bitter taste to it and try as I might, cannot seem to acclimate to it. I did some quick research on ‘coconut palm sugar’ and came upon this link from 2010: http://summertomato.com/is-coconut-palm-sugar-a-healthy-sugar-substitute/.
I continued to look for more updated information, but really couldn’t find anything. So for those who have true health issues that are impacted by the Glycemic Index issue, this may not be a good choice. Although it sounds like it is simply delicious!
Stevia is the best option so far, but I just can’t seem to embrace its flavor.
Thank you for having this great site. I am learning so much and have now purchased chia seeds and will be trying them shortly.
Love and Light
Hi Fachia. I am almost sugar free, but lately I have been using coconut palm sugar where a little sweetness is needed.
it seems to be very healthy, low on the glycemic index, full of minerals and vitamins and tastes wonderful. I now add a little of this sugar to any chia seed recipe where before
I would have used stevia. Here’s what Dr.Oz has to say about it http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/coconut-palm-sugar-best-new-sugar-alternative
I use raw, unsifted honey from the farm and add some xylitol to protect my teeth against the honey.I also have a problem with the bitterish taste of stevia. I don’t ever take dangerous sweetners like aspartame and the likes. I get my honey directly from the farmer which cost less that half of the radiated honey that we can buy in the shops. I do not know if we have coconut palm sugar in SA. I do use coconut oil for all my cooking and I just love it even on rye bread and will try put some chia seeds on next time. At the moment I douse my rye bread coconut oil with non irradiated cayenne pepper GMO free.
Your raw honey direct from the farm sounds wonderful. I would continue using that rather than look for something that is not local. You have some very interesting and healthy food ideas
I was at an essential oils/ scientific nutrition class last night, and the instructor said Trivia is much sweeter than the bitter taste of Stevia. I have yet to try Stevia, but I find Trivia pleasantly sweet. You might also try agave instead of honey, it’s very concentrated and sweet. Good luck on your business!
Just wondering if Chia seeds have a taste to them?
They have a very mild nutty taste Hannah. This makes them ideal to use in all sorts of recipes as they take on the flavor of whatever you mix with them.
Hi, I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Thanks for this very usefull website. I’m just try to consume chia seeds for this couple of days.
I want to ask you some questions :
1. Is it true that chia seeds nutrition will ‘broken’ if we cook it into higher temperature ?
2. So the best serve is, just put into water & drink it ?
3. How to keep chia seeds ? In refrigerator ?
Thx in advance.
Hi B. Julian. I have been to Jakarta – its a very beautiful city. In answer to your questions, 1. Chia seeds are very hardy and not many nutrients are lost when the seeds are cooked. 2. Its quick and easy to drink the seeds in water, but it gets very boring. Try it in a fruit juice gel, soup or any of the recipes on this site. 3. Chia seeds have so many antioxidasnts that they keep well for up to two years in a kitchen cupboard. But the heat and humidity in Jakarta may lessen this time, so no harm in keeping them in the refriderator. Great to hear from you
Does chia seeds can make constipation too ?
How many times we can take glass of chia seeds in daily ?
I take it a glass for daily but for next 3-4 days , it makes me constipation.
Need your suggestion.
Thx in advance.
Hi B. Julian. You need to drink more. Any increase in fiber can cause constipation, and because chia seeds absorb fluid it is more likely to cause constipation that other fiber sources . However, fiber is very important for bowel health and is usually recommended to help avoid constipation. A simple way to help if adding chia seeds to your diet causes constipation is to drink an extra glass or two of water for every tablespoon of chia seeds eaten.
I usually put a tablespoon of chia seeds in my mouth and then drink at least 8 oz water to swallow them.
Super quick and easy
hello! i also live in britain and find chia seeds very easy to buy,at least four shops in norwich have them,the cheapest at &7.00 for a 1lb pot. try soaking a good tablespoon in a half pint of luke warm water with half a lemon juice, i find they seem to jelly-up a lot quicker and tast yummy!
Tracy, I’m from Scotland, you can get them from amazon. I ordered mine on Monday and they arrive Wednesday. Around £12 for a kilo.
I take chia seeds daily and find them very good. We have a 9 month old and Im wondering if it is beneficial / safe to give him a small dose daily?
Thanks
Mark
Hi Mark. I am just a dedicated chia seed user and have no medical training so can’t offer medical advice. However to help you make a decision, the FDA has deemed chia seeds to be a food and has put no limits on the amount of chia seeds to use daily or on the age to start using chia seeds. My kids are grown up, but if I had a 9 month old baby I would be cautious about adding any seeds to his diet and would add only ground chia seeds in tiny amounts to food that he is already eating and tolerating well.
Hey,
My daughter is allergic to eggs so has been having chia seeds as an egg substitute since she was about 8mo. I have not noticed any adverse reaction to these. She is breastfed on demand so I guess she may be taking more fluid on the days she has them, I really wouldn’t know.
I usually add them to porridge, pancakes and fritters. With the fritters you have to add oil as well to make them bind properly.
Hi I am from the UK , I have just recently being taken Chia seeds as they are not yet available in the UK. They are great , I have being taking them for 2 weeks now and already see the benefits. I just wish the UK would hurry up and pass these over here !
I live in Surrey and go to university in Cambridge and have had no trouble finding chia seed as they’re in just about any health food shop. I’ve also found them in Dundee & Jersey, its very strange that you can’t find them.