Chia Seeds

[CottonEyeBob Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CottonEyeBob]

Anyone have much experience with these little things? I bought a pack to try since I am constantly hearing about the nutritional benefits, however, I have little knowledge about how to eat them.

What I've done so far is soak them in water so that they form the 'gel'. My question though is, do you need warm water, boiling water or just regular water? Some sources mention 'warm' water, but not how warm. Other sources just say to soak them in water (no real specifics to this) for a few hours.

Also, are you actually meant to chew the seeds after they are ready? I've got a small batch with me now that has been soaked in cold water and well, they are just impossible to chew. The gel means that they slip out of the grip of my teeth before they can be crushed. I can't possibly see how anyone can chew them!

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

I have never used Chia seeds. Are you certain they are not meant to be Sprouted? Or conversely like rice meant to be boiled and then allowed to steam and soften? I would Google recipes or preparation instructions if it were me.

[CottonEyeBob Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CottonEyeBob]

From what I've read, they can either be ground or just soaked in water where they start to develop a gel-like consistency. Other than that though, no one really seems to go into much detail about stuff such as how warm the water needs to be or whether they should be chewed. Mostly people just talk about the end result, such as how they can go well with fruit juice, smoothies or sprinkled onto oatmeal.

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

Are you sure they arent meant to stay whole? Just sort of get em in?

[Spoonman84 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spoonman84]

They make a drink called mama Chia. It's organic and full of chia seeds. Like cotton eye Bob says it has almost a gel like texture. I love them but not for everyone.

[sameel Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sameel]

In my country it is added to the folk cold sweet drinks in summer.
I simply take a teaspoon and then wash it down with water (without chewing before it turns to 'gel'). This seems easy to me. Sometimes, I add acouple of teaspoons in cold water. It turns into gel and then I sip it and wash it down without chewing.

[CottonEyeBob Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CottonEyeBob]

There seems to be a lot of controversy around the topic. One of the sources says that unlike Flax seeds, they do not need to be ground in order to be properly digested. Soaking them in water isn't a requirement either, however, this does apparently help aid in digestion.

Meanwhile, other sources say that they must absolutely be chewed, whether whole or in gel form after being soaked. I guess after soaking I might just add them into a blender along with my protein shake just to be safe. I might just be over-thinking this.

[Dangler Senior Administrator☼ Wizard ☼ White Tiger Award 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close Dangler]

I'd grow them as a Chia pet, harvest the sprouts, and mix them in a salad. (I have not actually done this.)

[akaTrex Senior Member Member of the Month Jan 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close akaTrex]

All I can think of . . .

chia 2.jpg

[jockinthebox Retired Moderator Member of the Month May 2015PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close jockinthebox]

Hey, CottonEyeBob, since you're into chia, I own some swampland, er, GREAT FARMLAND IN FLORIDA, that would make excellent chia FARM! No water needed, it's already irrigated! Wanna buy it??? You'll be a MILLIONAIRE IN NO TIME!!!

[jockinthebox Retired Moderator Member of the Month May 2015PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close jockinthebox]

Hey, CottonEyeBob, since you're into chia, I own some swampland, er, GREAT FARMLAND IN FLORIDA, that would make excellent chia FARM! No water needed, it's already irrigated! Wanna buy it??? You'll be a MILLIONAIRE IN NO TIME!!!

OK Bob,...I'll even sweeten the deal! This GREAT CHIA FARM is located right next to my WORLD FAMOUS SNIPE RANCH ...and I understand snipe doo-doo makes great chia fertilizer, so I'll even throw that in... for free!!