Chia Seed Drinks and Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seed drinks have recently become popular due to their numerous health benefits, which include improving digestion, promoting heart health, reducing inflammation, and curbing appetite.

Chia seeds can be traced back 5,000 years to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, where they were used for food and medicinal purposes.

They are rich in antioxidants, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also gluten-free, sugar-free, and low in calories.

A tablespoon of chia seeds provides dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and zinc.

Benefits of Chia Seeds

If you’re new to these tiny seeds, it may be helpful to understand their potential health benefits.

Chia seeds are high in antioxidants and omega-3

Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation, contributing to various diseases and health problems.

Antioxidants are essential for a healthy diet, especially for women, as they help maintain youthfulness by slowing aging.

Chia seeds are high in fiber

Chia seeds are rich in insoluble fiber, which speeds up digestion and softens stool. The high fiber content in chia seeds also helps regulate appetite by keeping you satisfied for a longer time.

Fiber controls appetite, helping you consume less, which is crucial for managing weight in the long run.

Chia seeds help fight against chronic disease

Chia seeds are a great source of bioactive compounds. These compounds are chemicals found in plants and certain foods and are known to protect against chronic diseases1.

Bioactive compounds are currently being researched for their potential to prevent heart disease and cancer.

Best time to drink chia seed water

If your goal is to lose a few pounds, especially around the midsection, the best time to drink chia seed water for weight loss is on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

If you simply want to enjoy a refreshing chia seed water drink, you can have a few more sips throughout the day and before bed.

However, you should limit yourself to two tablespoons of chia seeds daily.

Chia seeds mixed with water in the morning help suppress appetite. With a change in diet, you’ll soon start losing inches, and your energy levels will also be sky-high.

How much chia seeds should you consume each day?

While you can add chia seeds to water or meals, there are guidelines on the daily amount you can take. You should not exceed a maximum of 2 tablespoons of chia seeds per day.

Chia seeds side effects

Sticking to the recommended serving of chia seeds is important, as exceeding this may cause digestive issues.

Chia seeds should never be eaten in their dry form. They expand and gel up when they come into contact with liquid, which could choke you.

Chia Seed Drink Options

There are several ways to enjoy chia seed water.

Some people add herbs or fruits to their chia seed drinks to reap maximum benefits, while others just want a simple chia seed and water drink. Whichever combo you pick, you will you sure will love it!

1. Chia seed water infused with mint leaves

Drinking mint water, especially first thing in the morning is highly encouraged because mint is a stimulant that can give you that much-needed energy boost.

If you’ve overindulged and feel so fatigued that you need to hit a reset button to regain your mojo, mint and chia seed water will have you buzzing like a bee in no time.

Mint also helps with weight loss. It stimulates digestive enzymes to break down fat and use it as a source of energy.

Another reason to add mint leaves to your chia seed water is that mint helps relieve indigestion, gas, and bloating.

2. Chia seed and lemon water drink

Lemon water has many benefits, including helping to control your appetite by stabilizing blood sugar, reducing the formation of kidney stones, and helping with digestion by reducing bloating that may be caused by salty food.

How to make chia seed water

The chia seeds will settle at the bottom of the jug. Stir well before drinking.

Instructions

1. Wash the lemon and mint leaves.
2. Cut the lemon into desired pieces.
3. Fill a jug with water and add the lemon slices, mint leaves, and chia seeds.
4. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
5. Stir for at least 30 seconds to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed before drinking, as the chia seeds tend to stick at the bottom of the container.

1. ↩︎

Gómez-Favela, M. A., Gutiérrez-Dorado, R., Cuevas-Rodríguez, E. O., Canizalez-Román, V. A., Del Rosario León-Sicairos, C., Milán-Carrillo, J., & Reyes-Moreno, C. (2017). Improvement of Chia Seeds with Antioxidant Activity, GABA, Essential Amino Acids, and Dietary Fiber by Controlled Germination Bioprocess. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 72(4), 345–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-017-0631-4

Sharing is caring!