Chia seeds

[LushLemonTart]

Has anyone tried the chia seeds cinnamon and hot water on an empty stomach?
I've done it today and didn't feel hungry until about 3pm.
I'm not sure if you can do it every day?
I only fancied a salad so made a cucumber and mint one. With red onion and garlic etc. So low cal.
I'm having fish and roast vegetables for dinner.

I haven’t heard of this but just googled it and it seems promising! Could I ask how you make it and quantities used? There seems quite a few versions online!

@RaspberryArcadia I put a dessert spoon of chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of sweetener in a mug and added hot water. I let it steep for half an hour. You can use honey if you want?
I'm still not very hungry.

Does it taste nice? Sounds a bit grim.

I frequently have chia seeds in water. Very high fibre so they’re filling.

They might give you the "quicklies" tomorrow morning. Just saying.

I’m not sure of the significance of taking it on an empty stomach, but I make chia pudding a lot. It’s filling and healthy, I like the texture (reminds me of childhood tapioca in a good way) and depending what you mix it with can be really delicious. Not sure I fancy making it with water though, would be a bit flavourless? I either make it with milk, coconut milk, or fruit juice. Tend to make a big batch and have it in tge fridge to grab for breakfasts/snacks/desserts.

Is it chia seeds and milk mixed together? Do you leave it over night?

Yes, I tend to leave overnight so that the seeds can absorb all the liquid. They become kind of frog-spawny then, rather than seeds floating in liquid.

Or I do an overnight oats thing, with half oats and half chia.

I often have overnight mixed grains yoghurt for lunch. Just before eating, I add blueberries, pistachios, pomegranate and chia seeds (that way they aren’t gloopy). That’s eight different plants, different colours, plus protein, and keeps me going through a two-hour gym session and a long walk home, until my evening meal which can be as late as 11pm.

They don't taste great but not terrible. The cinnamon and sweetener help.

Honestly I wasn't hungry for dinner but ate it.

A dessert spoon sounds quite a lot? They expand in liquid.

Said a tablespoon so I put less. You can put less though. I don't think they can harm?

Well they swell up and so if they swell inside you I think it can be pretty uncomfortable and even cause constipation. It happened to a friend. She ended up having to have medical intervention. She's okay now but it wasn't very pleasant for her.

I have a tablespoon every day and never had any issues. Its good fibre

That’s only if you haven’t soaked them properly beforehand. If you have then they’ve already swollen up to their full size before you eat them. I’ve eaten gallons of chia pudding with no ill effects, far more than a tablespoon of seeds.

Must have been grim for your friend though, I’m sorry. I read a story once about someone who ate a spoonful of dry chia seeds and followed it with a glass of water - they started swelling immediately and blocked his oesophagus. He nearly died.

This is interesting. I wont advice against the sweetener though, if you are doing this for health, as that will cause and insulin spike - honey would be really bad too

Yes mine have swollen fully when I drink it.

It's erythritol I use @Lemniscate8 and it doesn't cause a spike. I only use a pinch.

Yes. Definitely need to put them in some sort of liquid to soak for a few hours before eating them. I think my friend put them in a smoothie and drank it straight away.

Are you sure? I am very interested in this, as as far as I know, anything with a sweet taste causes an insulin spike. How do you know this one doesn't?

Any reports on the helping with weight loss though?

That sounds absolutely hideous!

I eat chia seeds every day though.

I hydrate them in a bit of water, then mix them into Greek yoghurt (to make chia seed 'pudding'), and have it with blueberries and honey.

I also add a spoon of them, and a spoon of flaxseed, to porridge, which I have with a banana, maple syrup and cinnamon.

Yes I think they keep you fuller for longer.

Chia seeds seem to have a laxative effect on me so I suppose I'd lose weight overall.

I've lost 2 pounds in a few days. Stomach is definitely smaller. No digestive problems.

Erythritol goes straight through apparently? The amount I use is minimal as I don't have a sweet tooth.

I soak them in apple juice overnight then stir into Greek yoghurt for breakfast with raspberries/strawberries/blueberries