Can I eat chia seeds raw or not? To answer your question right away – yes, you can! But there are a few important things to keep in mind when you eat raw chia seeds .
We will show you these and other ways of preparing chia seeds in the following article.
Chia seeds are high in fibre and omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein . They are also an absolute all-rounder because chia seeds are so versatile:
You can mix them into muesli, smoothies, pudding, bread and even pasta, such as pancakes. Chia seeds are also popular as a topping for ice cream and yoghurt. They can be integrated into our diet in a variety of ways.
But now the question arises: can you eat chia seeds raw? Or do you have to let them swell before eating? You can find the answers to these questions in the following blog post.
Eating raw chia seeds: What do I need to bear in mind?
The fact is that chia seeds can be eaten without soaking. The human body is able to break down the whole seeds if it is given enough fluids at the same time.
That is the crux of the matter: if you eat chia seeds raw, it is essential to consume enough water or another liquid and not to exceed the recommended daily allowance of the German Nutrition Society (15 g per day).
Otherwise, there may be side effects such as constipation or other stomach problems.
How should you eat chia seeds?
Chia seeds can be consumed in a variety of ways. There is no general recommendation regarding how to consume chia seeds.
You can let them swell before eating, but you can also eat them roasted, ground or crushed. The seeds can also be used raw as a topping in salads, muesli, porridge or granola.
The calorie content of chia seeds is not affected by the method of preparation. The most common method of preparing chia seeds is to let them swell. To do this, you can add the chia seeds to water or milk.
The following milk alternatives are also good for swelling chia seeds:
- coconut milk,
- oat milk,
- soy milk,
- nut milk
When the chia seeds swell, they turn into a gel-like mass and increase in volume many times over. This means that the seeds keep you full for a long time, help you lose weight and, as you will see, there are six reasons to eat chia seeds regularly.
Chia seeds for a healthy diet – find out more!
Do you need to grind chia seeds?
Generally, chia seeds do not need to be ground. You can add them straight from the bag to your muesli or use them to make a delicious chia seed pudding.
If you still want to grind the seeds, you can use a grain mill. To avoid losing the benefits of the chia seeds, you should consume them as soon as possible after grinding.
Grinding chia seeds
The seeds can also be ground in a grain mill. In this case, a finer grind must be set than for crushing. The chia seed flour can be used to bake pancakes, muffins or delicious bread.
Roasting chia seeds
Roasted chia seeds taste particularly good as a topping for soups and salads. To roast them, place the chia seeds in a non-stick pan and toast them without oil for about three minutes.
Then let the lightly browned seeds cool and sprinkle them over your salad or add them to your soup.
A healthy breakfast with chia seeds for every day
As you have now discovered, chia seeds can be prepared in many different ways and used to refine a dish. They can be just as easily integrated into your healthy breakfast.
With chia seeds, your porridge or cereal in the morning becomes an especially valuable meal day after day.
If you don't want to worry about the perfect topping, try our wide range of porridges. From fruity to chocolaty, there is plenty to discover.
What's more, our breakfast porridge is prepared in no time and ready to enjoy. This is what a healthy breakfast should be: simple, delicious and healthy!
Healthy breakfast porridge from VERIVAL – find out more!
Where does the superfood chia seed come from?
Chia seeds come from the plant known to botanists as Salvia Hispanica. They originally came to us in Europe from Mexico and Latin America.
In their native country, the seeds have been an essential part of a healthy diet for a long time. Here in Europe, the superfood is experiencing a real boom.
