Chia Seeds ???

Can I take chia seed oil capsules and get the same health benefits as eating raw chia seeds?

I don't like the taste of chia seeds and wanted an easy way to take them. I would prefer to swallow some pills to get them but the only ones I have found are OIL extracts from chia seeds. Will I still be getting the same benefits by swallowing chia oil capsules as I would if I ate raw chia seeds?

The oil in chia seeds is almost all polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly omega 3 fatty acids. PUFAs are fragile & oxidize (go rancid) quickly when exposed to air. I do not recommend PUFAs that are not in whole food sources. I do not recommend PUFAs in vegetable oils, including chia seed oil.

I would rather see you get empty capsules & put whole chia seeds in the capsules & swallow BUT chia seeds swell up to 10x their size when exposed to moisture & I have concerns about them getting stuck in the throat or extracting moisture from the body.

I can't imagine anyone not liking chia seeds. I add hydrated chia seeds to everything. In Mexico, they add chia seed to lemonade and call it chia fresca and it is addicting.

I make a green drink with spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass & kelp with lemon juice & stevia & add rehydrated chia seed gel and drink this all day.

Faux tapioca - 2 cups of water, 5 scoops of low carb whey protein powder, stir together & add cup of chia seeds, after they have started to absorb the water, add in 2 cans of coconut milk & sweetener if you like and mix it all in. Can be eaten after an hour but will be better tomorrow. Cream a pkg. of cream cheese into a can of pumpkin and add to the faux tapioca for an even more nutritious pumpkin pie pudding.

I make a "porridge" as suggested by Dr.Mercola with low carb whey powder & water, I add ground flax seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, coconut milk, tahini (ground sesame seeds) & raw egg. All seeds & nuts are raw & soaked to germinate them.

Chia seeds sound so expensive but 1# will make 10# food. I buy in bulk from getchia.com for $5# with free shipping. They have a special right now, 3# for $20 of 12# for $60 ($5#) which includes ship costs.

Chia seeds - 3.5 oz is nearly 500 calories, half calories from fat (high in Omega3 fatty acids) 38g fiber 151%DV & 16grams of COMPLETE protein for 6grams carbs & 63% DV Calcium - 95% Phosphorus - 23% Zinc - 9% Copper - 108% Manganese. & many of the same vitamins as flax seeds.

Ground flax seed (4 Tbsp) 1/4 cup water, artificial sweetener, mix in a raw egg - let sit 10 min. to absorb liquid, put some cream cheese in the middle & nuke 2 minutes. For daily fiber needs.

Flax seed - 3.5oz - 534 cal - 65% calories from fat (high in Omega3 fatty acids) for 2gram carb - 27g fiber 109%DV - 26% DV Calcium - 64% Phosphorus - 29% Zinc - 61% Copper - 124% Manganese - 36% Selenium - 98% Magnesium - 32% Iron - 110% Thiamin - 9% B2 Riboflavin - 15% B3 Niacin - 24% Vit.B6 - 22% Folate - 10% Vit.B5.- 39% Potassium