Stop! Put Down The Spoon, Back Away From The Chia Seeds, and Read This First

Chia seeds are having a moment, and everybody’s looking to get in on the healthy trend. It’s no wonder— with their high protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidant and omega-3 levels, chia seeds are a super-grain that can deliver tons of health to your system. There’s just one problem— and POPSUGAR is here to tell us about it.

Basically: chia seeds expand. A lot. In fact, they can expand so much and so quickly, they might not make it to your stomach before you start feeling the effects.

In one patient case study, one man experienced intense dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, after ingesting a tablespoon of dry chia seeds and chasing it with water. One of the reasons chia seeds are touted for weight loss is because they expand multiple times their size in water and help you feel full for longer. However, taking down a dry tablespoon and chasing it back with H2O is not going to lead to a comfortable experience, since they don’t have time to reach your stomach to expand.

The solution is simple, if you think about it. Do you see it? Soak the chia seeds first, then eat them; they should develop a gelatinous coating that’ll help them slide down your digestive tract. Alternatively, you can also grind them up!

Problem solved! Intrigued, but still not early sure you can eat this grain straight-up? Check out POPSUGAR for chia-seed-using recipes, and if you have your own tips, shared them in the comments!