Chia seeds for calcium - can anyone give me any advice pls

[karmel]

Read very different views on how you use chia seeds. That they can be just sprinkled then I read that they have to be soaked (to make them easier to digest) in water only then I read they can be soaked in almond milk. I tried sprinkling them and had digestion issues and have now started soaking them. Are there different types of chia seeds and have some been processed as I have now seen white chia seeds that can be sprinkled without having to be soaked first. Thanks.

[HeronNS]

I read just now that you should soak chia seeds because they expand so much they could cause problems, a possible choking hazard or even a blockage, in the gut if enough of them are expanding inside! Also because they absorb so much water you'd need to be sure you drank lots of water when eating them. I personally don't like them unsoaked as they get stuck in my teeth much more easily.

[karmel in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks Heron, yes that is how it felt, that they were expanding inside of me when I sprinkled 1 tablespoon in a Benecol (cholesterol lowering) yoghurt. It must have taken a good 18 hours for my poor gut to digest them. I have now read that people who have acid reflux find eating them unsoaked beneficial. I'll stick to soaking them now on even if it says that they can be sprinkled.

[HeronNS in reply to karmel]

I suppose it depends how many you are eating at a time. A tablespoon would be a lot, but a decorative teaspoon likely not a problem!

You got me curious and I just found this: chiaseedrecipes.com/chia-ge...

[karmel in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you very much for the link Heron. It is the most comprehensive of all the info I have found. Two salient points are start of with 1 or 2 tspns and add the Chia Seeds to liquid and whisk. I will start again lol.

[HeronNS in reply to karmel]

I'd forgotten about it and must get it again. I used to buy a cereal which included chia seeds and would soak it overnight which made it quite palatable in the morning. It also had quinoa in it but can't remember the third grain. Probably oat flakes.

[karmel in reply to HeronNS]

Was it flax seed?

[HeronNS in reply to karmel]

chia buckwheat and hemp. Qia made by Natures Path

[AnnieW55]

I use both whole chia seeds a milled chia seeds (from Aldi mainly). I put them in my home made kefir and yoghurt but I only use a teaspoon, 5ml, at a time. For my kefir I just leave to stand a few minutes then drink (I up in turmeric, black pepper and ground cumin too). For my yoghurt I normally make it up in a morning by adding 2-3g of cocoa, chia seeds and dried prunes, mix well and have at lunchtime😋

[karmel in reply to AnnieW55]

Thanks for those tips.