We are aware that numerous superfoods are currently being recommended for inclusion in our diets, including quinoa, kefir yogurt, and dark leafy greens.
Nonetheless, anyone planning to replace sugary snacks with these organic snacks should read the label first; otherwise, they may be forced to deal with unpleasant substitutes.
One man faced the same dilemma after discovering that putting chia seeds into his diet had extra benefits. He decided to ingest a tablespoon of the small seeds before drinking a glass of water.
It appears to be in terrific health. Finally, how much harm can a few tiny seeds high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber do to the body?
As it occurs, they can have some quite negative side effects.
Shortly after starting this new diet, the unidentified man became unable to swallow anything, including his own saliva, and was taken to the hospital for emergency care.
Doctors detected a nasty, gel-like substance lodged in his esophagus.
The chia seeds absorbed the water, resulting in the obstruction. According to Healthline, chia seeds can absorb “up to 12 times their weight” in liquid. This suggested that the seeds had immediately interacted with the water the man drank, resulting in this thick mixture.
“It got to be this sort of almost Play-Doh-like consistency, very hard in terms of a liquid but also kind of soft,” Dr Rebecca Rawl, the doctor who helped treat the patient, told Time.
Dr. Rawl and her team used a small endoscope to break open the obstruction and retrieve the seeds.
The case was reported in 2014 by the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
However, if you consume chia seeds correctly, the superfood is perfectly safe, so don’t rush to eliminate them all at once.
What is the best way to eat chia seeds?
Because chia seeds expand rapidly when exposed to liquid, it is best to wait for this reaction to complete before eating them.
Adding chia seeds to smoothies, yoghurt, and porridge is a popular way to consume them because the seeds expand in the liquid rather than in your stomach.
Another popular technique is chia seed pudding, which combines the seeds with milk and additional toppings before being cooled.
Chia seeds only need to soak for 10 to 20 minutes, so there’s no need to keep them in the fridge overnight.
