You may have seen the popularity of chia seed water on TikTok, or seen it recommended for weight loss.
In this post, you will learn about chia seed water, including what it is, what the benefits are, how to drink it for weight loss, the best times to drink it, and a simple and quick recipe!
What is Chia Seed Water?
Chia Seed Water is an easy drink that you can make by easily combining chia seeds into a glass of water.
This makes it an easier way to eat chia seeds and consume them on the go. This also ensures that you are getting enough water when you eat chia seeds. This is important since chia seeds are so high in fiber.
Chia seeds are little black, white, and grey seeds that are packed with fiber, protein, and nutritional benefits. It’s common to soak chia seeds in water in order to form a gel before eating them. This is commonly referred to as soaking chia seeds.
So chia seed water allows you to consume the chia seeds that have been slightly soaked, without having to go through the process of soaking them. Also, because it is a much thinner consistency than chia seed gel, you can drink chia seed water on the go, rather than having to eat it or add it to food.
Chia Seeds Benefits
Chia seeds provide tons of benefits. They provide lots of fiber, as well as Omega-3 fatty acids, plant-based protein, and antioxidants.
This high amount of fiber is great since most people are deficient in fiber, which is essential for great health. Also, most people are lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids, which chia seeds can also provide. They are one of the highest sources of plant-based Omega-3s.
Chia seeds give tons of free-radical fighting antioxidants. These battle the free radicals caused by everyday stress in life.
(Learn more about all the chia seeds benefits at Chia Seed Benefits.)
Benefits of Chia Seed Water
Chia seeds in general provide tons of benefits.
Chia seed water makes it easy to eat chia seeds daily and to also eat them throughout the day as well. This is a great benefit for getting more fiber in your diet which chia seeds provide, as well as antioxidants and Omega-3 fats.
Chia seed water might also help you with weight loss. Chia seeds are very high in soluble fiber. This type of fiber slows down your digestion and helps you to feel full for longer periods of time after eating.
Also, chia seeds are said to continue absorbing water and expanding in the stomach, taking up more space and making you feel fuller. This can help you to potentially eat less.
Studies have shown that soaking chia seeds before eating them, will lead to higher absorption of the Omega-3s into the bloodstream.
Chia water will give the chia seeds some time to soak, which might help with the ALA Omega-3 absorption. Although they won’t spend as long of a time soaking as when you soak chia seeds, they will get some time to soak in the water. This especially depends on how long it takes you to drink the chia seed water after preparation.
Chia Seed Water for Weight Loss
Chia seed water can be used to help with weight loss. But realize that the best results will come not just from drinking chia water or eating chia seeds, but also from a combination of a healthy plant-based diet as well as exercise and movement.
But chia seed water can help aid weight loss in a number of ways. First, chia seed water can provide you with plenty of fiber.
This soluble fiber in chia seeds helps to slow down digestion and also makes you feel full for longer after eating. This slowing of digestion further helps to regulate and keep your blood sugar levels down. This is also important for weight loss.
This lower blood sugar will help keep you from crashing and feeling hungry between meals. Lower blood sugar will also help to keep the body from storing additional fat.
Chia seeds are also believed to continue absorbing more water and expanding in the stomach and intestines. This can further take up more space in the stomach and help you to feel more full and satiated throughout the day.
Chia seed water can also help to provide some plant-based protein, which is also good when you are trying to lose weight.
Finally, chia seed water can help to hydrate you. Hydration is important when trying to lose weight. One analysis found that all of the overweight persons being studied were consistently dehydrated. So there might be a strong correlation and link between obesity and dehydration.
You can find out more information about losing weight with chia seeds here.
How to Drink Chia Seeds to Lose Weight
It would be good to either drink chia seeds in the morning with your breakfast or add some chia seeds to your breakfast instead, as mentioned previously. Then throughout the day, you can drink chia seed water in order to feel fuller in between meals or to help you feel fuller while eating any of your meals. This can help you to eat less.
Best Time to Drink Chia Seeds for Weight Loss
The best time to drink chia seeds for weight loss is in the morning with breakfast (or eat some chia seeds instead), and then drink the chia seed water throughout the day. This will help you to feel fuller for longer in the morning and then consistently throughout the day. If you aren’t able to drink the chia water throughout the day, you could have it with your meals, or as a snack.
If you are looking for an idea, you can do these chia seeds with water in the morning.
After consuming the chia seed water or chia seeds in the morning, you can do the same at lunch and later on throughout the day. You could have some chia seed water on hand to sip on throughout the day as well.
Just don’t overdo it with too many chia seeds, as they can have lots of fiber in them. Learn more about how many chia seeds to eat at How Much Chia Seeds Per Day Should You Eat?
Chia Seed Water Before Bed
There really is no need to drink chia seed water before bed, unless you are waking up in the nighttime and feeling hungry. The best time to drink chia seed water would be in the morning and throughout the day instead.
This is because one of the effects of chia seed water is to help you feel full for longer after your meals. But when you are sleeping this will not matter anyway, since you will not be eating and thinking about eating.
Does Chia Seed Water Make You Poop?
Chia seeds are high in fiber, which can help to promote healthy digestion and bowel movements. When chia seeds are soaked in water, they absorb the water and expand, forming a gel-like substance. This may potentially help to bulk up the stool and make it easier to pass.
However, it is important to note that consuming large amounts of chia seeds or chia seed water may also cause gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea. This is because the high fiber content of chia seeds can absorb a large amount of water and expand in the stomach, which can cause digestive discomfort.
To minimize the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, it is recommended to start with a small serving of chia seeds and gradually increase the amount over time. It is also important to drink plenty of water when consuming chia seeds, as this can help to flush them through the digestive system and reduce the risk of side effects.
Overall, chia seeds may potentially have a mild laxative effect and may help to promote healthy bowel movements in some people. However, it is important to consume them in moderation and to drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.
Chia Seed Water Recipe
Here is a simple chia seed water recipe that you can use to make some simple chia seed water today!
Easy Chia Seed Water
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Chia Seeds You can use more or less chia seeds in order to change the consistency, or if you want to adjust the amount of chia seeds you are eating.
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
- Put 1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds in a large enough drinking glass or cup.
- Add 1 cup of water to the cup with chia seeds.
- Stir the mixture with a spoon.
- Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir again if necessary and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Lance has been passionate about the plant-based diet and we have been following a whole food plant-based diet for over 5 years. We focus on health, natural healing, weight management, animal rights, and the health of the planet and environment by focusing on whole plant-based foods and sustainable practices.
Learn more at the About Me page and follow on social media at the links below.