Chia pudding can be a pretty tasty treat and a great alternative to regular pudding. It can also work well in a plant-based diet.
But is chia seed pudding healthy for you? Can it taste good and be good for you at the same time?
We’ll explore that in this post.
Contents
- Is Chia Pudding Healthy?
- Chia Pudding Benefits
- Is Chia Pudding Healthy for Breakfast?
- Chia Pudding Nutrition
- Is Chia Pudding Good for Weight Loss?
- Chia Pudding Recipe
- Is Chia Pudding Good to Eat Everyday?
- Is Chia Pudding Good for Gut Health?
- Is Chia Pudding Good for You?
Is Chia Pudding Healthy?
Chia pudding can be healthy for you and is a fairly good snack, dessert, or breakfast, that can be good for you. It makes a great alternative to regular pudding. The ingredients used can determine how healthy the chia seed pudding is.
Chia seeds are one of the two main ingredients in chia pudding. Chia seeds are a superfood and a powerhouse of nutrition!
The best type of milk to use would be a plant-based milk instead of dairy milk. This would give you the most nutritional value. I like soy milk because soy has numerous health benefits, but coconut milk is a good choice because it makes the creamiest chia pudding, and coconut milk has been found to be great for you as well. If you are looking to minimize calories, then almond milk might be best.
Also, unsweetened milk would be the healthiest option. Some recipes choose to add a little bit of natural sweetener such as honey. This is a better option than choosing a milk with added sugar.
Some other things that would make chia pudding even healthier, are the additions of fruits or even some plant-based spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cacao powder, or vanilla. Fruits have great health benefits and will make chia seed pudding even healthier. Cinnamon, cloves, cacao powder and vanilla, all have great health benefits to them as well.
Chia Pudding Benefits
Chia pudding has some health benefits which make it a healthy food option. Chia pudding contains a good amount of fiber, thanks to the chia seeds in it. Fiber is essential and great for our health. Plant-based milk will also add some fiber as well, with soy milk providing a good amount.
(You can learn more about chia seeds benefits and side effects)
The chia seeds and plant-based milk are also packed with antioxidants, with the chia seeds providing lots of them. Antioxidants are great for helping to combat free radicals and inflammation in our systems. Soy also provides a lot of antioxidants, if you choose to use soy milk.
Chia Pudding will also have a good amount of healthy fats and Omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are loaded with lots of Omega-3 fats. Coconut milk can provide MCT fats which are good for us as well. Coconut milk has also been found to lower LDL bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol levels.
Chia seeds also have some plant-based protein, which will be more easily absorbed into the body, since the chia seeds have been soaking, which increases the protein digestibility (and ALA and EPA as well). (Learn more at Do You Need to Soak Chia Seeds Before Eating?)
If you choose soy milk you will also add a lot of protein as well. Soy milk actually carries as much protein as regular cow’s milk.
Another benefit of chia pudding is that you will get minerals such as calcium from it. Both chia seeds and plant-based milk are good sources of calcium. The chia seeds and milk will provide other minerals and nutrients as well such as magnesium, potassium and iron.
Many plant milks will also add extra vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and B12.
If you top your chia pudding with fruit, you will add extra nutritional benefits that fruits provide including vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
Some recipes will also call for cinnamon, cacao powder, nutmeg, or other spices. These all have great anti-inflammatory and health benefits as well.
(You can learn more at Chia Pudding Benefits)
Is Chia Pudding Healthy for Breakfast?
Chia pudding is a great healthy choice for breakfast. The fiber and protein will help you fell fuller for longer throughout the day. Also the low glycemic index of chia seeds and the fiber will help to regulate your blood sugar and keep it crashing from what a sugary breakfast might do to you. (Learn more at Is Chia Pudding Healthy for Breakfast?)
Chia Pudding Nutrition
Let’s look at some of the nutritional values of chia pudding. Chia pudding is relatively low in calories, while also being high in fiber. If you use almond milk, the calories will be the lowest.
With almond milk chia pudding, for 1/2 cup of almond milk and 2 tablespoons of chia seeds you have:
| Calories | 150 |
| Fat | 10g |
| Calories from Fat | 90 |
| Fiber | 11g |
| Protein | 5g |
Chia Pudding Calories
We’ll examine the chia pudding calories using almond milk.
Chia Pudding Calories 100 grams
For a 1/2 cup of chia pudding, there are around 140 calories if you use almond milk. This is because 2 tablespoons of chia seeds have 120 calories, and half a cup of almond milk has 20 calories.
Chia Pudding Calories 1 Cup
If using almond milk, the number of calories in 1 cup of chia pudding will only be 280 calories or so. This will change based on the amount of chia seeds you use, but for a standard recipe, you will have about 4 tablespoons of chia seeds for every cup of milk. Four tablespoons of chia seeds are 240 calories, and a cup of almond milk is about 40 calories.
Is Chia Pudding Good for Weight Loss?
Chia Pudding is great for weight loss since it will provide your body with fiber, and also the chia seeds will swell and expand even more in your stomach. This will cause you to feel more full and satiated for longer which can help you to eat less. (See Is Chia Pudding Good for Weight Loss?)
Fiber also increases the amount of calories your body burns from digesting food. This is called the thermic effect. (You can learn more about that at Vegan Diet for Weight Loss Shown to be Very Effective)
Learn more ways to use chia seeds for weight loss at How to Use Chia Seeds for Weight Loss.
Chia Pudding Recipe
You can find a very healthy and easy chia pudding recipe at Easy Two Ingredient Chia Seed Pudding. This recipe will minimize the amount of calories. You can also optionally add fruit which will make the recipe even better for you.
Is Chia Pudding Good to Eat Everyday?
Chia pudding is good to eat everyday. It provides good amounts of fiber which is needed daily, along with antioxidants, Omega-3 fats, protein, calcium, and more.
Is Chia Pudding Good for Gut Health?
Studies suggest that due to its high fiber content and high antioxidant content, chia pudding can have positive effects on gut health, such as aiding in digestion, reducing inflammation, and helping to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria.
Chia pudding can be a good option for gut health because it is a high-fiber food. Chia seeds are a good source of soluble fiber, which can help to add bulk to the stool and promote regular bowel movements. This can be beneficial for maintaining a healthy digestive system and preventing constipation.
In addition, chia seeds contain prebiotics, which are types of non-digestible fiber that serve as food for the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut. Prebiotics can help to support the growth and activity of these beneficial bacteria, which can in turn help to maintain a healthy balance of microflowers in the gut.
However, it’s important to note that chia pudding is not a cure-all for digestive issues and it’s important to pay attention to your body’s needs and work with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your digestive health.
Is Chia Pudding Good for You?
Chia pudding is good for you and provides lots of fiber which is essential to health. It also provides lots of Omega-3 Fats, antioxidants, protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and more.
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.
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