Swallow before you read this.
Unlike, say, kale, which you can technically eat off the bush after washing, raw chia seeds can absorb up to 27 times their weight in water. When this process takes place in the stomach, it can help you feel full. However, frightening new research presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 2014 Scientific Meeting suggests that chia seeds don't always make it to the stomach before they expand. The researchers presented a case study in which a man chased a tablespoon of dry chia seeds with a glass of water. The mixture created a gel-like, semi-solid mass that got lodged in his esophagus, which was uncomfortable to say the least. The horrifying evidence:
For what it's worth, the man had a history of esophageal issues. (And
for the record, doctors were ultimately able to remove the mass.) Unless
you regularly have trouble swallowing food (in which case, you should
talk to your doctor), you don't need to ban chia seeds from your diet.
Just soak them (use about 4 tablespoons of liquid such as water or milk
per tablespoon of chia seeds) before you add them to your smoothie,
cereal, or salad dressing. Then erase the photo above from your memory,
and enjoy.via cosmo
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