Considered a superfood, chia seeds must be ground to improve the assimilation of nutrients, especially fiber.
- Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber.
- Researchers show, however, that they are more interesting for the body when they are consumed crushed.
- This could have implications in the treatment of certain conditions, including depression.
Chia seeds have been cultivated for millennia in South America. A few years ago they became very popular. Rich in fiber and antioxidants, they are considered a superfood. According to a study published in Food & Functiontheir health benefits would depend on how they are consumed.
Chia seeds: what are their interactions with the intestinal flora?
“Chia seeds contain healthy fats, antioxidants and dietary fiber, but there is not much research on how the composition of these seeds interacts with the intestinal microflora, which helps digest food.“, explains the lead author of this work, Professor Rachel Burton of the University of Adelaide, Australia. To understand these interactions, the research team used intestinal microbes from pigs. The scientists exposed these to chia seeds in different forms: ground and whole.”The samples were incubated for 70 hours while a special robotic machine measured the gas released during this time, simulating the digestion process.”explain the authors.
Dietary fibre: consume ground seeds to facilitate access to nutrients
They found that when the seeds were ground, they produced “more beneficial metabolites or fuel that could then be used to renew intestinal cells”. For co-author Dr. James Cowley, these results show that humans may derive more benefit from consuming chia seeds if they were eaten ground. It would improve”access to key nutrients such as dietary fibre”.
“Through this research, we discovered that different preparation methods influenced the nutritional benefits derived from the seeds and that grinding them provided more nutrients than consuming them whole.”conclude the authors.
Chia seeds: what could be their health benefits?
According to them, this research could be used to develop clinical trials to identify the best way to consume this superfood. “Much emerging research shows that gut microbes in the digestive system influence a wide range of conditions, including depression and anxiety, explains Dr. Cowley. Consuming ground chia seeds can potentially shift populations of gut microbes and affect their progression, but more research needs to be done in this area.”
