Chia seeds, considered a superfood, should be consumed ground to promote absorption of nutrients, especially fiber.
- Chia seeds are a superfood rich in antioxidants as well as dietary fiber.
- Researchers have found that it is best to consume them ground to make the nutrients easier to access.
- Chia seeds play a role in the intestinal flora, which itself influences certain pathologies.
Chia seeds have been cultivated in South America for thousands of years. They have become very popular in recent years. Rich in fiber and antioxidants, they are considered a superfood. A study, published in Food & Functionreveals that their health benefits would however be linked to the way in which they are consumed.
Chia seeds: how do they interact with intestinal flora?
“Chia seeds contain healthy fats, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, but there isn’t much research on how the composition of these seeds interacts with the gut microflora, which helps digest food.“, says lead author Professor Rachel Burton of the University of Adelaide, Australia. To understand these links, the team of researchers used pig gut microbes. The scientists exposed them 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 period, simulating the digestion process.”the authors explain.
Consume the seeds crushed to facilitate access to nutrients.
They discovered that when the seeds were ground, they produced “more beneficial metabolites or fuel that could then be used to renew intestinal cells”. Dr James Cowley, co-author of the study, believes that these results show that the consumption of chia seeds would be more beneficial if they were consumed crushed. This would improve “access to key nutrients such as dietary fiber”.
“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.”the scientists conclude.
Chia seeds: what are the health benefits?
According to them, this study could be used to develop clinical trials to identify the best way to consume this superfood.A wealth of emerging research shows that gut microbes in the digestive system influence a wide range of conditions, including depression and anxiety, says Dr Cowley. Consuming ground chia seeds may potentially shift gut microbe populations and affect their progression, but more research needs to be done in this area.”
