Why you should never eat dry chia seeds: the consequences will be devastating

The trend of consuming chia seeds has been growing steadily in recent years. They are added to smoothies, yogurts, milk, or even soups. Chia is actively used as a nutritional component in diets. The seeds are rich in omega-3, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which is why, according to nutritionists, they can burn excess fat.

However, chia seeds must be soaked before consumption. The Ifl Science magazine reported on the devastating consequences of eating dry seeds.

There is a case when a 39-year-old man ended up in an emergency room with severe pain in the upper abdomen. He was physically unable to swallow anything (including his own saliva). It turned out that, having heard advice about the beneficial properties of chia, he had eaten a tablespoon of dry seeds and washed them down with a glass of water.

Chia seeds are indeed a source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein. People perceive them as an effective means of losing weight.

One of the properties of chia seeds is that when added to water, they form a hydrogel capsule that absorbs water. This causes a quick feeling of satiety. However, in the case of the man who ate the dry seeds, a blockage occurred. Thus, seeds expanded after immediate water consumption and caused a blockage of the esophagus.

"At first, we tried using an adult endoscope, pushing the mass of chia seeds into the stomach. However, due to the consistency of the seeds, it was not possible to do so. Thus, it just expanded, continuing to block the esophagus," Dr. Rebecca Rawl said.

After many attempts to try to dislodge this gel-like mass, the team eventually used a neonatal gastroscope to push small amounts of chia seeds into the stomach. The doctors did this until a giant "ball" of chia seeds was in the stomach.

Although this is a very rare case, you should never eat chia seeds in dry form. It is better to let them fully expand in liquid before consuming them.

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