Dr. Gardner, my daughter in law told me about chia seeds as a way to get omega-3. According to what I have read on the Web, it’s higher in O3 and easier to use since the seeds don’t have to be ground. Can you give me your take on it?
Your daughter in law is absolutely right! Chia seeds are excellent for omega-3 oils and high in anti-oxidants. This is why they don’t go rancid (oxidize) like flax seed oil. And, yes, they don’t have to be ground. I’m not sure why they have not taken off big-time in the alternative market.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
6 responses so far ↓
1 Suz // May 17, 2010 at 10:00 am
There’s a white chia seed called Salba that is even more nutritious than the black chia seed. The differences are extraordinary.
Maybe you can send the woman who asked the question this link: http://www.salbasmart.com/salbachia.html
2 Rosemary Evans // May 17, 2010 at 10:43 am
Here’s a few more facts about Chia seeds:
• they contain soluble Vitamins A,D,E & K
• 15 times more magnesium than broccoli
• 6 times more calcium than whole milk
• 9 times more Omega 3 than salmon
• 2 times more fiber than bran flakes
• 3 times more iron than spinach
• high in anti-oxidants (equal to 250 grams (15 oz.) of blueberries)
• Chia is 100% safe with no side effects.
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6 Dr. Stan Gardner // May 24, 2010 at 6:24 am
There is essentially no difference between the black and the white seeds. Go to http://www.eatchia.com and look at the table comparing them. This was written by a reader, but I neglected to get a name.
Consensus on the internet is the black seeds and the white seeds are the same. If a company claims their color or seed is better, ask them to show you their data, and compare it with a non-biased report and see if it is the same. Providing misinformation for a marketing advantage is prevalent in ’standard’ products and ‘healthy’ products.
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