Can I Drink Chia Seeds While Intermittent Fasting?

Chia seeds have calories, and while intermittent fasting, you cannot consume calories during your fasting window. However, chia seeds have a place in your fasting diet plan, as they are an excellent fiber source and have numerous health benefits.

Intermittent fasting is a weight loss approach that focuses on when you eat instead of what you eat. That doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you want.

As many people soon find out, the only way to successfully manage a 16:8 fasting plan day after day is to consume high-protein, high-fiber foods during your 8-hour eating window.

Key Takeaways

• Chia seeds are a great source of fiber and have numerous health benefits, including promoting good bacteria in your colon, improving digestion, and regulating cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
• While chia seeds can aid in weight loss by making you feel full, they do contain calories, and therefore should only be consumed during the eating window of an intermittent fasting diet plan.
• Chia seeds can be consumed in various ways, including adding them to smoothies, sprinkling them on cereal or yogurt, using them in baking, or making chia water or pudding.

What is a Chia Seed?

Chia seeds are from salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family, and it grows in the arid lands of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. This seed is believed to have been a staple of the Aztecs. It is an excellent fiber source.

Unless you soak chia seeds, they aren’t entirely digestible. They have an enzyme inhibitor that protects the seed by binding to nutrients in the digestive tract, which can irritate your bowels and cause nutritional deficiencies.

Benefits of Chia Seeds

When soaked, chia seeds expand, and some people use them to keep themselves feeling full longer. They also promote good bacteria in your colon and improve your digestion.

You can eat chia seeds a few times daily to promote intestinal health and improve your gut bacteria. Being high in soluble fiber, they will also make your bowel movements more regular and can ease constipation.

Chia seeds aren’t just good sources of fiber. They are also high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. They also contain Omega 3 fatty acids.

Other properties that chia seeds are used for:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antidepressant
• Antianxiety
• Painkiller
• Anti blood clotting
• Regulating your cholesterol levels
• Normalizing blood sugar
• Reducing high blood pressure
• Improve your immune system.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why chia seeds are considered a superfood and why you should consider adding them to your fasting app. Just be sure to consume them only during your eating window.

How to Use Chia Seeds

There are several different ways to add chia seeds to your meals. You can eat chia seeds raw, either whole or ground. Sprinkle them on cereals, oatmeals, or yogurt, and add them to smoothies.

Chia seeds are commonly used in baking. When they soak, they swell and have a thick, slimy mucilage that can be used as a thickener or egg substitute in vegan baking. They make an excellent addition to bread and cookies.

One of the quickest ways to eat more chia seeds is to make chia water. Soak ¼ cup in about a quart of water for a half hour. You can add a squeeze of citrus fruit slices to flavor your water. Remember that chia seeds have calories and will break your fast.

Chia pudding is made the same way as chia water. Use a higher ratio of chia seeds to make it thicker, and use juice or milk instead of water. Add flavorings like cocoa or vanilla. Then you can blend it if you don’t like the texture of the chia seeds.

Chia Seeds for Weight Loss

Chia seeds are excellent for weight loss because they make you feel full. Drinking a glass of water with a tablespoon of chia seeds about a half hour before every meal can help you eat less.

Most grocery stores carry chia seeds, usually in the baking aisle or with other grains like quinoa and flax seeds. You might also find them in the health food section and at health food stores. You can order chia seeds online, as well.

FAQ

• Can I Drink Chia Seeds While Intermittent Fasting?

Yes, you can drink chia seeds while intermittent fasting. Chia seeds are low in calories and fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied during fasting.

• How do chia seeds affect intermittent fasting?

Chia seeds can be a helpful addition to your intermittent fasting routine because they are low in calories and fiber. This means they can help you feel full and satisfied during your fasting period, which can help you stick to your fasting plan.

• What are the benefits of drinking chia seeds while intermittent fasting?

Drinking chia seeds while intermittent fasting can provide a number of benefits. Chia seeds are high in fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied during fasting. They are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation.

• What is the best way to drink chia seeds during intermittent fasting?

The best way to drink chia seeds during intermittent fasting is to mix them with water or another low-calorie beverage, such as unsweetened almond milk or coconut water. You can add them to smoothies or sprinkle them on salads or yogurt.

• Can chia seeds break my fast?

Chia seeds are unlikely to break your fast because they are low in calories and high in fiber. However, some people prefer to stick to water or plain black coffee during fasting to ensure they are not consuming any calories.