Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Seeds Review

Do you buy into the hype?

After reading Born to Run, I not only bought into the hype of barefoot running, but also into ingesting these tiny little seeds previously used to grow green-afros on pottery.  I was hooked on barefoot running from step one, and continue to love it, but I'm still not sure how I feel about chia seeds.

Christopher McDougall describes chia seeds in Born to Run (fantastic read) as a Red Bull type of energizer, with endurance boosting powers.  Then some independent, online research also boasted that chia seeds are a superfood, high in omega-3s which also:

• Help regenerate muscle tissue (as well as tissue during pregnancy and lactation)
• Help aid digestion
• Increase hydration
• Increase weight loss
• Balance blood sugar
• Cut cravings for food

...along with a host of other benefits.  These claims sound too good to be true, and probably are.  I've tried chia seeds a handful of times now and can't say with certainty that any of these claims are true or false, but other than a little boost in energy, I can't say I felt much different on them.

Here's a few notes on my experience with chia seeds:

• I did feel a bit energized on chia seeds.  Similar to having a small cup of tea
• It's difficult to say whether they boost endurance because I'm still getting used to barefoot running, and haven't really tried lengthy endurance workout
• It's also difficult to say whether they boost hydration or not, but I don't think I felt the desire to drink as much during the workout, so that's a maybe (but with little certainty)
• Over the past few monthss, my muscles have been recovering quicker and quicker thanks to getting back in the gym after a few months of inactivity (stupid surgery!)

Overall:

• Chia seeds have not held up to the hype, but I do see value in experimenting with them on occasion
• I like having an alternative energizer to caffeine and am happy to use chia seeds, but if I'm really honest with myself, I enjoyed reading Born to Run so much that I sense a little placebo effect in action.  I'm not always energized when I have chia seeds, but I can usually feel it
• I'm all for the placebo effect.  It works.  Believe in something and make it a reality.  Why not?
• Many of the benefit claims I've read online seem to be false or over-exaggerated.  If you eat paleo, it shouldn't be of concern anyway.  You'll be fine.
• At the least, chia seeds seem like a decent way to add a little variety to your diet.  I say try them for yourself.  If you like them, continue to have them, if not, stop.  Some people swear by it, others not so much.  

Macadamias, you make me smile.

Thanks to a recent Groupon offering (and my Groupon addiction), Ryan and I found ourselves with Groupon deals to the Nutty Guys.  So far we’ve received 3 orders from them and have been really pleased. 

Our current Nutty Guys stash includes:

• Walnut meal – although trying to minimize nut flour use altogether, this should be a good alternative to almond meal
• Macadamias! – so yummy, and a decent omega 3 to 6 ratio
• Brazil nuts – to be eaten sparingly, bad omega 3 to 6 ratio, but packed with selenium
• Unsweetened banana chips – good way to satisfy the occasional sweet tooth (these do make me consider getting us our own food dehydrator)
• Chia seeds – Ryan just read Born to Run, and is going to experiment with Chia seeds, I am not yet well versed in the Chia seed (unless it is growing on pottery).

Overall Nutty Guys review:  It's a great resource because you can get just about any nut you want, and unsalted. It's been hard to find plain, unsalted macadamia and brazil nuts. Their pricing isn't always cheap, but it is still very competitive - and sometimes it is just cheap (big bags of walnut meal for $2!?!).  Over-all, we definitely recommend Nutty Guys for those hard to find nuts, seeds, and nut meal, but otherwise you might be better off just buying nuts at the store.

Our nut stash.