Doctor explains simple chia seeds error that can make you healthier if fixed

You might have noticed that chia seeds are having a bit of a moment on social media, with the superfood finally being lauded for all its numerous health benefits.

As health gurus will be quick to point out, chia seeds aren't anything new, but while people are suddenly getting hyped over the benefits of chia water, one doctor has revealed one mistake people could be making and how they can fully maximise the nutritious food's benefits.

The fountain of all health knowledge Dr Karan Rajan has taken to Instagram to warn that eating chia seeds with water could lead to early fermentation and therefore, excess gas production.

But fear not - if you want even more health benefits without the trumpet trousers, all you need to do is eat your chia seeds with yoghurt instead of water. Simples.

"If you eat chia seeds with yoghurt, rather than water, you get more benefits for your gut and microbiome," he explained. And here's where it gets technical.

"Your gut contains live bacterial cultures like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Chia's soluble fibre and mucilage act as prebiotics, thus feeding these bacteria. When eaten together, you get this natural symbiotic effect. Probiotics in the yoghurt have a ready snack to ferment which can improve short chain fatty acid production. That's the good stuff which is gold dust for your health."

That all sounds good, and impressively, the benefits don't end there, as the calcium, vitamin D and fat in the yoghurt will also enhance the absorption of the fat soluble compounds in the chia seeds.

Even if you also have no idea what any of that really means, if Dr Karan says it's good for us, then we'll absolutely take his word for it.

"One of the biggest benefits of eating more fibre is appetite regulation, when you combine fibre from the chia seeds and protein and fat from the yoghurt," he continued.

This means your gut receives more signals of fullness, stimulating those natural hormones of satiety, including GLP-1. Yep, the very same one being imitated by Mounjaro and Ozempic.

"When you combine dairy proteins and peptides from the yoghurt with fibre in the chia seeds you get a slower, more consistent fermentation of those compounds colon," Dr Karan said. "This leads to a wider range of short chain fatty acids which produced like butyrate and propionate."

Meanwhile, mixing the seeds with water can lead to early fermentation in the lower colon, leading to excess gas production and those darn trumpet trousers we mentioned earlier.