What's the skinny on chia seeds in Thailand?

[Jingthing]

A new trendy super food being promoted as a weight loss "helper" has come on my radar.

CHIA SEEDS

I've already determined they are available at some places in Thailand.
Expensive, but you don't use that much.

Are any of you using Chia seeds to assist with weight loss?

If so, how are you using them exactly?

Also what are some good retail store sources for seeds (and prices).

Specifically interested in Pattaya but here's a source for Phuket and Bangkok.

CHIA SEED for WEIGHT Loss - Chia seeds are PERFECT for losing weight.
Mix one table spoon of Chia seed to a glass of water & drink it 10 minutes BEFORE you eat food. The dietary fiber in the chia seed forms a gel in your stomach and gives you the feeling of having food in your belly. It will greatly help you reduce the amount of food you can eat each day.

http://www.thailandmuaythai.com/chia-seed-thailand.html

Edited April 12, 2014 by Jingthing

[Old Croc]

Try the search function. There's been several threads about this product specifically in the Phuket and cm forums

[Jingthing]

Try the search function. There's been several threads about this product specifically in the Phuket and cm forums

Thanks. That was good for sourcing but I didn't see any chia weight loss experience reports via search.

http://www.healthfoodthailand.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=chia&osCsid=b4f22c9e650cf5763fb7ae4cd6f5d308&x=0&y=0

[impulse]

Can't speak for chia seeds, but psyllium husks work for me. That's generic Metamucil, unflavored- added to orange juice. Makes it taste like very pulpy orange juice.

I go under the theory that the psyllium absorbs fat (and oil) and keep it from entering my system. Weight goes down, albeit very slowly. Blood chemistry numbers seem to improve, too. I wouldn't make this claim under oath, but I also feel better- probably from pooping 2-3 times a day to cleanse toxins.

Problem is keeping it up since I buy the generic psyllium back in the States- the brand names are obnoxiously expensive. And most of them are flavored, with way too much sugar.

[Sheryl]

You van buy psyllium here - Villa markets, or from online health food store Good Karma.

[Jingthing]

Thanks for that but I'm not really on board with viewing chia seeds and psyllium as equivalent substances.

[Jingthing]

More about chia seeds.

Lots to chew on but here is part with potential implications for weight control:

Another advantage: when added to water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, chia forms a gel. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar.

...

I expect we'll soon be hearing much more about chia and its health benefits.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA365093/Chia-for-Health.html

Interesting comparison to flax in this link (which is something I eat daily). Flax you need to GRIND to get the nutritional value and also it easily goes rancid so you must refrigerate. Chia seeds don't need to be ground and don't easily go rancid.

Chia clearly is gonna be big.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Jingthing

[impulse]

Thanks for that but I'm not really on board with viewing chia seeds and psyllium as equivalent substances.

True.

Psyllium husk is pretty much all fiber (91%), with no nutritional value.

Chia seeds have fat (30% +/-) protein (25% +/-) and other goodies.

Still, I'd be interested in hearing a comparison from some folks who have tried them both for weight loss, cardiac health, blood sugar, general energy and alertness level, etc.

[Taggart]

I've been rotating most mornings between a tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia seeds for the last few years here in Canada and I haven't seen any sign of satiation or weight loss through taking either. I just add either seed to my diet because of the omega-3 benefit, nothing else. I'm 64 and still on doctor prescribed pills for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Taggart

[kekalot]

okay so, I haven't used Chia seed for weight loss because.. well I am far from being fat but!

I can tell you that..If you do it correctly chia can definitely make you full or not want to eat anything else

I made a mix once in a 1 liter bottle of water for work.. and well I put a little bit too many seeds in (maybe 2-3 spoons)

after about 15-20 minutes each seed will hold a good amount of water around it to the point where most if not all of them won't be able to touch each other

if you put too much of it, its very thick and filling.. I had a good "drink" of that stuff after a 5k run and after a few minutes I had to go get another bottle of water because it wasn't like I had drank anything.. and no its not nasty

I was thirsty as hell and that would NOT fix it at all.. well, eventually.. it would.

it made me skip my lunch too

on another note, Chia was kind of expensive back in Canada too.. would last a while tho with maybe 2-4 spoonfuls at most a day (if that)

Edited July 31, 2014 by kekalot

[Jingthing]

I looked further into this and I not convinced of the effectiveness of Chia seeds in weight loss or weight maintenance. I have also seen some for sale in Thailand at some stores. Not everything out there touted as effective really is effective. I still am convinced that Garcinia Cambogia can be effective for many though.

[AlexRRR]

Chia seeds will give you an energy boost and a feeling of being full, since ive been using chia my energy level has gone up considerably and i dont feel like eating as much.

There was some trial and error using chia as i was always bloated at first untill i reduced the amount, recommended is 2 tables spoon, i started with 2 tea spoons and it was too much for me.

Aztec and Mayans held chia in high regard, its loaded with nutrients and claimed to be a super food, originally i began using chia to help improve my immune system due to an allergy i have and was pleasantly surprised with the extra energy as well as wanting to eat less food.

There is no know proven research of weight loss benefits from chia but i can assure you if you take chia daily with a PROVEN and sensible weight loss program such as Weight Watchers you cant help being successful.

[Jingthing]

The long term success record of people using Weight Watchers is atrocious. Waste of money. Diets don't work. Wrong approach. But it's a good BUSINESS.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/32/the-men-who-made-us-thin.html

Jacques speaks to a former director of Weight Watchers, who admits that customer failure was a significant factor in the company's profits: people have to keep coming back.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[AlexRRR]

The long term success record of people using Weight Watchers is atrocious. Waste of money. Diets don't work. Wrong approach. But it's a good BUSINESS.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/32/the-men-who-made-us-thin.html

Jacques speaks to a former director of Weight Watchers, who admits that customer failure was a significant factor in the company's profits: people have to keep coming back.

Thats because many humans fall back into bad habits, the reality is humans eat for a variety of reasons and its not just to survive.

Weight watchers is a very good program because they will teach you, to many jokers try and do it them selves, food and diet is a science, maybe 1 in 1000 can do it on there own and keep it off.

As for customers coming back...if your a life member and fall off the wagon its free the others who keep returning face all sorts of problems and its not always about lack commitment.

Just as people make bad food choices they make bad relationship choices too, who is perfect? who never gets it wrong? who leads a clean healthy life? who never gets sick? who never makes a mistake? why do TV members always state the obvious?

[Jingthing]

I suggest watching the documentary. Again, the very concept of "going on a diet" is proven to be an approach with a very low long term success rate. Not only Weight Watchers of course. I am talking about something different than you think ... it's far from obvious to most people who still buy into the "going on a diet" mindset.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[AlexRRR]

I don't see Weight Watchers as a diet, its a healthy style of eating, the program teaches you a way of life with food, for people who have no idea or lost there way.

I don't need to get into the nitty grittie of "diets" plenty around that are pretty much pure snake oil, but in the end if your over weight and you want to loose weight what shall we call it?

[Taggart]

For the last few years I've been eating a tablespoon of chia seeds at least every second day when I'm not visiting Thailand, and I haven't seen any sign of satiation from it whatsoever. We're all different, but I find far more satiation from something like an apple, or plain baked potato than I ever did from chia seeds.

[Jingthing]

Try garcinia cambogia.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Taggart]

Try garcinia cambogia.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thanks Jingthing, but the conclusions from two studies I've read don't get me wanting to try it.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21936892

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21197150

If it works for you that's great.

[AlexRRR]

I use 1 tablespoon in a 500m bottle of water each day, what i have noticed is more energy I'm more alert i don't get any cravings for fatty or sugary items and i eat less, i find i don't snack anymore between meals.

Toping up with water when i get a pang for something to eat immediately makes me feel full again, if anyone bothered to do a web search on chia they would be able to read what there claim to fame is, i don't use for weight loss but it is a pleasant side affect, i use for all the other benefits associated with there use.

If the only reason to use chia is for weight loss....many people will be disappointed, yes I'm very sure they can assist but a person needs will power and a proper eating plan to succeed, just from reading in TV lot of crazy ideas on diets and weigh loss in here.