Are chia seeds worthy of the superfood tag? Learn more about its benefits and find out which are the best chia seeds in the market.
If you need the extra boost of energy and do not want caffeine wreaking havoc on your body, chia seeds are a great solution. This superfood has been used by ancient Mayan warriors centuries ago, to boost their stamina in battles. As recent studies discovered more health benefits of chia seeds, it has become a popular health supplement.
Chia seeds are low in carbohydrates and yet provide a huge energy boost. These tiny grains of black and white can be easily incorporated into your diet. You can mix them with oatmeals or make smoothies with chia seeds. Or you could simply take it raw if you’re not great with recipes.
5 Best Organic Chia Seeds
I’ve been taking chia seeds regularly and it has been helpful in giving me an extra boost of energy in my hectic schedule. If you’re planning to make chia seeds part of your diet this year and do not know which are the best brands, check out this list.
1. Nutiva Organic Chia Seed, 12 oz
When it comes to chia seeds, Nutiva is arguably one of the top brands in the US. It is geared to promoting sustainability and donates 1% of its sales to sustainable agriculture causes and is committed to having a minimal carbon footprint in their facility.
The chia seeds are USDA organic & non-GMO certified and this means you can consume the chia seed without any worries. The chia-seeds is also never hexane-processed, which means it does not contain any traces of this air pollutant.
You can have the options of 4 different flavors of Nutiva Chia Seed; Black, Ground, Original, and White with various package sizes. The black chia seeds go well with brown rice and yogurt for your health regime.
If you prefer soaking your chia seeds to get the gelatin texture, Nutiva’s chia seeds expand in a shorter period than others. It’ll save you time for your breakfast. Be sure to store your Nutiva chia seeds in dry and cool places and you’ll be able to keep them for up to 9 years.
Thumbs Up For
- Affordability
- High-quality.
- Resealable bag.
Thumbs down for
- Rare cases of packaging issues.
2. Viva Naturals Raw Organic Chia Seeds, 2 lb
Viva Naturals chia seeds are grown by thousands of farmers using improvised techniques to ensure the best chia seeds in the region. The chia seeds are only harvested after careful inspections of the crops to ensure the nutritional value remains intact.
If you’re concerned about the use of pesticides in farming, rest assured that Viva Naturals chia seeds are fully organic and non-GMO compliant. They are sourced directly from the region of South America where chia seeds originate.
The chia seeds by Viva Naturals are clearly grown with gourmet in mind, as it has a superior absorptive ability to provide a smoother texture to the recipes. You can sprinkle some of these seeds into your favorite vanilla yogurt for that extra energy boost it provided.
You can also expect the seed to be fresh and tasteless, as that’s what top quality chia seeds are all about. Besides boosting your mental health, these chia seeds may be helpful if you’re trying to shed off some weight.
Thumbs Up For
- High fiber content.
- Resealable pack.
- Great quality seeds.
Thumbs Down For
- Rare cases of impurities in the bag.
3. Anthony’s Organic Chia Seeds, 2.5 lb
It’s a tale of brick and mortar business making it big with Anthony’s Goods. With the mission of promoting healthier lifestyles, its range of products is now loved by culinary experts and moms alike.
Anthony’s chia seeds are like most of its products, certified organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO. They are sourced from Mexico itself, the homeland of chia seeds. They are clean, fresh and you wouldn’t get even the tiniest hint of aftertaste.
These chia seeds can easily replace eggs in your baking as it tends to absorb water up to 10 times of their volume, giving them a gel-like texture. Plus, you do not have to worry about bad cholesterol with chia seeds.
With a zip-lock packaging, you can easily store it away without hunting for a separate container. Just keep it in a cool and dry place and it will last for a while. This is a decent size of top quality chia seeds at a great price.
Thumbs Up For
- Value for money
- Great quality chia seeds.
- Clean and fresh.
Thumbs Down For
- Rare incidences of packaging issues.
4. BetterBody Foods Organic Chia Seeds, 2 lbs
It is what you eat that leads to who you are; alas — that’s what BetterBody Foods believes in. With that philosophy, the company has been striving to provide a healthier range of foods since 2007.
BetterBody Foods’s chia seeds are only sourced from certified organic farms to provide the safest and healthiest superfood to their customers. The seeds are flavorless, which is what you’ll expect from high-quality chia.
You can expect a high quality of deep black chia seeds that gels easily when you try to make smoothies out of it. It’s something you wanted to have not only when you’re on a weight loss program, but also for your general health.
The chia seeds from BetterBody Foods contain a great amount of Omega-3 (2420mg) per serving, making it an ideal supplement for a healthy heart. It’s a wonder that these tiny seeds can help regulate your blood pressure and kicks out bad cholesterol.
Thumbs Up For
- Easy-storage jar.
- Reasonable price.
- Great quality.
Thumbs Down For
- Few cases of bugs in the jar.
5. Navitas Organics Chia Seeds, 16 oz
A recognized industry leader in the organic superfood, Navitas Organics has been in operation since 2003, when its founder Zach Adelman adventures to exotic parts of the world spark an entrepreneurial journey to bring superfoods to modern lifestyles.
Navitas Organics chia seeds are grown only through organics farming practice. They are committed to sustainable agriculture and contribute to initiatives like A Growing Culture. This speaks greatly of the social awareness that the company promotes in its organization and products.
You can expect these chia seeds to be USDA organic certified, non-GMO, kosher, and gluten-free. They are great for your vegetarian diets. Taking chia helps you to stay healthy and provides you the energy you need in hectic lifestyles.
This flavorless superfood is grown in Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay, where chia seeds originated. The fact that chia seeds help to prevent and treat diabetes makes this a must for those who are high on the sugar level.
Thumbs Up For
- Certified USDA organic.
- Great energy booster.
- Resealable pouch.
Thumbs Down For
- Some of the recent batches are mixed with rocks, twigs and other impurities.
How To Choose Good Chia Seeds
Since multiple studies have proven the benefits of chia seeds, it has exploded commercially beyond its homeland of Mexico. Various brands are claiming to have the best quality of chia seeds but how do you actually verify their claims.
1. Black Or White Chia Seeds?
Always check for the color of the chia seeds for the best indicator of the quality. The high contrast of black and white chia seeds indicates great quality while those that are of duller color are inferior in quality. Dull grey or brown chia seeds are simply not mature enough to provide complete nutrition.
So it doesn’t matter if you’re taking black chia or white chia as there is no difference in the nutritional values. Just ensure the color is not something in between.
2. Choose Organic Chia Seeds
While chia seeds do not attract pests and rodents as easily as other plants, you’ll still want your chia seeds to be free of pesticides. Always ensure that you’re buying chia seeds that carry the USDA organic certification and is non-GMO certified. You do not want to load your body with harmful pesticides.
3. Raw And Unprocessed For Preserved Nutrients
To get the maximum nutrient from the chia seeds, you’ll want to get only raw and unprocessed chia seeds. Some nutrients can be easily destroyed when exposed to heat or water. Make sure that they are packed in to preserve their natural nutrients.
4. Look beyond the price tag
Chia seeds are expensive health foods. While you do want to save a few dollars when buying a pack, you need to be aware of low-quality chia seeds that come are ridiculously cheap. Some of them may not be certified by health regulators like FDA and may be harmful to your health. Others may have been stored beyond their expiry dates.
What’s The Best Way To Take Chia Seeds?
It’s all about flexibility and creativity when it comes to having chia seeds in your meal. If you’re trying to lose some weight, you can replace carbohydrates with chia seeds. Or if you’re one to get hungry in between meals, chia seeds work well as in-between snacks.
Due to its tasteless flavor, chia seeds go well with most types of food. You can sprinkle chia seeds on your salads or mix them with yogurt. If baking is your forte, you can use chia seeds to replace eggs. If you can’t decide how to take your chia seeds, here are more ideas.
Or you could take it raw by the teaspoon as I did. Just remember that chia seeds can absorb water quickly and expand multiple of its size. It’s important to keep the portion small if you take it raw.
How Much Chia Seeds Should You Take?
As beneficial as chia seeds are, you shouldn’t be taking chia seeds in an excessive amount. They are high in dietary fiber and overconsumption can cause digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea.
Also, you should avoid taking chia seeds without consulting your doctor if you’re taking diabetes or blood pressure medications. Taking chia seeds may interact with such medications.
For normal usage, it is best to stick to the recommended single servings daily to prevent complications.
I hope you find this of the best organic chia seeds helpful. Share your favorite brand of chia seeds with us and how your best recipe for chia seeds in the comments below.
Related:
- Brain Superfood: Chia Seeds Health Benefits And Side Effects
- Mindful Eating For Weight Loss – Can You Really Skip The Gym?
- Best Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules Supplements
- Best Valerian Root Supplements For Better Sleep
- Best GABA Supplements
Great Post!
I use chia seeds occasionally, although I have forgotten how many great benefits they provide! and should incorporate them more, into my food. I should also probably double check the quality the ones I bought – some good insight you provided on that.
Have you ever made chia seed “pudding”? Its actually pretty good with some coconut milk and blended fruit or berries and some syrup..
HI Anna,
I would love a chia seed “pudding”. But I take chia seeds raw. I guess I’m pretty lazy when it comes to making my own chia seed recipe.
Cheers,
Kenny
Hi Kenny and great informative site! Organic Chia seeds are a constant on my grocery list! Although I eat them regularly, I didn’t know half of the health benefits they had! Thank you for the thorough run-down!
I was also impressed with all the brands to choose from on the market today and loved the detailed information of each. I surely will continue to read through them all and select my favorite. Great site and I wish you continued success!
Hi there,
Chia sees are definitely great for us.
Cheers,
Kenny
Hi Kenny,
Thank you so much for this post! I use chia seeds occasionally in my smoothies and as an egg replacement. I have noticed a big difference in price between some brands and stores so I became concerned that I didn’t know what to look for when buying chia seeds. This post was super helpful. Especially the information about the color of the seeds, because I did notice that to be a big difference, I just didn’t know what color I needed to be looking for. Thank you!!
Susie
Hi Susie,
I’m glad that I could help.
Cheers,
Kenny
Very interesting article on Chia seeds. I had no idea there are so many to choose from. My daughter is a health nut who uses Chia seeds in all sorts of recipes so I will forward this article to her as I’m not sure what brand she uses. I am definitely going to check out your recipes and start adding Chia seeds to some of my dishes as well.
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for checking the article out. Hope you enjoy having Chia seeds in your meal.
Cheers,
Kenny
Very interesting article on Chia seeds. This is so complete and it gives me a lot information about Chia Seeds
Hi there,
Thanks for checking out the article. Glad it helps.
Cheers,
Kenny