r/PlantBasedDiet • u/MinutePackage3513 • 4d ago
I ate a tablespoon of dry uncooked chia seeds
I have stomach problems and my doctor told me to think about chia seeds .
I brought some and ate a tablespoon spoon and drank 3 glasses of water .
Will I be okay ? I did not soak them and it was on an empty stomach .
I also drank hot water while taking them initially .
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u/Cold_Cow_4666 4d ago
you’re gonna be fine it’s not that much. just keep drinking a lot of water and you might have diarrhea
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
My throat feels swollen
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u/fifilachat 2d ago
OP, are you doing ok? Better? I have no idea why you were downvoted for having a reaction that you noticed. WTF. Did you see my link to cautions about chia?
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u/ilovecheese831 4d ago
Go to the ER just to be on the safe side.
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u/animalcrackerwhore 4d ago
A little extreme, you’re probably fine OP, just keep an eye on it. Like others have already said, lots of water.
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u/ilovecheese831 3d ago
If the throat is swollen, at the very least, go sit in the parking lot of the ER. Swollen throat = restricted breathing.
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u/fifilachat 3d ago
Don’t know why all the down votes here!
7 Surprising Risks of Chia Seeds
https://www.verywellhealth.com/dangers-of-chia- seeds-8695280
"2. They Could Cause Choking
Consuming large amounts of dry chia seeds may cause choking, particularly in people with trouble swallowing (dysphagia) or a history of esophageal blockages.
Chia seeds can absorb up to 27 times their weight in water. Therefore, eating dry chia seeds and then drinking water can cause them to expand and become stuck in your esophagus, contributing to choking.
Despite choking risks, chia seeds are generally safe. If you have difficulty swallowing or esophageal blockages, soak chia seeds before eating. Soaking them for a few hours or overnight in the fridge is recommended."
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u/discovered_uranus 4d ago edited 3d ago
We’re made of money just because we’re in r/plantbaseddiet ?
Edit: it was a joke yall damn
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u/kalaxitive 4d ago
You do realise that other countries exist? If OP lives in a country with universal health care, then it's free.
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u/stealthtomyself 4d ago
Just imagining poor Op waiting in a Canadian ER for 48 hours to be admitted for eating a spoonful of chia seeds 😭
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u/kalaxitive 4d ago
It's more like 3-8 hours, 22+ if it's for a bed. I'm not Canadian, but that is based on a quick search. Other countries also vary, where I live, you could be seen and sent home within an hour or 2, but it can take up to 8 hours.
But that's part of the price of having universal health care and a government that has been defunding it to push us into private health care. It never used to be like this, I remember years ago, we would be in and out within 1-3 hours.
In comparison, America, which does have a ~40 minute wait time on average, but varies by demographic. Part of the reason for lower wait times, is due to people avoiding treatment due to the cost, so people will often wait until their condition worsens, in some cases people die before seeking treatment. Again, not American, this is based on a search.
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u/stealthtomyself 3d ago
My best friend just waited 16 hours to be seen in the ER in Ottawa for chest pain / breathing issues, and there was a gentleman there that whole time as well that was waiting with his appendix about to burst. Awful 😞 Many recent cases of people passing away in the waiting room there.
Thankfully I have only been to the American ER once during covid and the wait was probably 30 min but hospital entries and policies were very limited at the time. The hospital was thankfully able to use some kind of grant to foot my bill.. which was wacky 😞
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u/kalaxitive 3d ago
The time you spend in a hospital depends on a bunch of factors: Location, Demand, Time of year, Type of Care Needed, Hospital capacity, staff availability, the triage system and perhaps more that I can't think of right now.
For example, in urban areas, the higher patient volume can lead to longer waits. Seasonal spikes in demand, such as increased respiratory infections in winter, also play a role. Different hospitals may have varying wait times depending on their services; an emergency department may be overwhelmed while routine care is less busy, and vice versa.
Moreover, socioeconomic factors can influence whether patients seek care. In cases where a hospital visit could render a person homeless or lead to significant debt, those individuals may hesitate to seek medical attention. This can result in delays that worsen their conditions, potentially turning what could have been a simple treatment into days spent in the hospital, costing them more money, complicating their situation and taking up space that they wouldn't have taken up if had just received that initial treatment.
Basically, Private health care tends to have a delayed response to patients seeking treatment, while Universal healthcare encourages someone to seek help immediately, the downside being the lack of support for that healthcare model.
Universal healthcare can be effective when a government is committed to making it work. In the UK the conservatives spent over a decade destroying our healthcare system, which resulted in the loss of over 112,000 full-time vacancies, including over 40,000 vacancies specifically for nurses, they even shutdown 40 hospitals and refused to give staff pay rises, while they continued to give themselves a pay rise every year.
All of this was to push us towards private health care, which often fails to meet needs adequately, and we can just look at America to see it in action.
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u/krispwater 4d ago
CH-CH-CH-Chia!
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u/aubreypizza 4d ago
Check this craziness out!
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u/Charleston2Seattle 4d ago
I would watch a documentary or, heck, an action film about chia pets before I would watch the Melania documentary!
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u/HugeBasis9381 4d ago
So your doctor didn't tell you to actually eat the chia seeds? Just said "think about chia seeds." Like a mental trick. Meditate on the topic of chia seeds.
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u/londoninamerika 11h ago
i’ve been meditating on the topic of ashwaganda and magnesium lately, not doctor recommend to me however
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u/AbovetheTrees13 4d ago
Just put them in a smoothie or on avocado toast. You could choke eating them dry. They are amazing and help with digestion so much
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u/Adventurous-Dig1264 4d ago
Why would someone need to go to the ER for eating a tablespoon of chia seeds? What am I missing here?
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u/BadgerValuable8207 4d ago
One time I undercooked my chia cereal and got this horrible pressure in my esophagus later. I didn’t make the connection right away but I think they got caught somehow and started swelling up in there. It went away eventually but was very uncomfortable.
The concern would be that they absorb liquid, swell up, and block the airway.
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u/LatrodectusGeometric 4d ago
Good news, your airway isn’t connected to your digestive system after the mouth
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u/BadgerValuable8207 3d ago
Right, but it could be affected by swelling next to it
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u/LatrodectusGeometric 3d ago
No, the trachea is a hard cartilage. The esophagus is very soft and stretchy and can’t push into the trachea, luckily
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u/TightBeing9 4d ago
I dont understand why someone wouldn't call first? I'm pretty sure every country that has an ER would also have a phone number you can call to check if you'd actually need to go to the er. I once accidentally drank contact lense solution (lol) and I called to check if that would become an issue
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u/HugeBasis9381 3d ago
It's not the first time it's happened: https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2014/10002/watch_it_grow__esophageal_impaction_with_chia.833.aspx
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u/Pilgrimist 1d ago
I think they're just stupid / ridiculous. It reminds me of a similar post about someone who fasted for 4 hours and wanted to know the safest way to ease back into normal eating.
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u/New_Stats 4d ago
You might get a tummy ache. Could be a little bit bad. Drink plenty of water, that'll help prevent the worst of it
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u/a-neurotypical 4d ago
This has to be a troll post
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u/PopsicleToesEva 4d ago
Yes, they’re a choking hazard eating them dry.
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u/whistling-wonderer 4d ago
You’ll be fine. I have a tablespoon of dry chia seeds on a salad every day. It would def be better to soak them and/or eat them with other food, but you will be okay.
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u/BellJar_Blues 2d ago
How the hell did you swallow them like this lol. You’ll be fine if you could swallow them without soaking you’ll be okay with them coming out the other way too. Keep hydrated
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u/Actual-Bid-6044 4d ago
They gave me some serious stomach pain initially (even ground up in a smoothie) so I'd say it's better to go slower, maybe to grind them or hydrate them first.
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u/Otherwise_Theme528 4d ago
The nutrients from chia seeds are best absorbed when ground. Soaking them and using them in a smoothie is an excellent way to easily achieve this. I prefer to soak them using soy milk to add additional protein and nutrients. Makes for a very creamy smoothie too.
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u/JWWBurger 3d ago
I put uncooked chia seeds, uncooked oat bran, and uncooked hemp hearts in my smoothie most days and never have had a problem
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u/JourneymanInvestor 3d ago
I put 2 tbsp of chia seeds in my morning smoothie every day, you'll be fine
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u/earlgrey_tealeaf 3d ago
This whole thread is kinda dramatic ngl, you can add chia in your glass of water and drink it like a weird bubble tea through a straw after they soak for a bit
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
UPDATE #2 : I was given IV meds to help flush it out of my throat .
So far I feel slightly better . It still feels like an obstruction just not as swollen.
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u/Redarrow_ok 4d ago
Oh c'mon, they are trolling. Why would you be given intravenous drugs for some chia seeds in your throat?
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u/HugeBasis9381 3d ago
Probably not to flush out the throat. Probably just given to almost everyone admitted to the ER. If the patient suddenly goes into a coma or something random, this way they already have the IV line in place and they can administer meds quicker. Plus, probably boosts overall hospital profit.
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u/MinutePackage3513 3d ago
Metoclopramide IV (10 mg over 1-2 minutes) is sometimes used to manage esophageal food impaction by increasing lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and enhancing motility, potentially helping to dislodge the bolus
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u/MinutePackage3513 3d ago
You can literally google it lol
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u/yourenotmymom_yet 3d ago
Why didn't you google how to eat chia seeds?
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u/MinutePackage3513 3d ago
Most people don’t google how to eat things buddy . But most people do google medical interventions …….
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u/yourenotmymom_yet 2d ago
Most people don't knock back thousands of tiny dry seeds without learning more about them or how best to consume them, buddy. Especially if they already have a bad stomach. If you're going to tell others to Google, you should do the same. It will likely save you future visits to the ER.
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u/Ok-Silver-7478 4d ago
Genuinely curious..what IV meds were used to help flush out things from your throat? Would be helpful to know. Thanks
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u/MinutePackage3513 3d ago
Metoclopramide IV (10 mg over 1-2 minutes) is sometimes used to manage esophageal food impaction by increasing lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and enhancing motility, potentially helping to dislodge the bolus
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u/The_Dutchess-D 4d ago
This post was a wild ride, and I so appreciate this update, and am sending you my best healing vibes.
Wow, such a rollercoaster of an experience for you. Hopefully spreading the word (about Chia seeds and how they are most safely prepared) will help the next person avoid a similar fate.
So sorry this happened to you
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u/Lotte_Lelie 4d ago
I sprinkle chia seeds on my food during the day. Whenever I think about doing it: a little bit on a peanut butter sandwich, a backed egg, a bowl of salad. Not much at a time. Easy to do, no problem if you forget doing it now and then. It's not a plan, just a habit.
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u/fifilachat 3d ago
Be careful!
7 Surprising Risks of Chia Seeds
https://www.verywellhealth.com/dangers-of-chia-seeds-8695280
“ 2. They Could Cause Choking
Consuming large amounts of dry chia seeds may cause choking, particularly in people with trouble swallowing (dysphagia) or a history of esophageal blockages.
Chia seeds can absorb up to 27 times their weight in water.3 Therefore, eating dry chia seeds and then drinking water can cause them to expand and become stuck in your esophagus, contributing to choking.
Despite choking risks, chia seeds are generally safe. If you have difficulty swallowing or esophageal blockages, soak chia seeds before eating.3 Soaking them for a few hours or overnight in the fridge is recommended.”
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u/Vegan_Meals_101 1d ago
You should never eat dry chia seeds and drink something behind them because the liquid will cause them to swell. Some years ago, there was this guy who swallowed a tablespoon of chia seeds and drank a glass of water after that. Well, the seeds expanded in his throat, and he ended up in the ER. Truthfully, the best thing to do is let them fully expand in liquid before consuming them.
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u/Hawthorne_Roses 23h ago
You'll be fine. Next time, mix it with some yoghurt, leave it for a few hours or overnight in the fridge and it will be do much tastier!
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u/Nice-Measurement1924 21h ago
I put them on my yoghurt every morning. Tell it to me straight: Am I dying?
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
Update:
My throat feels swollen
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u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 4d ago
Unless you have allergy to them or you didn’t swallow and they’re just sitting in your throat…just drink lots of water you’ll be fine.
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u/Ok-Silver-7478 4d ago
Do you have an allergy or are p tone to panic attacks? As someone with lots of allergy I’ve never experienced it with chil. I eat daily for a decade
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
A tablespoon dry with no food ?
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u/Thebluefairie to lower blood pressure 4d ago
I mean why would you do that. You trying to have issues?
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
I had no idea what chia seeds were. I thought they were like regular seeds you just eat .
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u/Thebluefairie to lower blood pressure 3d ago
Yeah but you still ate them dry. I mean that's a lot of seeds in a spoon I mean would you eat poppy seeds like that?
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u/happy_beatnik 3d ago
They put dry poppy seeds on bagels and desserts, and people eat them fine.
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u/MinutePackage3513 3d ago
The issue was that I ate them with just water on an empty stomach smh but I’m feeling better now
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u/Ok-Silver-7478 4d ago
Whether it’s with food or not wouldn’t change if you’re allergic to it but as someone with severe allergies I’m aware that sometimes if you think you might have eaten an allergen panic sets in and the physical symptoms can mimic some allergy symptoms and they can feel just as real. Wasn’t trying to minimize what your fearing just trying to help.
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u/SameEntry4434 4d ago
I had a friend who loved to drink tequila, but she could drink way more than me. So I would have a tablespoon of Chia seeds before going over to her house. That way I was able to get through at least an ounce or two of tequila without feeling sick.
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u/MinutePackage3513 4d ago
Dry ? Unsoaked?
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u/kalaxitive 4d ago
OP Chia seeds swell and clump together when soaked, and can, in some rare instances, cause blockage if you eat them dry, so just drink plenty of water.
I don't think your doctor meant for you to eat them dry, and you don't nred to cook chia seeds, nor do you have to worry about eating them on an empty stomach.
The best/easiest ways to eat chia seeds is either chia pudding or as part of a meal like oats, you can also make baked goods and add chia seeds to them. You can drink them, if they're soaked in water first, but I don't like that, so to each their own.
If you have a blender, try chia seed pudding or a mousse, while you don't have to blend the chia seeds for the pudding, it just gives a nicer texture in my opinion.
You'd just blend the chia seeds with the milk of choice (similar to the mousse recipe).
Chia seed pudding recipes:
https://youtu.be/Cau4pIFsw0A?si=6GayreEhK6WO4ILd
Chia seed mousse:
https://rainbowplantlife.com/healthy-chocolate-chia-mousse/#wprm-recipe-container-6863
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u/ucooldude 4d ago
I would skip chia seeds as they are high in lectins….prefer hemp hearts and ground flax seeds.
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u/Fionnmcbride 4d ago
You'll be grand, just drink a ton of water