Is chia seed water the miracle drink for a flat stomach? We put it to the test
I recently wrote about the viral cucumber salad that dominates my for you page on TikTok, but there’s another trend I keep seeing on TikTok. Namely, chia seed water for a flatter stomach. Some people swear by it, but does it really work? There’s only one way to find out. We put it to the test.
Chia seeds are small edible seeds from the chia plant, a herbaceous plant originally from Central America. The seed has a long history and was already used by the Aztecs and Maya as an important food because of its high nutritional value. It is also called a superfood because of the many health benefits this tiny seed offers. It has long been a popular ingredient in smoothies. But the latest trend is chia seed water.
Chia seed miracle drink on TikTok
On TikTok, glasses of water with chia seeds and lemon juice are flying past you. The reason: it is supposedly the miracle drink for a flat stomach. Chia seeds are very high in fiber; approximately 34% of the seed consists of fiber. According to Maartje Boot of Het Voedingscentrum, drinking water is good for you, and getting more fiber is too. She tells Radar: “Chia seeds contain a lot of fiber, but it’s not the case that they give you a flat stomach. Working on your health can of course be done in many different ways, and that differs from person to person. This drink certainly doesn’t have to be part of it, but it can’t do that much harm if you would like to try it.”
Mistakes to avoid when drinking chia seeds
And that is exactly what we’re going to do. Colleague Lysanne has already been drinking glasses of chia seed water for three weeks. What are her findings so far? Is it easy? What can go wrong? And does it really work? Lysanne: “A lot of people simply start and don’t take into account that they need to build up the amount of chia seeds gradually. That’s a very common mistake. It’s also important—and this is where things often go wrong—that you don’t let them soak long enough before drinking them. The seeds absorb 10 times their own weight in water; if that still has to happen in your stomach, it can cause quite a bit of discomfort.”
A flatter stomach thanks to chia seed water
“Does it work? In any case, I’m significantly less hungry during the day after drinking a glass of chia seed water in the morning. The seeds, however small, take up space in your stomach and you immediately get plenty of nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, protein, fiber, vitamins B1, B2 and B3. So I’ve already lost weight, because I’m less hungry and therefore snack less. Is it a miracle cure? No, that’s taking it a bit far. As with everything, the same applies here: if you really want a flatter stomach, you’ll also need to exercise and watch your diet. In any case, I no longer suffer from a bloated stomach, so I’m happily continuing with my glass of chia seed water in the morning.”
Conclusion
Chia seed water is not a magical miracle cure—if only life were that simple—but it can certainly contribute to a feeling of fullness and thus help keep your appetite in check. Whether you actually lose weight from it depends on your overall lifestyle. Exercise, a varied diet and sufficient sleep are still the foundation of a healthy body. So if you like starting your day with a glass of water full of chia seeds and lemon, go for it. But don’t expect miracles, and remember that there are no shortcuts to a flat stomach—it takes a little more than a trendy TikTok drink.
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