Can chia seeds help you lose fat in just 3 days?

Hyderabad: A tweet proclaiming chia seeds as the magic ingredient for weight loss has gone viral on social media.

The "Did you know" posts are everywhere, be it Instagram or any other social media platform. These posts usually contain unproven health claims.

The viral post reads, "Lemon and chia seeds water will eliminate accumulated fat and cleanse your body in just 3 days."

Chia seeds are a concentrated food containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium, says WebMD. However, can they help you lose weight in three days? Let's find out.

FACT CHECK

WebMD recommends, "Enjoy chia seeds for their flavor and to boost the fiber, protein, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s in your diet. But don't expect a big weight loss boost. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet (or seed) for weight loss. If you want to lose weight, you'll need to follow a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and get more physical activity."

Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, explained the science behind the seeds to Cleveland Clinic. Czerwony said chia seeds can absorb as much as 12 times their weight. The idea behind drinking chia seed water is that the wet seeds will enlarge in your stomach and take up space, preventing you from getting hungry. That may, in turn, cause you to become less hungry and ultimately help you to lose weight.

Czerwony also warned about the side effects of having too many chia seeds and said, "If you're eating a lot of fiber and not drinking enough fluid along with it, the chia seeds will start to absorb the fluid in your gut and cause you to have hard stool."

We also found a study by Healthline that said, "Chia seeds are a nutritious pseudo grain that can be part of a healthy weight loss plan. But they're not a quick fix to drop a dress size. And if you eat too many, they may have the opposite effect. No single food is ever responsible for healthy weight loss."

Moreover, Healthline also added a safety note that read, "Note: Chia seeds may interact with blood pressure medications or blood thinners such as warfarin. If you take any of these drugs, don't eat chia seeds."

Hence, the claim that chia seeds can help you lose fat in three days is false.