Do you have questions about nutrition? Send them to us at comer@lavanguardia.es, our nutritionist Aitor Sánchez will solve all your doubts.
They say that chia seeds are very good, but to what extent is this true? Are they good for going belly? And another thing, do you have to grind them to better obtain the benefits they have? Or can I eat them whole? Thank you (S. Moreno, reader)
Chia seeds are indeed an interesting food because they have some very differentiating characteristics. They have a high fiber content and an important contribution of proteins, quality fats, minerals and vitamins.
If we had to highlight something in an exceptional way, I would also have to point out that it is one of the foods of plant origin that has the highest amount of omega-3.
Indeed, you are right regarding the access to its benefits, this class of seeds that have such a resistant cover, as in the case of chia, flax or poppy, must be crushed or soaked. Yes, they can be taken whole, but having such a small caliber runs the risk that not all of them are chewed properly and therefore cannot be fully digested.
This is the reason why we often find them in recipes in which they soak for a long time, such as chia pudding.
If you are beginning to become familiar with the use of these seeds, it is important not to exceed 30 grams per day because they have a great capacity to retain water and could cause fecal compaction. So we can enjoy its benefits but always in moderate amounts.
Good morning. I always have this question: do we have to wash the vegetables and salads that we buy already packed in bags? Thank you very much (Tinmare Martín, reader)
As a general rule it is not necessary and we can consume them directly in most cases. It is important to verify that the packaging does not say otherwise because there may be exceptions.
Precisely one of the great advantages of trading them in bags is being able to use them directly. If this were not the case, they would only have the advantage of being cut and their purchase would not be so justified.
The most typical process for bagged vegetables in production is washing with water and also disinfection. So many times they are even safer than buying them fresh and washing them ourselves.
I take this opportunity once again to emphasize the importance of correctly disinfecting vegetables, especially in children and pregnant women.
