In recent years, chia seeds have become familiar from supermarket aisles, but also as feed for horses and other pets. Chia is called a superfood due to its excellent nutrient profile—especially its exceptional fatty acid composition. However, chia is sold at very different price points, and it cannot be said that all chia seeds are the same product, because they are not. There are huge differences in seed quality; most often the differences relate to purity, as well as seed maturity, which in turn affects overall quality and especially the highly valued fatty acid profile.
Chia is a warm-climate plant that tolerates drought well, but not frost or excessive moisture. Drier conditions are particularly important during seed maturation. The ideal growing temperature for chia is 16–26°C. Chia’s most valuable nutrients are related to omega fatty acids—and chia has the highest fatty acid content in the plant kingdom.
How can you recognize high-quality chia?
High-quality chia seed contains omega fatty acids at 29.5–33.5%. Protein is about 18–23% and fiber about 34–40%. These characteristics are specifically associated with mature seeds. Mature seeds are denser (heavier) than immature seeds, so seed weight is directly related to quality. The heavier the product, the higher the quality—and the more valuable omega fatty acids it contains. If two same-size bags are filled with chia and one looks “fuller” than the other, the bag that appears less full may actually contain heavier (denser) chia and therefore be higher quality.
Visually, high-quality chia is easiest to recognize by a dark, grey-and-white speckled shell with a glossy sheen. Immature seeds are lighter and typically somewhat yellowish-brown. These can occur when frost damages the crop. Sometimes seeds are grey-white like good-quality mature chia, but their surface does not shine and appears more matte and slightly translucent—these seeds have suffered from rain. Rain and frost interrupt proper plant development and affect the nutrient content and quality of the seeds. After harvest, seeds are separated by size and weight using density measurement equipment. Not all seeds on the same stalk are equally mature and high quality, so processing facilities separate the good, mature product from immature product and other waste (stems, leaves, poor seeds, dust, etc.), and the seeds are sold onward at prices based on quality.
Chia 99.95% purity, mature seeds
Feed chia 99% purity & immature brown seeds
Feed chia 98% purity & immature brown seeds
Animal feeds are not legally required to meet the same level of botanical purity as food products, so feed often uses slightly lower-grade chia with lower botanical purity. In feeds, chia is also often used as one component—it may be ground and mixed with other raw materials. Especially in such cases, some companies use lower-quality chia with reduced botanical purity, or seeds that are not mature or have been damaged, because the quality is not visible and they do not want to pay for it—yet they can still claim on the packaging that the product contains chia, which is currently trendy in the animal feed market. However, it is important to understand that even among food-grade chias there are huge differences in purity, quality, and nutrient profile, and this is often reflected in pricing.
Purity is also linked to pesticide residues. Although EU rules should be consistent, according to producers, port and customs authorities in Eastern Europe are less strict than, for example, in Western Europe (such as the Netherlands), and may not enforce EU maximum residue limits as strictly. Pesticide residues are connected to the way the crop is dried prior to harvesting. Some producers use drying aids (glyphosate or paraquat), in which case the final product may not always meet EU requirements. Cultivation and hygiene practices also differ between producing countries.
Valuable fatty acids
Chia seeds have the highest naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acid profile found in nature. Different fatty acids have different roles in the body. In horse nutrition, the ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is significant. Based on the horse’s natural forage-based diet, omega-3 fatty acids can be considered particularly important, as pasture grass contains more of these than other fatty acids. Chia contains the most—about 60% of total oil content—as alpha-linolenic acid. It also contains linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. In addition, chia contains B vitamins and antioxidants (tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds).
Regarding ground chia, a large portion of the ground chia on the market is what remains after oil pressing. This means the valuable part of the seed—its oil—is pressed out, and the remaining press cake is ground into flour. Nutritionally, this is not the same as ground from the whole seed, and it lacks the most valuable component: the fatty acids. CdG’s ground chia is always crushed from the whole seed and contains all the nutrients found in the seed.
Beneficial fibers & lysine
Fibers can be divided into two types: soluble and insoluble fiber. Both types are found in all plant products. The most important difference between them is their physiological behavior.
In chia, of the high total fiber content, about 5–6% is dietary fiber. Soluble fiber is the fiber that forms the mucilage associated with chia seeds. The gel formed by soluble fiber soothes the digestive tract, slows carbohydrate breakdown, and increases the bulk of carbohydrate mass, which in turn creates a feeling of satiety. The mucilage moves slowly through the digestive tract, prolonging the feeling of fullness. The soluble fibers that form the gel act as prebiotics and help regulate blood sugar levels. A study in rabbits (Meineri and Peiretti 2007) showed that chia increased the digestibility of fiber, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and total energy. After this, a significant increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in the meat. The study is interesting because rabbit digestion has been found to resemble that of horses.
Insoluble fiber, in turn, forms a cellulose-like mass that is not absorbed and accelerates bowel function by absorbing fluid. Insoluble fiber has properties that help prevent constipation and relieve constipation symptoms. Chia is often used to help remove sand from a horse’s digestive tract. The gel formed with water is also beneficial for the intestinal mucosa. Wet, frost-damaged, or immature chia does not produce soluble fiber in the same way, meaning it also forms gel significantly less effectively. This characteristic—the amount of gel formed—directly affects sand removal and lubrication of mucous membranes.
Proteins are essential building materials for the body. Horses have around ten essential amino acids, the most important being lysine and methionine. The animal cannot produce these amino acids itself, so they must be obtained from the diet. Chia also contains a high amount of lysine—an amino acid that horses are often deficient in.
There are therefore huge differences in chia quality on the market. If possible, when buying, pay attention to the weight and appearance of the seeds, which indicate how high-quality the product is. Another factor is often the price, as it generally correlates directly with quality.
Chia de Gracia chia—safely direct from the producer
Chia de Gracia purchases the best possible quality chia directly from the producer, ensuring the best nutritional properties, purity, verification of cultivation methods, and traceability. A fair price also ensures reasonable compensation for the farmer and encourages the development and maintenance of good production practices.
Our supplier grows the chia themselves in a traditional agricultural area and no deforestation is carried out for cultivation. In the cultivation area, it is mandatory to preserve tree lines between fields, as can be seen in the image below.
Our supplier has a corporate responsibility program that, among other things, collaborates with a local children’s foundation. The project includes its own retail brand, and for every kilogram sold, an amount equal to one meal is donated to the foundation. The goal is to make the foundations self-sufficient and not dependent on donations.
Shop for chia here :)
