Delicious and Nutritious Chia Seed Drink
I truly believe in food medicine. I don't believe it replaces the very ground-breaking, life-saving technologies that we have thanks to modern medicine. But I do think that nourishing our bodies with foods that make us feel great can go a long way towards making sure we live fulfilling, healthy lives-and it makes it a lot easier for those modern medicine technologies to do their job.
So is this chia seed drink a magic cure-all that is going to make you run marathons until you're 120 years old? Nope, probably not. In fact, we'd rather you drink this chia water because it brings you joy, not out of any particular health obligation. But I will tell you that I've personally felt the benefits of this glorious food medicine in my own body. Not only do I love the taste of this tangy chia seed drink, but I also love how my body thanks me for taking the time to sip on something so nourishing. My skin glows, my digestive issues are better, and it's a way to kick-off the day with a victory for self-care! Let me show you how I make my favorite chia drink.
What's in this drink?
Here's what you'll need to get going on this chia seed drink:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: You're looking for raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I use Bragg's because it's readily available-they sell it at my regular grocery store in the salad dressing/vinegar aisle. You want to avoid using the regular apple cider vinegar that has been filtered and pasteurized (the clear stuff). The healthy enzymes and bacteria from fermentation are good for you, and filtering and pasteurizing the vinegar removes those.
- Lemons: I choose to use organic lemons, because I figure that if I'm drinking something for my health, avoiding as many pesticides as possible is a good idea. I use half of a lemon in the morning in my elixir, and then I usually squeeze the other half over a salad at lunch.
- Chia Seeds: One of the great things about chia seeds being so popular-you can get them almost anywhere now! You want whole chia seeds, and either white or black will work.
- Water: If you're really anti-added chemicals, you'll want to use purified or filtered water. I personally filter my water using a Berkey. There are lots of different articles out there about the temperature of water you should drink, and it seems there are advantages and disadvantages to just about every temp range. I personally use warm water, because I'm almost always chilled when I get out of my warm bed and head to the cold kitchen!
Why should I make this chia seed drink?
If nothing else, taking a moment to make yourself a cup of something nourishing in the mornings is a great self care habit to get into! And don't we all need a little extra self care nowadays? Beyond that, there are so many health benefits of chia seeds and the other ingredients, including:
- Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids (particularly ALAs, or alpha-linolenic acid) and antioxidants.
- It may improve your digestion, serving to both lower heartburn and ease bowel movements.
- Rehydrating after a long night's sleep is a great morning habit to get into. Sure, you can do it with a regular glass of water, but this is a nice way to add some variety.
- Chia seeds are a good source of magnesium, calcium, manganese, soluble fiber, and phosphorus.
- It can kickstart your metabolism and jumpstart your system after an evening of rest.
- It will get you glowing. The hydrating power of the water combined with the natural antiseptic properties of lemon will leave you with healthier skin, hair, and nails.
Okay, so how do I make it?
It honestly doesn't get much easier than this chia seed drink. Just stir everything together, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Those few minutes will give the chia seeds time to form a gel. Drink up!
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I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Can I sweeten this chia seed drink?
This is definitely an acquired taste. If you often drink kombucha, you probably won't mind the tart flavor of the drink, but if you don't, it might take some getting used to. I often add raw honey to mine, but a small amount of maple syrup would also work. My healthcare professional recommended this to help with chronic constipation, and not only does it work, but it makes the drink a SUPER delicious way to start the day.
How often should I drink it?
Everything in this drink is generally considered safe to drink daily in typical food dosages, but if you are planning on consuming large amounts or are on any medications, it doesn't hurt to check with a healthcare professional.
Now I have a big bag of chia seeds in my kitchen-how long will they last?
We recommend keeping your chia seeds in the refrigerator in an airtight container, where they will last up to 3-4 years. If they start to taste bitter, they have probably started to break down-they are likely still safe to eat, but you won't get the same health benefits out of them.
How else can I use these chia seeds?
There are so many great uses for chia seeds:
- As an egg replacement. If you're baking and are out of eggs or are looking to make something vegan or egg-free, you can use a chia egg as a substitute. For each egg, just mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons water, and let sit on the counter for 5 minutes to gel up before using.
- As a smoothie booster. Add some omega-3s to any smoothie by adding some chia seeds. As a bonus, they will help thicken up your smoothies!
- In my healthy overnight oats recipes. I always include chia seeds in my overnight oats, because they make the end result so much creamier and thicker!
- Make chia seed pudding. Chia seeds can make a thick and creamy chia pudding that is perfect for snack time or dessert.
- In strawberry rhubarb pie squares. These squares are essentially my favorite spring pie in the form of bars, and they use chia seeds in both the crust and the filling!
📖 Recipe
Chia Seed Water Recipe (Morning Elixir)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Juice of ½ lemon about 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar raw, unfiltered
- 1 ½ cups warm water
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the chia seeds have formed a gel. Drink up!
Video
I also drink ACV AND Chia powder. i was using chia seed but i had to prepare them overnight so for a quicker job i prefered the powder,
so my drink is Water, Acv, chia powder and raw honey. Yummy!!
I will try this before breakfast tomorrow, have one of your overnight oats waiting for me in the fridge also 😀 (my tummy is already looking forward to that!). But one sidenote, you should never drink hot water from the tap, as that is the perfect place for bacteria in the "hotwaterpipe". You should always heat the water your self 🙂
I know I'm late to the game, but thank you, thank you, thank you for posting such a rational, well thought out article without sensational claims or needless hype. I totally agree that medicine and prevention should go hand in hand. Will have to try your recipe very soon! Thanks 🙂
Does this drink help with constipation my sister has been battling that for a long time?
Every morning I take two tablespoons of chia seeds mixed with 1 cup of water, and I can say it improves my bowel movement. Do remember to drink plenty of water for the rest of the day.
Will this be helpful for Weight Loss.
Thanks and Regards,
KMani
I like to muddle in 6 raspberries with my lemon and acv. I'm definitely adding chia tomorrow morning!
Hi Cassie! I'm glad I came across this post, and I'm definitely going to try this recipe. I keep hearing about the benefits of ACV and lemon juice. I have all the ingredients already in my kitchen, so there's no excuse. Thanks for the info. This one's getting pinned to my recipes board!
Hi Cassie ,
Just wanted to share that I add a tea spoon of honey too to make it taste nice.
Hi, Lala! You wouldn't think an amount that small would make much of a difference, but it really does! Thanks so much for sharing. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your experience =)
A word to the wise about Chia. Chia is bulk in the intestine. If you aren't careful and you have a gut problem that involves frequent blockages or a stenosis (narrow area), you'll want to be cautious with the Chia until you know how your gut will react. I'm speaking from experience with this. Chia is a great food, I'm not saying it isn', but some of us have to beware.
I have this. Please expand my mind with dietary warnings or recommendations
If I'm not wrong, all these "acid" things, like vinegar and citrus fruit, have - contrary to our logic 😉 - an alkaline pH! I also drink lemon water whenever I can - I can imagine that there's no better way to start the day than with a drink such as yours! I wish I could just get round to liking the taste of the apple cider vinegar 🙂
Kaja - vinegar and citrus fruits do not have an alkaline pH. Both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice have pH values between 2 and 3. Anything below 7 is acidic.
I drink a combo of ACV, lemon juice and chia seeds every morning too. Although I tend to have it after my first coffee haha Still does give me a bunch of benefits though so still a better choice then not having it.
sold! you had me at heartburn -- what is it about being pregnant that does that?! I have been still struggling to get over it -- and girlfriend is already 9 months old!
For me, I think it's leftover damage from the months and months and months of tossing my cookies everyday!
Hey Cassie,
my great-aunt has been going on about ACV for a long time, especially now that I'm pregnant. She's pretty esoteric (think Prof. Trelawney, without the crazy hair and glasses), though, and I never really took her advice too serious (because, really, vinegar?). But your post made me curious 🙂 I tried to recreate your recipe (without Chia) yesterday and I really couldn't drink it 🙁 I somehow made it too sour. It tasted too much like the vinegar to me. So I contacted my great aunt and she told me her recipe: 2/3 honey + 1/3 acv. Mix really well (this way you have the important part premixed. - you can store it in your fridge) and then add as much as you like to a glass of water. I used 2 teaspoons and it actually tasted quite okay 😀
Now, I'm curious whether you need to wait a specific time until you eat. I already have to wait half an hour before I eat/drink anything else than water because I have to take a hormon supplement .
No need to wait! The only reason I do is so the chia seeds turn thick an gelly. You can drink right away or in a half hour. 🙂
Love this idea. Definitely going to try it because I've been suffering from acid reflux too. Random (kinda stupid) question....do you chew up the chia seeds or just drink them whole? Thanks!
Drink 'em whole!
I drink hot water with lemon and chia every morning for just feel good moment too. I have to try with a very soon...
I love that—"feel good moment"—that's totally what it is! Starting off your day by doing something to take care of yourself is HUGE.
Hi Cassie. I found your blog around Christmas (don't remember how) and read the annual report. 2 thumbs up.
I just wanted to say I agree with you on everything in this post. My husband drinks warm lemon water every morning. I have a recipe on my blog but I drink it on and off. I should start tomorrow forever. I agree about organic lemons. We try organic as much as we can. I also make my own anti-inflammatory tea.
I agree. We should combine healing through food wit western medicine if necessary. My mom had tumour and I can't imagine dealing with that naturally. I will keep reading your blog because I like your honesty. Take care.:)
I'd love to hear more about your anti-inflammatory tea! We're trying to shift our diet to be more and more anti-inflammatory, so any tips or recipes would be greatly appreciate!
Here is my recipe http://ifoodreal.com/anti-inflammatory-tea/.:) We try to eat more spices and vegetables and less meat to alkaline our bodies. And less dairy. More nuts, healthy fats etc. You know the drill.:)
Hi Cassie! I’m very delighted to read your post. I will certainly going to make this for my family and am sure they will love it. In-fact i do drink ACV with warm water daily during morning hours and have noticed tremendous effects on my body.Please keep on writing these kind of articles.Thank you so much for sharing your tips with us.
Sounds really interesting! I have a hard time with lumpy texture, especially when I'm pregnant so I'm not sure about the chia seeds...
Im a big fan of acid fighting acid. I eat a grapefruit when I have heartburn and 99% of the time it stops it.
OOOOH! I love grapefruit, and that sounds like a mighty tasty remedy!
I'm assuming that's 1 1/2 CUPS of water? Thanks for this motivation!
Doh! Yes. Thanks for catching that. Fixed 😉
Thanks for sharing your tips and experience with us Cassie! I've been meaning to get back in the routine of drinking some lemon water in the mornings, will add some ACV and chia seeds to my glass from now on 🙂
Just a question: how much water do you recommend 1 and 1/2 cup? The unit was left out 🙂
Yup, cups! Fixed now. 🙂
Mine says cups of warm water
Just started the lemon + ACV combo last week! I'll have to start adding in some chia seeds and really make something amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I so love the texture of the chia seeds, too! Although, I know some folks out there aren't a big fan. 🙂
Preach, Sister!! 🙂
[as i down my ACV drink at my desk this morning]
Oooh! What do you put in your ACV vinegar? Inquiring minds want to know!
I like to mix half water, half apple juice or cider with a capful or two of ACV.
I also drink the It Works brand Greens powder sometimes and use the same water/apple juice mix and add a scoop or two of Greens powder.
I like your addition of chia seeds!! Will have to add that to my mix sometimes, too!