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$6.99- Our Price:
- $6.30
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- UPC: 733739062444
- # N6244
NOW Real Food® Certified Organic Chia Seeds (12 oz) – Pure, Raw Plant Nutrition
Modern diets make it tough to get enough clean fiber and heart-healthy fats without taking a dozen different pills. NOW Real Food® Organic Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica) offer a simple, whole-food solution. Just one tablespoon delivers 2,200 mg of plant-based Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 4 grams of gentle dietary fiber, and 2 grams of complete plant protein with zero added sugar and only 50 calories.
Unlike flaxseeds, which must be ground in a coffee grinder before your body can absorb their interior nutrients, chia seeds have a water-loving outer shell that naturally breaks down during digestion. That means you can eat them raw, soaked, or blended into smoothies and get full nutritional value every time.
- ✓ High-Potency Essential Fats: 2.2 g of heart-supporting Omega-3 ALA per tablespoon.
- ✓ Digestive Balance & Regularity: Rich in soluble mucilage fiber that soothes the gut and keeps bowels moving smoothly.
- ✓ Sustained Fullness: Expands up to 10 to 12 times its dry weight in water, helping curb hunger between meals.
- ✓ Certified Clean & Organic: USDA Certified Organic by QAI, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan, Halal, and Kosher.
- ✓ Guaranteed Freshness: Sealed with NOW® Fresh Fill nitrogen-flush technology to stop fat oxidation and preserve delicate omegas.
How Chia Seeds Work in Your Body: The Science Made Simple
Chia seeds may look small, but their unique physical and biochemical makeup creates measurable health benefits backed by clinical trials:
1. The "Hydration Sponge" Effect (Mucilage Fiber)
When chia seeds touch water, juice, or digestive fluids, the outer seed coat immediately begins secreting a clear, gel-like coating called mucilage (made of natural xylose, glucose, and glucuronic acid polymers). This gel acts like a physical barrier in your stomach:
- Slows Carbohydrate Breakdown: The viscous gel slows down the enzyme alpha-amylase, preventing rapid sugar surges and stabilizing post-meal energy.
- Prolongs Satiety: By holding water in your digestive tract, chia delays gastric emptying so your brain receives lasting fullness signals.
- Feeds Beneficial Gut Bacteria: Once the fiber reaches your colon, healthy gut bacteria ferment it into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which nourish your gut lining and support healthy immune function.
2. Cardiovascular and Blood Pressure Support
Chia seeds are roughly 30% oil by weight, and over 60% of that oil is Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)—an essential Omega-3 fatty acid your body cannot make on its own. Clinical research highlights several key cardiovascular outcomes:
- Blood Pressure Regulation: A comprehensive 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrition Reviews examined randomized controlled trials and found that daily chia seed consumption significantly lowered systolic blood pressure by an average of 7.19 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 6.04 mmHg (Taghipour Sheshdeh et al., 2025).
- Systemic Inflammation Control: In a landmark clinical trial on adults with metabolic concerns published in Diabetes Care, chia supplementation reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a key marker of arterial inflammation, by 40% compared to control wheat bran (Vuksan et al., 2007).
- Vascular Elasticity: Plant ALA stimulates the endothelial lining of your blood vessels to release nitric oxide, helping arteries relax and stay flexible under daily stress.
Scientific References:
• Taghipour Sheshdeh A, et al. Nutrition Reviews. 2025;83(3):448-465. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae113.
• Saadh MJ, et al. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2024;86:103086. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103086.
• Vuksan V, et al. Diabetes Care. 2007;30(11):2804-2810. doi:10.2337/dc07-1144.
Supplement Facts & Verified Product Details
Every bag of NOW Real Food® Organic Chia Seeds contains 100% pure, unadulterated black chia seeds with zero fillers, salt, or artificial additives.
| Nutrient / Measure | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value (% DV)* |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1 Tablespoon (approx. 12 g) | |
| Servings Per Bag | About 28 servings (12 oz / 340 g) | |
| Calories | 50 | – |
| Total Fat | 3.5 g | 4% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | – |
| Omega-3 (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) | 2,200 mg (2.2 g) | † |
| Omega-6 (Linoleic Acid) | 700 mg (0.7 g) | † |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 5 g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g | 14% |
| Total Sugars (Added Sugars: 0 g) | 0 g | 0% |
| Protein | 2 g | 4% |
| Calcium | 67 mg | 6% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 93 mg | 2% |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0% |
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet of 2,000 calories.
† Daily Value not established. Fatty acid amounts reflect naturally occurring plant levels and are subject to natural crop variability.
Complete Ingredient Listing: Organic Black Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica).
Allergen & Facility Notice: Packaged in a dedicated peanut-free facility that also processes tree nuts. Item Catalog Number: N6244 / MFG # 6244. UPC: 733739062444.
NOW Foods Quality Standards & In-House Lab Testing
Agricultural products can easily pick up heavy metals from irrigation soil or pesticide overspray from neighboring fields. Many budget seed brands buy bulk lots without testing finished goods. NOW Foods sets the gold standard in the supplement and natural food sector with over 160 on-staff scientists and technicians operating ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories, completing more than 37,000 analytical tests every month.
How NOW Screens Every Batch of Chia Seeds:
- Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, NOW tests raw seeds down to the parts-per-billion (ppb) level to verify that lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury fall far below strict FDA, USP, and California Proposition 65 safety thresholds.
- Pesticide Residue Analysis (GC-MS/MS & LC-MS/MS): Advanced gas chromatography and liquid chromatography dual mass spectrometers screen for hundreds of modern agricultural pesticides and herbicides, confirming that these organic seeds are free from synthetic chemical residues.
- Glyphosate Verification (IC-MS/MS): Using Ion Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, NOW performs targeted trace-level screens for glyphosate down to parts-per-billion limits.
- Microbiological Purity: Every batch is cultured and tested to guarantee the total absence of pathogens, including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, yeast, mold, and coliforms.
- Fresh Fill Nitrogen Packaging: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (like Omega-3 ALA) spoil quickly when exposed to atmospheric oxygen. NOW uses proprietary Fresh Fill Technology, flushing the pouch with food-grade nitrogen during packaging to displace oxygen, locking in clean flavor and preventing rancidity without adding artificial preservatives.
How to Use Chia Seeds: Best Practices, Timing & Safety Edge Cases
Chia seeds are virtually flavorless with a mild, nutty crunch, making them one of the easiest superfoods to weave into your daily meals.
Popular Ways to Prepare:
- Classic Overnight Chia Pudding: Whisk 2 tablespoons of chia seeds into 1/2 cup of almond milk, oat milk, or dairy milk. Add a dash of cinnamon or vanilla. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2 hours (or overnight) until thick and spoonable.
- Smoothie Thickener: Add 1 tablespoon directly to your post-workout protein shake or morning green smoothie for an effortless 4 grams of dietary fiber and 2,200 mg of Omega-3s.
- Egg Replacement for Baking (Vegan "Chia Egg"): Mix 1 tablespoon of whole chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes until a viscous gel forms. Use as a 1:1 substitute for one chicken egg in pancakes, muffins, or quick breads.
- Crunchy Topping: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon directly over Greek yogurt, hot oatmeal, cottage cheese, or mixed green salads.
Practical Precautions & Real-World Trade-Offs
- The Dry Swallowing Choking Hazard: Never swallow dry whole chia seeds by the spoonful followed by water. Because chia rapidly expands up to 12 times its size, dry seeds can become lodged in the esophagus and swell, creating a swallowing blockage. Always mix chia into moist foods or pre-hydrate them in liquid before swallowing.
- Avoid Digestive Cramping: If your current diet is low in dietary fiber, jumping straight to multiple tablespoons of chia per day can cause gas, bloating, or mild abdominal cramps. Start with 1 teaspoon daily and work up to 1 to 2 tablespoons over two weeks, making sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
- Medication Timing: High-viscosity soluble fibers can slightly slow down the absorption rate of oral prescription medications. If you take thyroid hormones, cardiac medications, or daily prescriptions, take your medicine at least 1 to 2 hours before or after consuming high-fiber chia meals.
- Blood Pressure & Blood Thinners: Because chia seeds naturally possess mild antiplatelet properties and support healthy blood pressure, individuals taking warfarin, antiplatelet medications, or high-dose antihypertensive prescriptions should inform their physician when making chia seeds a daily staple.
Why Buy NOW Chia Seeds From VitaNet®?
When shopping for dietary supplements and functional foods online, where your products are stored and who ships them matters just as much as what is on the label[cite: 1].
- ✓ Independent Family-Owned Heritage: VitaNet®, LLC has been serving health-conscious customers online since 1995 from our independent retail location in Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1].
- ✓ 31+ Years of Hands-On Industry Experience: With over three decades of practical expertise in natural supplements, vitamins, and human nutrition, we stock products we trust for our own families[cite: 1].
- ✓ Direct, Authentic Brand Relationships: We source directly from established manufacturers like NOW Foods, ensuring fresh batch codes and eliminating the counterfeit or expired inventory risks common on unmonitored mass-market platforms[cite: 1].
- ✓ Climate-Controlled Warehouse Storage: Natural oils in chia seeds degrade under heat and humidity. Our inventory is kept in clean, temperature-regulated facilities to ensure absolute freshness upon arrival.
- ✓ Risk-Free 100% Money-Back Guarantee: We stand behind our catalog with an unconditional 100% satisfaction guarantee—we even cover return shipping, even on opened packages[cite: 1].
- ✓ BBB A+ Accredited Business: Real human customer support by phone at (330) 877-8786 or online, backed by an A+ Better Business Bureau rating[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to grind chia seeds to get their nutritional benefits?
No. Unlike flaxseeds, which have an impenetrable outer hull that passes through your system whole, chia seeds have a hydrophilic (water-absorbing) outer shell that breaks down completely during normal digestion. You absorb the fiber, minerals, and protein whether you consume them whole or ground. However, if you are specifically looking to maximize Omega-3 ALA absorption, lightly grinding them or letting them thoroughly soak in liquid allows digestive enzymes to reach the seed's interior fatty acids even faster.
What is the difference between black and white chia seeds?
Nutritional differences between black and white chia seeds are minimal. Both come from the plant Salvia hispanica and offer virtually identical profiles for Omega-3 ALA content, dietary fiber, and plant protein. Black chia seeds have slightly higher concentrations of anthocyanin antioxidants in their seed coats, while white chia seeds are often favored in lighter-colored baked goods for aesthetic reasons. Brown chia seeds, however, should be avoided as they indicate immature or improperly harvested crops.