5. Omega-3
Chia seeds are an excellent source of ALA omega-3. This form of omega-3 needs converting to EPA or DHA for the body to use it, though, and the conversion rate tends to below.
Chia seeds contain 5.06 grams of omega-3 per ounce (28-gram) serving.
Omega-3 comes as alpha-linolenic acid, known as ALA for short.
ALA is omega-3 found in plants, but the human body must convert it to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) before being able to use it. EPA and DHA are the biologically active forms of omega-3 within the body.
Sadly, the human body can only transform tiny amounts of ALA to EPA and DHA, with most reports putting the true conversion rate between 1% and 15%.
As a result, getting EPA/DHA from seafood or supplements is still necessary.
However, even if the true ALA to EPA/DHA conversion rate was under 10%, chia seeds may still benefit from omega-3 levels since they contain over five grams of ALA omega-3 per ounce serving.
