The key difference between chia seeds and basil seeds is that chia seeds can be eaten both raw and soaked, whereas basil seeds are usually soaked in water before eating.
Both chia and basil are seeds that are beneficial to health because they are a good source of plant-based protein, and they can be included in your daily diet. They boost your immune system and aid in weight loss. But too many of these are not good for you because they cause various types of side effects.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Chia Seeds
3. What are Basil Seeds
4. Chia Seeds vs Basil Seeds in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Chia Seeds vs Basil Seeds
What are Chia Seeds?
Chia Seeds are the edible seeds of Salvia hispanica, which is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to Central and Southern Mexico. It was a vital crop in ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican cultures. At present, it is commercially grown in Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Australia, Argentina, and the United States.
This seed is grey with black and white spots and oval in shape. It has a 2 mm diameter. When chia seeds are soaked in water, they are capable of absorbing twelve times their weight. Then they form a mucilaginous coating, which gives a gel texture to food and drinks made from chia seeds.
Chia seeds are rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, caffeic acid, and quercetin. They also have other nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, manganese, phosphorous, and selenium. All these nutrients have many health benefits, such as better heart health, better bone health, reduced free radicals, reduced inflammation, improved blood sugar level, and weight management.
One ounce serving of chia seeds has 4.7g of protein, 8.7g of fat, 138 calories, 9.8 fibre, and 12 carbohydrates. However, eating too much of this will lead to digestive issues, choking hazards, or allergies.
What are Basil Seeds?
Basil seeds, which are also called sabja seeds or tukmaria, are black seeds that look like chia seeds and provide a lot of health benefits. These seeds are native to India. These cannot be eaten raw since they are very hard. Therefore, the best way to eat them is after soaking them in water. This makes them gelatinous and easy to consume.
One hundred grams of basil seeds have 14.8g of protein, 63.8g of carbohydrates, 13.8g of lipids, and 22.6g of fibre. They also have many health benefits like blood sugar level control, weight loss, better hair and skin, cure for cough and colds, and relief from constipation and bloating.
Although this has many health benefits, you should not eat more than a spoonful of this daily because it may cause diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, acne, abdomen discomfort, headache, low blood sugar, and loss of appetite. These are also not good for women as they may reduce the estrogen level of the body and are also not recommended for children since they may choke them if not mixed well with water. At the same time, these seeds are not good for you if you have had surgery or are wounded since basil oil and extracts slow down blood clotting. If you are going to have surgery, you should stop eating these before two weeks.
What is the Difference Between Chia Seeds and Basil Seeds?
The key difference between chia seeds and basil seeds is that chia seeds can be eaten both raw and soaked, while basil seeds are usually soaked in water before eating. Moreover, chia seeds have a mild taste, whereas basil seeds have no taste.
The below infographic presents the differences between chia seeds and basil seeds in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Chia Seeds vs Basil Seeds
Chia seeds are the edible seeds of Salvia hispanica, which is a flowering plant in the mint family. Chia seeds can be eaten both raw and soaked, but basil seeds are so hard that they cannot be eaten raw. Basil seeds are not good for children since they are hard, and the children might choke on them. So, this is the summary of the difference between chia seeds and basil seeds.
Reference:
1. “Chia Seed.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Sabja Seeds.” Healthyifyme.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Chia Seeds with the word Chia spelled out” By Formulate Health – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Basil seeds” By Marjeeva – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia