Chia seeds and basil seeds have both been in the spotlight since few years ago. Mostly due to the claim that they can aid for effective weight-loss, when consumed as part of a balanced diet.  Some people might be confused between the two, and some people even thinking they are the same and replaceable between each other. However, they are different actually. There is a lot of key differences between chia seeds and basil seeds, and here I list down 5 differences.

APPEARANCE: From the picture above, the left side is BASIL SEEDS. They are uniformly jet black in colour, tiny and round.  On the right side is CHIA SEEDS. Chia seeds are a little bit larger, more oval in shape. They are usually a mixture of grey, black, white and sometimes even brown seeds. 

ON SOAKING IN WATER: Chia seeds take time to absorb water. It has the unique ability to gel by absorbing over 10 times their weight. Basil seeds swell up within seconds of being mixed with water. A translucent coat forms around the seed and it appears much larger in size when compared to a soaked chia seed. 

USAGE: Chia seeds can be consumed raw or soaked. Basil seeds can be consumed only after soaking.

NUTRITION CONTENT:  They have been known to aid in weight loss due to their ability to make you feel fuller faster. Chia seeds is good source of proteins and Omega 3s while basil seeds is good source of vitamins and Iron. Chia seeds is a naturally low-carb and high-fibre food helps in digestion while basil seeds has a soothing effect on the stomach and hence useful to combat acidity. Hence, chia seeds is highly recommended for weight-loss.

BENEFITS TO THE BODY: Chia seeds help to maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels in the body. Basil seeds, on the other hand, function well as a diuretic and aid digestion. The richness of the iron in basil seeds also helps to improve quality of the blood.

Neither of these seeds will produce sudden, effortless weight-loss, both can certainly be used as an effective aid to support your efforts to lose the excess pounds. The main dieting benefit of the seeds are their ability to help you feel more easily sated after eating. In simple terms, they help to fill you up, thus helping you to avoid snacking throughout the day!

However, it’s important to note that they are not a substitute for healthy eating. To get the most from your basil seeds or chia seeds, you’ll need also to ensure that you’re enjoying a balanced diet.