Huge warning over superfood mistake as simulation shows what happens if you eat it everyday

An important health warning has been raised after a simulation video reveals what happens if you decide to eat a particular superfood everyday.

Eat the superfood right and it has countless benefits; get it wrong, and you could end up like one poor chap who realised he couldn't swallow properly due to a mass in his throat, requiring a 'labour intensive' procedure to remove it.

At one point or another, we've all tried to get a taste for healthier food options, and the term 'superfoods' is being coined by fitness influencers all over social media.

There's currently loads of videos on my FYP showing the 'benefits' of eating stuff like blueberries, spinach and almonds, often all in one go in the form of a smoothie.

Superfoods are all the rage, but you have to be careful (Getty Stock Image)

This is all while the classic avocado hype appears to be dying down, probably because of how expensive it is in the supermarkets.

These days, experts are telling us how good dark chocolate is, which makes me feel a lot less guilty when reaching for a packet of digestives.

But one superfood which keeps getting mentioned again and again has now come with a warning, even though they're sort of marketed as tiny nutritional overachievers.

With its popularity increasing, a doctor has said one gnarly potential side effect 'will come up more frequently'.

Chia seeds are up there with avocados when it comes to superfoods (Getty Stock Images)

Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3s for brain power, fibre to keep your gut healthy, and protein for muscle growth.

If you've just started getting back into the gym and have been checking out healthy TikTok recipes, you will have seen them sprinkled on yogurt, tossed in smoothies, and also included in puddings.

They pretty much taste of nothing too, and are rather dry and crunchy.

Simulation shows health benefits of chia seeds

Chia seeds can be good for your health if consumed properly (Getty Stock Images)

As highlighted in a simulation video by 5 Minute Fitness, they say: "Chia seeds can also improve sleep. Chia seeds are naturally rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that plays a key role in the synthesis of melatonin.

"Chia seeds also strengthen teeth and bones. They are an important source of nutrients that contribute to healthy teeth and bones, and the calcium in them also helps to prevent tooth decay."

But this where many people go wrong, and it's in the prep work.

An unnamed young man once had a gel-like mass lodged in his food pipe after eating chia seeds due to all of the absorbed water.

According to Healthline, the seeds can absorb 'up to 12 times their weight' when exposed to a liquid.

Dr Rebecca Rawl, the doctor who treated the man, told Time that it's comparable to a 'Play-Doh-like consistency'. The case was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2014.

She said: "The popularity of chia seeds is growing, and I think this will come up more frequently."

How to enjoy chia seeds safely

So, start with just one to two tablespoons (about 14 g) per day to ease it into your digestive system.

Healthline again suggests to soak chia seeds in water, milk, or juice for at least 10–15 minutes, overnight if possible, so they expand before reaching your throat.

This avoids the dangerous gumming-up effect that can lead to choking or blockages.