Simulation shows what happens when you eat superfood that left man with a blocked food pipe

A simulation has revealed what goes on inside your body when you regularly consume chia seeds after they left a man unable to swallow anything.

While looking up healthy recipes for smoothies, porridge or yogurt bowls you may have stumbled across the ingredient chia seeds. But what exactly are these insect-sized food items – and how do you eat them?

Chia seeds may just be nothing more than millimetre sized balls which grow on Salvia hispanica plants (part of the mint family) in Central America but what they lack in size is certainly made up in health benefits.

The seeds don't have a particularly strong taste either, which means it's very easy to add them to your meals.

Just make sure you're eating chia seeds properly... unless you fancy a trip to the hospital to get your oesophagus manually emptied.

We're not joking with that one.

Chia seeds may be small, but they are mighty (Getty Stock Images)

Shocking case of man who blocked his food pipe with chia seeds

Ending up in hospital after adding a health food to your diet may sound like a cruel practical joke, but it was actually a very real scenario for one unnamed man.

The case, which was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology back in 2014, revealed the man had decided to eat a spoonful of chia seeds, washing them down with a glass of water, every day after learning about their health benefits.

But instead of feeling the benefits of eating the food, the man found himself unable to swallow his own saliva and rushed to hospital.

It was there that doctors discovered his oesophagus was clogged with a thick gel-like mass after the chia seeds had absorbed the water.

Doctors in the emergency room ended up using a tiny endoscope to break apart the blockage so it could digest into his stomach.

Pretty grim stuff.

I bet this doesn't feel good... (American College of Gastroenterology)

However don't give up on your chia seeds just yet, as successfully adding them to your diet can bring a whole lot of health benefits.

What happens inside your body when you eat chia seeds

A recent simulation revealed all the different ways which chia seeds can improve your body, including weight-loss, increasing the body's melatonin levels and even improving bad breath.

We really weren't joking when we said these tiny seeds could really pack a punch when it comes to eating well.

Take a look at the simulation below to see all the benefits of eating chia seeds:

Those aren't the only benefits listed either, as chia seeds are also stated to increase bone strength and support brain health due to its high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Harvard Health also reveals how the seeds contain high levels of fibre, antioxidants and protein.

These provide health benefits such as:

• reducing inflammation
• lowering cholesterol
• supporting digestive health
• stabilising the body's blood sugar.

Talk about small but mighty.

How to properly prepare chia seeds before eating

Thinking about adding some chia seeds to your diet but don't fancy taking a trip to A&E?

Then don't worry, as hydrating your chia seeds will help you avoid the above scenario.

Chia seed pudding is a popular way to consume the food (Getty Stock Images)

Chia seeds have the ability to absorb 'up to 12 times their weight' when added to a liquid, which means its vital that you soak your seeds before consuming them (per Heathline).

This can be done by adding the seeds to items such as yogurt, porridge, smoothies or even just water. Leave the mixture for at least 10 to 20 minutes, although some people prefer to soak them overnight, and you'll be good to go. It's also worth making sure you don't consume too many chia seeds at once, with Holland and Barrett recommending you stick to around 15g of seeds ( is roughly one tbsp) a day.