What are chia seeds? Why are they banned in China?

1. What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are the seeds of the mint plant Salvia officinalis. Chia seeds are small in size, oval in shape, and smooth on the surface. The color of the seeds ranges from beige to dark brown, and the surface of the seeds has marbled veins. Chia seeds are native to southern Mexico, Guatemala and other North American regions. They are rich in α-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid for the human body, as well as dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. Every 100 grams of chia seeds contains 30-40 grams of dietary fiber. Chia seeds are rich in linolenic acid, which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Chia seeds have many uses. Chia seeds can reduce hypertension, lower blood pressure levels, and control blood sugar. Chia seeds have a strong ability to absorb water, and can swell and become heavier, thereby stimulating intestinal peristalsis, promoting defecation, reducing weight, beautifying the skin, and effectively solving the problem of skin aging and delaying aging.

2. Reasons for banning the sale of chia seeds in China

Chia seeds are not banned in China. Chia seeds were approved by relevant national departments in 2014 and met the basic requirements of food. The reason for such rumors is that national regulations prohibit the entry of biologically active seeds, in order to prevent alien species from damaging the ecological environment. If chia seeds are to be sold in China, all that is required is to eliminate the biological activity of the chia seeds and they can be sold normally.