Oats vs. Chia Seeds
Nutrition comparison of Oats and Chia Seeds
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
oats
versus
chia seeds
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in oats and chia seeds:
- Both oats and chia seeds are high in calcium, calories, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, iron, potassium and protein.
- Chia seed has more niacin, however, oat contains more pantothenic acid and Vitamin B6.
- Oat has 63% less saturated fat than chia seed.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Oats (Oats (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)) and Chia Seeds (Seeds, chia seeds, dried) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Both oats and chia seeds are high in calories. Chia seed has 25% more calories than oat - oat has 389 calories per 100 grams and chia seed has 486 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, oats is heavier in protein, much heavier in carbs and much lighter in fat compared to chia seeds per calorie. Oats has a macronutrient ratio of 17:67:16 and for chia seeds, 13:33:54 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Oats | Chia Seeds | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 17% | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 67% | 33% |
| Fat | 16% | 54% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Both oats and chia seeds are high in carbohydrates. Oat has 57% more carbohydrates than chia seed - oat has 66.3g of total carbs per 100 grams and chia seed has 42.1g of carbohydrates.
dietary fiber
Both oats and chia seeds are high in dietary fiber. Chia seed has 225% more dietary fiber than oat - oat has 10.6g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and chia seed has 34.4g of dietary fiber.
Protein
protein
Both oats and chia seeds are high in protein. Oat is very similar to chia seed for protein - oat has 16.9g of protein per 100 grams and chia seed has 16.5g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Oat has 63% less saturated fat than chia seed - oat has 1.2g of saturated fat per 100 grams and chia seed has 3.3g of saturated fat.
trans fat
Both chia seeds and oats are low in trans fat - chia seed has 0.14g of trans fat per 100 grams and oat does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Chia seed has more Vitamin C than oat - chia seed has 1.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and oat does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin A
Chia seed has more Vitamin A than oat - chia seed has 16.2ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and oat does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin E
Chia seed has more Vitamin E than oat - chia seed has 0.5mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and oat does not contain significant amounts.
The B Vitamins
Chia seed has more niacin, however, oat contains more pantothenic acid and Vitamin B6. Both oats and chia seeds contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin and folate.
| Oats | Chia Seeds | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.763 MG | 0.62 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.139 MG | 0.17 MG |
| Niacin | 0.961 MG | 8.83 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.349 MG | ~ |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.119 MG | ~ |
| Folate | 56 UG | 49 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both oats and chia seeds are high in calcium. Chia seed has 10 times more calcium than oat - oat has 54mg of calcium per 100 grams and chia seed has 631mg of calcium.
iron
Both oats and chia seeds are high in iron. Chia seed has 64% more iron than oat - oat has 4.7mg of iron per 100 grams and chia seed has 7.7mg of iron.
potassium
Both oats and chia seeds are high in potassium. Oat has a little more potassium (5%) than chia seed by weight - oat has 429mg of potassium per 100 grams and chia seed has 407mg of potassium.
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, chia seed has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than oat per 100 grams.
| Oats | Chia Seeds | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.111 G | 17.83 G |
| Total | 0.111 G | 17.83 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, chia seed has more linoleic acid than oat per 100 grams.
| Oats | Chia Seeds | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 2.424 G | 5.835 G |
| other omega 6 | ~ | 0.093 G |
| Total | 2.424 G | 5.928 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Oats (Oats (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)) and Chia Seeds (Seeds, chia seeds, dried) .
Oats g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Chia Seeds g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
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5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does oats or chia seeds contain more calories in 100 grams?Both oats and chia seeds are high in calories. Chia seed has 30% more calories than oat - oat has 389 calories in 100g and chia seed has 486 calories.
Does oats or chia seeds have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both oats and chia seeds are high in carbohydrates. oat has 60% more carbohydrates than chia seed - oat has 66.3g of carbs for 100g and chia seed has 42.1g of carbohydrates.
Does oats or chia seeds contain more calcium?
Both oats and chia seeds are high in calcium. Chia seed has 10 times more calcium than oat - oat has 54mg of calcium in 100 grams and chia seed has 631mg of calcium.
Does oats or chia seeds contain more iron?
Both oats and chia seeds are high in iron. Chia seed has 60% more iron than oat - oat has 4.7mg of iron in 100 grams and chia seed has 7.7mg of iron.
Does oats or chia seeds contain more potassium?
Both oats and chia seeds are high in potassium. Oat has a little more potassium ( 10%) than chia seed by weight - oat has 429mg of potassium in 100 grams and chia seed has 407mg of potassium.