Would chia seeds aid cardiovascular training?

Chia is the highest natural plant source of omega-3 fatty acids - even higher than flax seeds. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that you must obtain in your diet because the body cannot produce its own essential fat.

So chia is a great source of healthy fats. There is no good evidence that I know of that they would improve performance if used before a run. However, if you don't eat much fish or take a fish oil supplement or flax, then over the medium and long term, the chia will help improve levels of essential fatty acids in your body. This will not only have positive health implications but it could also help to minimize inflammation and swelling that will occur from long runs. This would be likely to improve your recovery and thus perhaps your performance and lessen your risk of injury. However, fish is a better source of essential fats than chia.

Chia will increase your body's essential fat levels (and this can improve your lean body mass, fat mass and health) but the research clearly favours taking fish oils (which are already in the form required by the human body to have their unique health-supporting effects) versus taking plant-based essential fats.

Flax converts to the active EPA and DHA that your body actually requires at a very low rate (less than 10%), whereas a high percentage of fish oil is already in the form most usable by the body and so is a much more efficient source of essential fats on both a gram-for-gram and dollar-for-dollar / pound-for-pound basis!

Caffeine definitely enhances performance, especially for endurance exercise. It also increases the ratio of fat used as fuel during activity.

Shame, after i read Born to Run i was quite taken in with the chia seeds!

I will stick with the whey, bcaa and add green tea and caffeine to my pre workout meal.

thanks again Mark.