Frequently Asked Questions

Anecdotal information about canaryseed indicates wide-ranging possibilities. Some people claim it helps them maintain a healthy weight. Others say it supports normal health of the heart, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and pancreas. To date, however, there has been very little scientific study of canaryseed benefits for humans, so use for these purposes is not yet substantiated.

For the well-being of consumers, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not permit dietary supplement providers to discuss a product's potential or known health benefits as related to a disease or condition. This is out of concern that people who may need to seek medical treatment might instead use products that have not undergone extensive testing for safety and effectiveness. Such a delay in seeking effective treatment could be harmful. With this in mind, we do not discuss specific diseases or health conditions on our website. We focus instead on the nutritional properties of Silica Fiber Free canaryseed that may support normal health.

Based on our own survey of the scientific literature, we believe these nutritional properties have potential value in Silica Fiber Free canaryseed used a dietary supplement:

Antioxidant activity.
One 2004 study found canaryseed has antioxidant activity close to that of vitamin C. Plant sterols and certain esters of caffeic acid (which is unrelated to caffeine) may contribute to canaryseed's antioxidant activity.

Protein and amino acids.
Canaryseed has 9 grams of protein per 5 tablespoon serving (measured dry). This is 18% of the US Recommended Daily Allowance. Analysis of canaryseed protein found proportionately high levels of arginine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. Canaryseed appears to have considerably more arginine than most grains-falling closer to quinoa, amaranth and some legumes-and a low ratio of lysine to arginine.

Iron.
Canaryseed is a good source of iron, providing 3 mg per 5 tablespoon serving (measured dry). This is 18% of the US Recommended Daily Allowance.

Digestion and nutrient absorption.
Many people, notably the Raw Foodists, believe that eating enzyme-rich foods promotes digestion and health. Cooking plant foods destroys many if not most of these enzymes. Since canaryseed grain is soaked and consumed raw, it has these active enzymes in it.

Yes. Traditional varieties of canaryseed, typically sold for bird food, have tiny silica hairs on the hull that have been linked to esophageal cancer. For your health and safety, avoid these risks by buying only the "hairless" or "glabrous" varieties of canaryseed. Pureza™ sells these varieties as Silica Fiber Free canaryseed.

If you decide to use hairless-variety canaryseed as a dietary supplement, monitor yourself closely, as you should with anything you provide to your body. Each person is unique, so what has positive effects for someone else might have negative effects for you, or vice versa. Consult a health professional immediately if you have any concerns.

Traditional varieties of canaryseed have microscopic fibers on the outside of the hull. These protective hairs, called spicules, are almost 98% silica-like tiny glass needles. The University of Saskatchewan developed a "glabrous," also called "hairless," variety of canaryseed, called CDC Maria, largely with the objective of reducing skin irritation for people who handle the seeds during harvesting and processing. Most farmers still plant the traditional varieties, however, because the grain yields are higher. Because of scientific research linking ingestion of canaryseed "hairs" with cancer, Pureza™ sells only the hairless varieties of canaryseed.

Southern Africa, northeast Iran, and northern China have unusually high incidences of esophageal cancer, and several studies have indicated that consumption of flour contaminated with canaryseed "hairs" (spicules) may be a contributor. Another study found that mice fed traditional varieties of canaryseed developed tumors around their mouths and noses, the areas that most frequently came into contact with the silica hairs. Several studies have called out physical similarities between silica spicules and asbestos fibers. It's possible that the sharp, needle-like shape of the silica spicules on traditional canaryseed hulls may contribute to cell damage in the throat that may lead to cancer. But before you start to worry about canaryseeed, please note that the "hairless" (glabrous) varieties do not have these spicules at all.

Most canaryseed grown today is still the traditional kind, with the silica hairs. Unless you look at it under a magnifying glass, it's pretty hard to tell the difference. In fact a lot of sellers still don't know there's a difference at all, much less how hazardous the traditional varieties could be for people who consume it. If you are not 100% confident the canaryseed is a hairless (glabrous) variety like CDC Maria or Togo (sometimes sold under the trade name CanarioTM), look for a different supplier who knows the difference and can guarantee what you're buying.

At Pureza™ we know that the canaryseed we sell is only the newer, hairless (glabrous) varieties because we contract directly with farmers who plant it for us. On the Pureza™ package we call this Silica Fiber Free Canaryseed.

No. Today most canaryseed sold as bird food is still the traditional variety that has potentially dangerous silica fibers on the hull. Several peer-reviewed scientific studies have indicated that human consumption of flour contaminated with these silica hairs is linked to esophageal cancer. Silica inside the lungs and throat may cause health problems. It's possible that the tiny needle-like shape of the traditional canaryseed silica spicules, similar to asbestos fibers, is part of what may cause cell damage. If you buy and consume canaryseed sold as bird food you take that risk.

We can't say definitively, since to our knowledge this has not been studied, however, birds have different physiologies and different adaptations for foods they consume. For example, birds that eat canaryseed crack open the hull-which contain the silica hairs-and eat only the grain inside, just like they would with a sunflower seed. This would reduce their internal exposure to the silica fibers. Bird's hard beaks may also provide some protection. A study of mice fed traditional varieties of canaryseed found they developed tumors around their mouths and noses, the soft tissue areas that most frequently came into contact with the silica hairs.

The name for the inside grain of canaryseed is a groat or caryopsis. While the hulls with the silica hairs (spicules) can indeed be separated from the groats, the spicules on traditional canaryseed are so tiny that it's impossible to avoid some contamination of the groats. For this reason we recommend avoiding consumption of traditional canaryseed in any form.

Canaryseed spicules are very, very tiny-about as long as a dust mite and, at the base, about one fourth the diameter of a human hair. At the tip, they're even smaller. You would need very specialized filtering equipment to strain canaryseed spicules out of "canaryseed milk" or "leche alpiste." It's much simpler simply to buy hairless (glabrous) canaryseed to use.

At this time there is no such thing as certified organic canaryseed produced in the US or Canada. We anticipate demand will eventually lead some farmers to grow canaryseed organically. As soon as it becomes available, we will offer it to you!

One scientific study indicates that canaryseed has antioxidant activity very close to Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

To prepare one serving of canaryseed milk, also called leche alpiste:

Soak overnight.

Measure 5 tablespoons of Silica Fiber Free canaryseed into a container filled with 8-12 ounces of water (a full glass). Soak overnight.

Strain and rinse.

Strain or pour off the soaking water and rinse the canaryseed thoroughly in fresh water until the rinse water is clear.

Blend.

Put the soaked seeds in the blender with 8-12 oz of fresh water, milk or unsweetened juice and any other ingredients you might enjoy in a blended drink. Possibilities include fresh or frozen fruits, unsweetened yogurt, coconut milk, almond milk, flaxseed oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger (grated or powdered), tahini (sesame butter), brewed roiboos or green tea... For sweeteners, we recommend avoiding refined sugars and instead using agave nectar or stevia.

You may prepare enough canaryseed milk (leche alpiste) for two days and keep it in the refrigerator. Because the canaryseed can settle to the bottom of the container, make sure to re-blend or stir it briskly before pouring a serving.

Many people have an 8-12 oz. canaryseed drink twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Others prefer to drink it throughout the day. Each serving contains approximately 5 tablespoons (measured dry) of canaryseed.

Soaking grains softens them and reduces their phytic acid content which can otherwise inhibit nutrient absorption (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc). It also activates the enzymatic break-down of starches, tannins and proteins.

5 tablespoons (47 grams) of dry canaryseed contains approximately 200 calories from 9 g of protein, 4 g of fat and 1 g of sugars.

Cooking canaryseed will destroy many of the enzymes in the seeds and decrease some of its nutritional value.

Canaryseed is a good source of protein. Almost 20% of the groats (the seeds inside the hulls) is protein. It does not contain more protein per gram than meat. For comparison:

47 g (dry weight)(5 tablespoons) of Silica Fiber Free canaryseed contains 9 grams of protein.

47 g of cooked chicken white meat contains approximately 15 grams of protein.

47 g (1.69 oz) of broiled flank steak contains approximately 13 grams of protein.

47 g (1.69 oz) of raw flank steak contains approximately 10 g of protein.

Most canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis) is grown Canada, Hungary and Argentina.