Oatmeal Is Full of Health Benefits Learn 10 Smart Reasons to Enjoy It

Your grandma and the Scots ate oatmeal because it is inexpensive and grows anywhere. I eat oatmeal for its taste and nutrition and its many other benefits.

It’s true what the cereal TV commercials say about those ‘crunchy oat clusters.  They ARE good for you. particularly if you make your own.

10 Reasons Why I Love Oatmeal

1. Low-calorie food stops cravings.

A cup is only 130 calories!  It also stays in your stomach longer making you feel full longer.  You will have less hunger and cravings.

2.    Provides high levels of fiber and low levels of fat.

“You have to eat oatmeal or you’ll dry up. Anyone knows that.” ~ Kay Thompson

3.    Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces the risk of diabetes (type 2)

The high fiber and complex carbohydrates slow down the conversion of this whole food to simple sugars. The high levels of magnesium nourish the body’s proper use of glucose and insulin secretion.

4.    Removes your bad cholesterol (without affecting your good cholesterol).

Many studies have shown that the unique FIBER in oatmeal called beta-glucan has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.

5. Gluten-free safe.

Diana is gluten sensitive and have no problem with oatmeal.  If you are gluten intolerant or celiac there is some cause for concern. Oats lack many of the prolamines (proteins) found in wheat (gluten) but oats do contain avenin.  Avenin is a prolamine that is considered toxic to the intestinal mucosa of avenin-sensitive individuals.  Oats can also contain gluten from nearby wheat field contamination and processing facilities.   Many studies have shown that many celiacs can consume wheat-free oats with no problems.

If you want gluten-free oats, here is a very good one Harvest Gluten Free Organic Rolled Old Fashioned Oats which is good for cooked oatmeal porridge. For making a crumble, it is better to have one like this: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Quick Cooking Rolled Oats

6.    Contains lignins that protect against heart disease and cancer.

Oatmeal, like many whole grains, contains plant lignans, which are converted by intestinal flora into mammalian lignans.  One lignin, called enterolactone, is thought to protect against breast and other hormone-dependent cancers as well as heart disease.

7.    Contains unique antioxidants beneficial for heart disease.

A study at Tuffs University shows that the unique antioxidants in oatmeal called avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

8.    Protects against heart failure.

A Harvard study on 21,000 participants over 19 years showed that found that men who enjoyed a daily morning bowl of whole grain (but not refined) cereal had a 29% lower risk of heart failure. Guess what grain is most easily found and prepared unrefined – oats.

9.    Enhances Immune Response to disease. The unique fiber in oatmeal called beta-gluten also has been shown to helps neutrophils travel to the site of an infection more quickly and  it also enhances their ability to eliminate the bacteria they find there

10.    It tastes GOOD!

All oats whether in flakes or groats form have gone through a heat process that gives them their rich nutty flavour.  This keeps them from spoiling. They have also been hulled.  This process does not strip away all the bran and germ allowing them to retain a concentrated source of fiber and nutrients.  This means that oats are not raw and will not sprout.

Different Kinds of  Oatmeal

All the benefits mentioned above are actually for OATS.  Most people don’t think about oats – they think about oatmeal. In fact most people could not identify whole oats if it was sitting in front of them.

There are many different levels of processing of oatmeal. Generally, the larger the ‘flake’ – as in rolled oats or the bigger the seed or groat  – as in steal cut oats – the less processed it will be, the more nutrients it retains and the slower it will be to digest.  It will also be slower to cook though.

Most people think steel-cut oats are the least processed since that is how the largest groats are labeled, but some of the most processed oats like instant and baby are also steel-cut.

Interesting fact:  Oats were the favorite cereal of Prophet Muhammad.

Simple Recipe for cooking OLD FASHIONED OATS
Stove Top
1 Serving

Ingredients:
1/2 cup oats
1 Cup water
Dash of Himalayan salt

Directions:

1. Boil water salt.
2. Stir in oats.
3. Cook about 5 minutes over medium heat; stir occasionally.

More Recipes with Oatmeal:

Perfect Oatmeal Porridge:  Porridge – Porridge has been a traditional breakfast food for hundreds of years. On a winter day  it is so warming to have a steaming bowl of porridge with raisins.  In the summer I do not cook them just soak; see my recipe.

Saskatoon Berry Crumble:  Saskatoon Berry Crumble– As you will know by reading my article The Best Berry, Saskatoons are my favorite and I am happy to eat them just as they are.  For fun I do enjoy a crumble or pie so here is the yummy crumble recipe.

Blueberry Crumble:  Berry Crumble– This blueberry crumble recipe is so yummy and easy to make. Very healthy too without all that sugar. Also, if you use gluten-free oats then it is gluten-free too.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Porridge & Sultanas Is Delicious – This Oatmeal Cinnamon Porridge & Sultanas makes a great start to your day.  I like the old-fashioned oats as they have a fuller flavour and are healthier.  You can eat this as a raw meal or make it into regular porridge.  As they take longer to cook; I often soak them overnight but you do not have to.

You can also learn how to plan and prepare super healthy meals with my 2-5-30 Healthy Diet Online Courses.

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