Wondering why everyone eats oats as a healthy breakfast? It is no shocker that oats are eaten as breakfast cereal widely in the US. Well, ground oats are sometimes known as white oats. Steel-cut oats go by numerous names, including "coarse oatmeal," "Irish oatmeal," and "pinhead oats."
Quick Oats or instant Oats can be produced thinner or smaller than traditional thick, old-fashioned rolled oats, as cooking time is determined by the measurement of the oats and the amount of precooking.
Oats are primarily carbohydrates, providing approximately 389 calories per 100 grams. They are also a great source of numerous essential vitamins and minerals, including thiamine, zinc, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and selenium.
Oats are a great source of protein, fibre, essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and many other minerals. The heart-healthy beta-glucan starch found in oats is abundant, and its high fibre level lowers cholesterol..
9 Oatmeal Health Benefits
1. Heart Health
Whole grain oats are a key source of beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre strong in antioxidants linked to protection against heart disease, lowered cholesterol, and reduced inflammation. Regularly eating whole grains is good for your cardiovascular system. Hence you can include oats in various dishes, including your typical cereal and more.
2. Glucose Levels
Oats contain beta-glucan, which is useful in managing and preventing diabetes. The National Institutes Of Health examined how Oats affected blood sugar levels when used as a brief type 2 diabetes intervention. Oat consumption was linked to considerably reduced blood sugar levels and higher insulin sensitivity in participants, both of which are protective factors against type 2 diabetes.
3. Increases Immunity
One of the many health advantages of beta-glucan, a dietary fibre, is that it lowers blood sugar and promotes heart health. By fostering strong immune system function, it can also protect against infection. This strengthens your immune system so it can fight off illness. And the bonus point, the calories are less but still make you full.
4. Healthy Digestion
The high fibre content of Oats promotes regular bowel motions and helps with digestion. Many individuals think cereal fibres are superior to fibre from fruits and vegetables when it comes to treating digestive issues like diarrhoea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. This fibre might lessen the irritation in the digestive system.
5. Weight Management
Oats are a good option for those trying to control their weight and reduce their appetite because of their high water and fibre content. If you have a breakfast that is high in fibre and overall volume, you might feel less inclined to snack between meals. By adding protein and good fats like almonds, you may boost the nutritional value even further.
6. Antioxidants
The most powerful type of antioxidant present in oats is avenanthramides. Actually, one of the few food sources of this potent antioxidant group is oats. By encouraging your blood vessels to widen, they can lower blood pressure. Your body's blood flow has risen as a result, improving circulation, memory, and muscle recovery.
7. Iron
Your blood's ability to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body depends on iron. Since animal items like meat and seafood are the main sources of iron-rich foods, this element is especially crucial for plant-based diets. Eating one cup of cooked oats can meet 20% of your daily iron needs.
8. Liver Performance
In a double-blind, randomised study involving overweight and obese men and women, nearly 90% of those who were given real Oats lost weight (as opposed to the control group's 0% loss), on average, had a smaller waist, their cholesterol dropped by 20 points, and their liver function improved.
9. Reducing Cholesterol
Oatmeal's fibre helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, so less plaque builds up in our arteries. Additionally, oats contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that can assist in maintaining vascular function by preventing the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque. Along with cholesterol, it helps with other fluent functions of digestive tracts and blood lining too.
According to a 2015 NIH investigation, oats are one of the whole grains that people consume more of. Now that you know more about them, try including oats regularly in your diet.