Oats & Oatmeal- 11 Impressive Health Benefits

The health benefits of oatmeal include a healthy heart, diabetes control, a reduction in hypertension, cancer prevention, and increased immunity. It also helps in losing weight and treating constipation. People suffering from the celiac disorder can also consume a moderate amount of oats, since they are not wheat-based, despite having trace amounts of gluten.

Oatmeal is prepared from oats, which is a type of cereal grain. Its botanical name is Avena sativa. Oatmeal is prepared by rolling, crushing, or grinding oats. It can be eaten with milk or curd or in the form of oatcakes, oatmeal cookies, or oat bread for breakfast or dinner. Oats are also used in the preparation of beverages. Oats have been known to man since the Bronze Age.

Oats are known to grow in temperate zones. They have a low tolerance for hot summers but they have a high tolerance for water and cold. That’s why they are extensively grown in Europe and in North America. Oats are particularly popular in Scotland, where historians have recorded many instances of oats being a part of the Scottish culture. Oats were mass grown from the 18th and 19th centuries. As oats were very cheap, easy to grow, and process, people started consuming them as cereal. Oatmeal is popular today because of its numerous health benefits. According to a recent study, instant oatmeal can help you feel full longer than equal calories of ready-to-eat oat cereal.

Nutritional Value Of Oatmeal

There are many minerals and vitamins found in oats. Some of these include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E and vitamin K. Also, oats contain zero cholesterol.

Health Benefits Of Oatmeal

Including oatmeal in your diet provides a wide variety of health benefits. Some of the benefits include the following.

Heart Health

Research conducted by Horn et al at the North Western University of Medical School in Chicago have found that oatmeal acted as a great component of a fat-modified diet and helped in reducing the serum cholesterol level in the body. Consumption of oats and oat-based products will help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Oatmeal has also been highly recommended by the AHA (American Heart Association).

Diabetes Control

A study on diabetic patients at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, showed that oatmeal consumption decreased the blood sugar level significantly in type 2 diabetics. Blood sugar levels decreased gradually because a high fiber diet and complex carbohydrates took a longer time to digest than simple carbohydrates. This helps in maintaining optimum blood sugar levels. In the study, an oatmeal diet was given to patients in replacement of other cereals.

Hypertension Treatment

Unsalted oatmeal has been prescribed as one of the foods to be used to treat hypertension. Usually, the diet prescribed for hypertension is known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). Research showed that regular oatmeal consumption helped in reducing the risk of high blood pressure.

Anti-cancer Properties

Research studies suggest that consuming high-fiber food is good for preventing and fighting colorectal cancer. This study also suggests that inflammation played a significant role in the development of cancer and oatmeal, with its high dietary fiber content, was found to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting compounds with minimal side effects.

Appetite Control

Oatmeal is full of dietary fiber and has a low amount of calories, which makes it ideal for regular consumption. The high amount of fiber coupled with complex carbohydrates takes longer to digest. In other words, your stomach is full for a longer time and prevents you from eating unhealthy snacks between meals.

Reduced Constipation

Oatmeal is a good source of dietary fiber. The presence of dietary fiber makes it ideal to overcome constipation by stimulating the digestive process and moving food through the smooth muscles of the intestinal tract.

Oatmeal poster.jpg

Weight Reduction

Oatmeal is highly recommended for people who want to lose weight without going on any crash diets. Oatmeal contains high amounts of dietary fiber, nutrients, low calories and a small amount of fat, which makes it the best food for weight loss.

Antioxidant Activity

Oats can be a good source of antioxidants. Some of the vitamins found in oats include phytic acid, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and sterols. The concentration of these antioxidants is on the outer layer of oats.

Skin Care

Oats can also be used as remedies for various skin diseases. They can be applied to the skin to reduce the symptoms as well as the actual diseases. Some of the diseases which can be controlled with a local application of oats include acne, dermatitis, chicken pox, and stress rashes.

Post-menopausal Benefits

There are various post-menopausal health risks that cannot be ignored. As the years progress, the risk of several diseases such as heart disease and stroke increases. In a research study published in the American Heart Journal, it was found that post-menopausal women with heart diseases were given oats regularly, which decreased their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Moderate Gluten Levels

Celiac disease is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged and only part of the food is absorbed. Gluten is one such food which people suffering from Celiac disease cannot eat. Studies have shown that oatmeal can be consumed despite containing gluten, although only moderate amounts can be consumed.

Improved Immune System

Vitamins found in oatmeal include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E and vitamin K. These nutrients are essential in building up the strength of the immune system. Vitamin E is helpful in breaking down complex lipid compounds into simpler compounds. Vitamin K acts as a blood coagulant, helps in maintaining bone health, and is known to be effective in fighting diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Oatmeal is a good source of vitamins such as niacin, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and choline, which also improve the immune system.

With such benefits, it is advised to include oatmeal in your diet as a powerful way to improve your health and lifestyle.

How To Select & Store Oats?

Choosing the right type of oats can be the tricky part because there are various kinds of oats available on the market, such as steel cut oats, old-fashioned oats, quick-cooking oats and instant oats.

Steel Cut Oats and Rolled Oats: These are described as one of the best oats that can be bought. The reason being, steel cut oats are whole grain and they possess vital nutrients such as B complex vitamins, protein, calcium, and fiber. These are also low in sodium and fats. These steel cut oats and rolled oats are more or less close to their natural form and are therefore very healthy.
Processed Oats: Opting for highly processed oats may not be a good idea because processing involves adding preservatives and salt, which counteracts one of the major objectives of eating oats in the first place.
Instant Oats: Another consideration is the time that you are willing to spend in cooking your oats. Semi-processed oats take only about 10 to 15 minutes to cook, whereas unprocessed oats might take 20 to 30 minutes to cook.

Quick Serving Ideas

Oatmeal can be prepared in a number of ways that you can do quite easily at home.

Boiled oats can be combined with protein powders and honey to make breakfast a bit more interesting. You can also add nuts and dried fruits to boiled oats. This is healthy as well as tasty.

Add oats to hot milk, in a similar way to eating corn flakes. You can also add different flavors, nuts, and dried fruits.

Cookies and biscuits can also be prepared using oats.

References