Health Benefits of Oats
Rose May Pimentel in Health
May 12, 2022 • 3 min Read
Oats are nutritious, delicious, and very satisfying. It is loaded with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s often consumed for breakfast.
Oats are easy to prepare, just add hot water and a pinch of salt. To make breakfast interesting, add protein powder, honey, nuts, and dried fruits. For others, instead of boiling water, they add oats to hot milk, then include bananas, apples, nuts, and dried fruits. Other oatmeal ideas are banana oat smoothie, oat and strawberry fondant, oat cookies and biscuits, and more.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of oats, from Organic Facts:
1. Heart Health and Cholesterol Levels
Consumption of oats and oat-based products is touted as a way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Oatmeal has been highly recommended by the AHA (American Heart Association) as part of a modified diet. According to research published in Preventive Medicine, oatmeal acted as a great component of a fat-modified diet and helped in reducing the serum cholesterol level, including both HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body.
2. Diabetes Control
A study performed on diabetics showed that oatmeal consumption decreased the blood sugar level significantly and it was attributed to a high fiber diet and complex carbohydrates. It says that it takes a longer time to digest than simple carbohydrates. This helps in maintaining optimum blood sugar levels. Oatmeal diet was given to patients in replacement for other cereals.
3. Weight Loss
Oatmeal is highly recommended for people who want to increase satiety and lose weight without going on any crash diets. Oatmeal contains high amounts of dietary fiber, and nutrients, and is relatively nutrient-dense, which makes it a great food for weight loss.
4. Manages Hypertension
Usually, the diet recommended for hypertension is known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). Research showed that regular (unsalted) oatmeal consumption helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure – along with a diet low in sodium and rich in lean protein.
5. Anticancer Properties
Oats and oat-based foods have often been linked to decreasing the chances of cancer. Research found that inflammation plays a significant role in the development of cancer. It also shows that dietary polyphenols, like avenanthramides found in oats, have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties that may help lower the risk of cancer. The British Journal of Nutrition has published a study that reveals that whole-grain foods like oats and oatmeal may help in protecting against the development of colorectal cancer.
6. Antioxidant Activity
Oats can be a good source of antioxidants. The concentration of these antioxidants is on the outer layer of oats and it helps the body fight free radicals, which can often lead to chronic and inflammatory diseases, such as cancers, GI disorders, and cardiovascular disease.
7. 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. Skin conditions like acne, dermatitis, chickenpox and stress rashes can benefit from topical application of oats and oat baths.
8. Immunity-Boosting
Some of the vitamins found in oatmeal include B-vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E and K. These nutrients are essential to increasing the strength of the immune system. Vitamin E helps break down complex lipid compounds into simpler compounds. Vitamin K acts as a blood coagulant and helps in maintaining bone health.
Oats are among the healthiest foods you can eat, so try adding them to your daily diet and enjoy their benefits.
Stay healthy and safe!
