Is oatmeal nutritional? We might as well ask if rain is good for the earth because the health benefits of oatmeal are substantial and humans have known this for centuries. Oatmeal is incredibly popular in cultures all over the world and has a history that goes back to ancient China and Greece. Scotland has been scarfing down delicious oatmeal-meals since there has been such a country. In fact, humans have been eating this super-nutritious grain ever since our ancestors figured out how to harvest a grain and cook it.
Oatmeal Nutritional Information
Oatmeal & fiber: oatmeal is a champion in the extremely important fiber department. As you most likely know, there are two kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Oatmeal is a soluble-fiber storehouse, the kind that is especially needed by those suffering from high cholesterol. Soluble dietary fiber lowers the unhealthy "bad" LDL while raising the level of the "good" cholesterol, HDL.
Insoluble fiber acts like a broom in the intestines, cleaning and sweeping it out rather than allowing food to linger and fester and oatmeal is a great ‘broom’. Diabetics are especially helped by insoluble fiber because it helps to maintain blood sugar at a steady level, rather than rapidly shooting up and down. With lots of this fiber, blood sugar remains steady for extended periods.
Oatmeal and vitamins & minerals: this luscious grain is loaded with them and here are just a few:
Zinc: helps to heal wounds and is needed for an effective metabolism; helps to form blood; plentiful in the skin and hair; insufficient zinc leads to fatigue, tiredness, and loss of appetite
Vitamin E: is an extremely potent antioxidant that obliterates dangerous free radicals; fights aging and cancer; prevents blood clotting which helps the heart
Iron: is part of the many proteins in the body; carries oxygen throughout the body; lack of iron leads lack of energy, shortness of breath, headache, irritability, dizziness and inability to lose weight
Vitamin B: needed to form red blood cells; necessary for a healthy nervous system; helps to resist stress; aids in digestion; promotes good muscle tone and healthy skin; reduces muscle spasms, leg cramps and numbness; helps regulate blood pressure.
Oatmeal & carbs for energy: in the past, athletes loaded up on steak before a big event but these days they are more likely to eat oatmeal. Carbs have gotten a bad reputation as ‘fattening’ but that’s not necessarily true. Whole grain carbs are NOT fattening but instead provide energy.
1 Cup Of Oatmeal For Breakfast
Many people think that oatmeal tastes bland (I don’t :-) and if you’re one of those add your own fruit like berries or bananas. Another choice is to add dried fruits like raisins or dates – but they’re heavy on sugar so use them lightly. If you have diabetes or other disease you may need to avoid milk and sugar, but there are alternatives. For instance, I use almond milk and stevia on mine. Let your imagination run wild when flavoring your oatmeal – I’ve even used peanut butter.
Important: if you’re concerned about your health, avoid oatmeal packets – those envelopes of oatmeal that you buy at the grocery. They may sound great but they’re loaded with chemicals and they are so processed that their fiber is mostly destroyed. They’re often processed at high heat so the vitamins and minerals are gone, too.
It’s obvious that the oatmeal nutritional value is stunning. This rich grain has a ton of benefits for the human body, obviously. It can lower cholesterol and help your heart; it cleans you out inside and eliminates constipation; reduces you blood pressure and it’s even a cancer-fighter. For health and beauty, eat up!
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